My Michigan Garden Bridal Shower

Back in August, three of my friends (Chelsea, Rhiannon & Ashley) threw me the most beautiful bridal shower ever. It was the hottest of Michigan summer days! My mom flew in from California and a bunch of my favorite people were there to celebrate. It was the most special day!

Last week the shower was featured on Style Me Pretty-- so fun to relive the day and all the love I felt!

From Ashley Slater Photography, my maid of honor and shower photographer…I was so thrilled to be able to throw Michaela a bridal shower in the gorgeous gardens of Aquinas campus. I knew I wanted it to be reflective of her wedding day color palette and once I found the invitation on Minted, I used it to build the rest of the day. I had the greatest help in Rhiannon, of Hey Gorgeous Events, who helped choose linens, dishes and really bring Michaela’s feminine style to life! We used signage from the same calligrapher Michaela had hired for her wedding, Jenny Sanders of Graceline, and the watercolor floral elements were used throughout the setup. Of course, as beautiful as it was, the best part was sharing in such a special day, watching Michaela open gifts under a beautiful weeping willow and eating lots of delicious food! It was such a sweet day and great representation of the perfect Michigan summer afternoon!

We played a few fun games-- one where the guests had to try and recall details of our wedding day and a gift bingo game. So much fun!

We received some of the nicest gifts. So grateful for our friends and family who have helped make our house a home! 

Weren't the flowers amazing?! I wish I could have kept them forever :)

THE cutest cookies I've ever seen. And so delicious!

Ashley & Chelsea, two of the three who threw this beautiful day!

Our adorable flower girls!

Sister-in-laws & flower girls:

Some of my sweet friends from church: 

My beautiful mama and me: 

Photography: Ashley Slater | Floral Design: Hey Gorgeous Events | Invitations: Minted | Venue: Aquinas Holmedene Gardens | Cookies: Mahdris Cookie Kitchen | Dishes, Flatware + Goblets: Gigi and LaClede | Linen Rentals: Special Occasions | Michaela's Dress: Rent The Runway | Ribbon + Runners: Adorn Company | Signage: Graceline Art

Now that we're actually married, I just wish I could go back to these days and savor them even more. I'm so thankful for such great people in my life!

xoxo

interior design website / services / portfolio

Mermaid Cocktail Hour Bridal Shower on the Connecticut Coast

Editor's Note: I'm pulling an all-time favorite post from the archives today because sharing it once just wasn't enough. I mean, who can say no to mermaids, cocktails and Connecticut?! xx.

Anytime I'm able to share any of Heidi's work, I know it's going to be good. She has the magic touch when it comes to photography and such a keen eye for beautiful details. And she lives in New England {hello. I-am-officially-obsessed}. And the bridal shower I'm sharing today is over-the-top bananas in all sorts of fabulous ways. What's even more fun is that the bride-to-be's cousin, Sarah, is an event stylist and got her hands dirty planning this amazing shindig. {Sarah's blog is addictive, btw}. 

Says Sarah Crawford, cousin to the bride-to-be + event stylist of lil hoot: "My cousin, Ashly, is my favorite person on the planet. When she got engaged to her awesome fiancee Scott, I was beyond happy and since I am a party planner, I had already started planning the wedding and shower in my head months prior {obvs}. I knew I wanted to enlist the help of industry faves, White Loft Studio, Chocolate Creative Design and Petal Floral Design {who are also Ashly's wedding vendors}. I wanted the shower to personify Ashly - laid back, beautiful, and above all, fun! My mom was happy to co-host with me and offer her coastal Connecticut home as the venue. She has a mermaid statue perched on her sea wall which was one of the inspirations for the event. Ashly has always loved the beach {so much so she resides on Nantucket!} so I wanted to incorporate seaside and beachy elements without being trite. She also isn't your typical bride and was not comfortable with the traditional shower concept so we set out to create a 'cocktail hour shower' announcing 'one less lovely fish in the sea.'

The invites, created by my lovely and talented friend Lucinda Wesson, of Chocolate Creative Design, set the tone for the celebratory occasion perfectly. Lucinda illustrated a darling mermaid holding a cocktail which was then printed with gold foil on the invites, complimenting the pink, coral and aqua color scheme. The RSVP was to go to the 'mermaid of honor.' Envelopes were lined with an aqua and gold glittered scallop pattern.

Gold, pink and aqua confetti was sprinkled throughout the party space as well as a 'one less fish in the sea' mermaid fabric banner, made by Lucinda. The scallop pattern, bubbles and mermaids were to be found everywhere from the pattern of my mom's stone patio to the cocktail napkins. Lucinda created a custom stamp for the napkins with the mermaid from the invite and the don ho lyrics 'tiny bubbles in the wine, make me happy, make me feel fine.' The sweets were originally to be set up on the sea wall but the weather didn't cooperate. Instead we set up the dessert table inside with subtle seaside elements. Vintage jadeite shell and cake stands were used to display pink champagne and mint macarons, seashell and starfish cookies, and a delicate scalloped cake with a peony fondant topper also graced the table. Cast iron mermaid bottle openers served as favors with a pablo picasso quote - 'love is the greatest refreshment of all.' These were hung from the chandelier above the bar.

Guests were served pink champagne in aqua and blush champagne flutes with gold and pink pom pom swizzle sticks.

There were multiple surprises in store for Ashly. Her best friend from DC flew in for the event - Heidi, of course, captured the reaction of the elated bride perfectly. Which brings me to my next surprise- Heidi, of White Loft Studio, herself! Ashly is thrilled to have her shoot her October wedding on Nantucket so her presence at the shower made her so happy, and even happier when we saw the pictures! Heidi also delivered the gorgeous florals from Ashly's wedding florist, Petal Floral Design.

A gold 'holla' sign was the focal point of the bar. This was a perfect "prop" for our fun bride-to-be!

Guests were sent home with small bundles of glitter and other goodies to throw in the sea at a full moon {shower was 2 days before full moon} as part of a 'mermaid love spell.'

I don't know about you but I've got mermaid fever. Excuse me while I pop Splash in the BluRay.

ps. Check out another of my favorite shoots from Heidi - this New England Equestrian Bridal Shoot. Trust me, you'll love it!

Credits: event styling - Lil hoot / photography - white loft studio / invitation/paper goods/styling - chocolate creative design / flowers- petal floral design / macarons - c. crowell confections / cookies - sugar on top / holla sign - oh dier / linens- La Tavola / fondant peony - sugar and stripes co.