Yes, I am blogging about this exactly a month later - BUT I just can't 'get with it'. Oh well. So I took on the task/honor of throwing Amanda her bridal shower. I offered months ago and it gave me a great thing to work on and look forward to during the cold winter months that can get me down.
Emily offered to help me. At first - I was hesitant because we all know how I am when throwing a party. I like to be in control and don't always do well with letting someone help me. But it seriously went SOOO well! We are a great team. We liked each others ideas, we helped each other out, we just put it all together so easily and it was FUN!
We held it at the Nauvoo Grand Bed and Breakfast. I originally wanted to have it at the Ivy Bake Shoppe in Ft. Madison -but they weren't wanting to host it there, so this was where I went to next. The vintage style of the place is perfect for Amanda. I saw a sign that said "hello, love" at Hobby Lobby and thought about getting it but didn't pick it up because I couldn't decide. The more I thought about it the more I wanted it - but when I went back they were all gone. So I found this one on Etsy and loved it even more. It's so "Amanda"! This was her welcome sign on the front door.
This was really the first day I was DOING anything after being sick for a month. Of course I always pick myself apart - so in the pictures I can still tell that I look sickly and tired - but, oh well.
Colista and Mom also helped me SOOO much on the day of. They came and helped us set up and with last minute food prep. They didn't have to help me but they still did without hesitation. They are my go to girls and I can always depend on them. It is so nice to have that! Love you girls!
Colista stayed and was the photographer for the day as well. How awesome is that?! It was so nice to not even have to pick up my camera at all and know that it was all being captured. Captured by Colista, that is. ; ) haha. You know you love my cheesiness.
The family and friends started arriving and just kept coming and coming...
I had wedding mad libs sitting on the seats for everyone to do when they got there. I remember us girls doing mad libs a lot and laughing our tushies off so I thought it was appropriate. Those who filled them out sent them home with Amanda so she can read them and get a good giggle. : )
Emily offered to do the invites and I so let her. She did a GREAT job! I should have taken a picture of them to include in the post. Oh well. Anywho - on there she included to have everyone bring a recipe or 2 for Amanda. She put together this super cute recipe book for her to put all the recipes in. Nice touch. And once again, it looked like "Amanda" for sure.
Amanda's wedding colors are mint, gold, purple and ivory. So when I saw "mint to be" as a sort of theme on pinterest - I fell in love and went with it. Once again - my cheesiness shines through. ; ) I didn't do many decorations because the b&b is very busy and a lot going on as it is - but I did make this banner all by myself. I was pretty satisfied with how it turned out.
She had SUCH a good turn out! I never did get an actual head count, but the place was packed.
We played the apron game. We had her take a little walk through the room with all the guests and then she left and they had to remember what all the utensils and what not that were on the apron.
Mom and I made the apron. Mom being the main part of that. I love the way it turned out. And once again even Emily said "it is SO Amanda!". Haha - apparently "Amanda" is a style all its own. We all knew that already though. ; )
..and that is part of the reason why we love her so!
Emily put together the prizes for the winners of the games. They were cute little mason jars filled full of goodies. My favorite part was she put mint colored chap stick inside of them. Nice touch!
I made a homemade blueberry lemonade. It was SUPER tasty and looked real pretty. However...I will never be making it again. It had to be strained through a super fine strainer and it took absolutely forever. Not to mention the God awful mess it created in my kitchen. Haha.
I took charge of the food. I think it all turned out elegant and pretty. I used some cake plates and some of Moms glass serving plates. I did a meat/cheese/cracker tray, some cucumber and tomato bites, fruit trifle, pinwheels, lemon bars and millenium bars. It all went over really well and we got lots of compliments. Yay!
This trifle is seriously SO simple and SO pretty! I had someone ask me for the recipe. You can't beat it!
What a pain in the butt these were too - but what a great presentation!
We used Grandma Kelley's pitchers as vases for flowers throughout the house. That was Mom's idea and I LOVE the way it all looked. Emily picked up the flowers on her way to town that day. See what I mean - we were a good team!
She received a lot of nice gifts. I think she got bath towels from about 5 or 6 different people - so she had some multiples, but not too many.
Emily made some notes of comments Amanda made while opening her presents and I read them off after she was done. They are supposed to be her "wedding night words". I have seen this played at other showers and it was always a belly laughing affair. Gave everyone a good laugh before we all parted ways.
Lovely ladies, aren't they?
As a favor for everyone on their way out the door we passed these little mint bags out. I put them together and was just plain giddy over how they turned out. I really did have fun with this shower.
I am so fully satisfied with how the shower turned out. It was a great time and FUN. And there weren't any last minute hiccups. It all went just exactly like I wanted it to. We got lots of compliments about it and I think Amanda enjoyed it too, and that was what I was going for. Now on to the big day!
