My mom has always been a very tasteful and refined person. So when she was asked to plan my aunt's bridal shower and wedding, we were excited to see the results. My mom took this task very seriously. She had a budget planned and the beginnings of a guest list within the first 24 hours. The wedding events were more than 3 months away but the early start paid off amazingly well. My aunt's shower was a celebration of the happy couple as well as the guests. And the outside wedding was like a gathering of royalty.
Celebration Portraits
The first goal was to emphasize the true meaning of a bridal shower. Traditionally, this is a celebration of the bride complete with gifts and festivities. But my mom included the groom as well. Taking an idea from past royal weddings, my mom sent requests to the invited guests to compose a brief toast addressed to both the bride and groom. In return, each invited guest received a beautiful photo of the bride and groom in full wedding attire.
The first goal was to emphasize the true meaning of a bridal shower. Traditionally, this is a celebration of the bride complete with gifts and festivities. But my mom included the groom as well. Taking an idea from past royal weddings, my mom sent requests to the invited guests to compose a brief toast addressed to both the bride and groom. In return, each invited guest received a beautiful photo of the bride and groom in full wedding attire.
This was cheaper than you may assume. The original professional photo was scanned and copied by a printer onto Kodak paper. The photos could be framed as the guests wished. Along with each photo, the guests received their invitations. A small request was included that bridal shower gifts only be household related and not to spend above $20.00. And even a small food dish was welcomed. "Your greatest gift will be your presence on this wonderful occasion!"
Room for Everyone
There was concern that some uninvited guest would turn up at the bridal shower and wish to come to the actual ceremony. This seems to always be the case regardless how well you plan in advance. Mom resolved this by planning the wedding ceremony to be held outside the church rather than inside. The church was selected for its large courtyard behind which overlooked a pristine lakefront. It would be perfect. She even requested a 3 day buffer date for the ceremony to account for weather. But the proposed date was in June with is typically our driest month.
There was concern that some uninvited guest would turn up at the bridal shower and wish to come to the actual ceremony. This seems to always be the case regardless how well you plan in advance. Mom resolved this by planning the wedding ceremony to be held outside the church rather than inside. The church was selected for its large courtyard behind which overlooked a pristine lakefront. It would be perfect. She even requested a 3 day buffer date for the ceremony to account for weather. But the proposed date was in June with is typically our driest month.
The Bridal Shower Website
The bridal shower website was the biggest hit. This included images of the couple with family and friends along with a place for well wishers to post comments. A side area was designated where people could sign the guest list. This gave us an idea of how many seats we would need and how to best prepare. Also directions were included as to how to get to the church, catering information and updates. A very special link was provided for singles to submit their names for the match maker drawings.
The bridal shower website was the biggest hit. This included images of the couple with family and friends along with a place for well wishers to post comments. A side area was designated where people could sign the guest list. This gave us an idea of how many seats we would need and how to best prepare. Also directions were included as to how to get to the church, catering information and updates. A very special link was provided for singles to submit their names for the match maker drawings.
Keeping Catering Costs to a Minimum
The bridal shower could not have been a greater success. The large table inside the church was reception hall was filled with dishes and my mother had prepared much of it herself. The catering expense was minimal as guests also brought food and helped with preparing the reception hall. The bride and groom sat at the center around the large table which was actually two long tables place together so everyone had comfortable seating. The largest expense was perhaps the wine and Champaign which was cleverly negotiated by mom with the caterers. By keeping the extravagance of catering to a minimum, my mom was able to direct her budget toward an elegance that surprised us all. The focus was on the presentation rather than excess.
The bridal shower could not have been a greater success. The large table inside the church was reception hall was filled with dishes and my mother had prepared much of it herself. The catering expense was minimal as guests also brought food and helped with preparing the reception hall. The bride and groom sat at the center around the large table which was actually two long tables place together so everyone had comfortable seating. The largest expense was perhaps the wine and Champaign which was cleverly negotiated by mom with the caterers. By keeping the extravagance of catering to a minimum, my mom was able to direct her budget toward an elegance that surprised us all. The focus was on the presentation rather than excess.
Memories for Everyone
After the beautiful banquet everyone was ushered outside to line up for a huge group photo. All the guests were positioned with the happy couple seated in front. Each guest was asked to include a mailing address when they signed in. They each would receive a large high quality scan of this photo marking this occasion they helped to make possible.
After the beautiful banquet everyone was ushered outside to line up for a huge group photo. All the guests were positioned with the happy couple seated in front. Each guest was asked to include a mailing address when they signed in. They each would receive a large high quality scan of this photo marking this occasion they helped to make possible.
A Compassionate Touch
Following the shower, all the food remaining was divided into very pleasant boxes and provided to the local food shelter. This added a very special touch to the event that warmed everyone's heart. They had come to celebrate the coming together of two very special people and also helped the community.
Following the shower, all the food remaining was divided into very pleasant boxes and provided to the local food shelter. This added a very special touch to the event that warmed everyone's heart. They had come to celebrate the coming together of two very special people and also helped the community.
New Love Connections
The wedding was made even more special by the secret success of mom's bridal shower planning. The whole shower affair was so intimate that everyone was introduced and new friendships were made. Even a few new love connections were made as a result of the matchmaker drawings! They were no longer simply guests but a merging of one very extended family. No one could have predicted my aunt's wedding would have been such a beautiful success. The event was truly a gift to both the honored couple and each of the honored guests alike.
The wedding was made even more special by the secret success of mom's bridal shower planning. The whole shower affair was so intimate that everyone was introduced and new friendships were made. Even a few new love connections were made as a result of the matchmaker drawings! They were no longer simply guests but a merging of one very extended family. No one could have predicted my aunt's wedding would have been such a beautiful success. The event was truly a gift to both the honored couple and each of the honored guests alike.
