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Showing posts with label Bridal Shower. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bridal Shower. Show all posts

May 22, 2014

Bridal Shower for Lindsey and Ryan




Happiness!

We are so blessed that our son Ryan has a beautiful young woman soon to become his bride.  Friends and family came to shower them with gifts to begin their new home together and to wish them well.  I think we all were encouraged to see a young couple so happy to have each other, ready to live life together with an enduring promise ~ to have and to hold from this day forward.

A great big hug and thanks to Kristen for toting the camera during the shower, capturing all these happy moments we shared together!





So many hands gladly worked together to weave a lovely and welcoming celebration for them.
 Hand scrubs were created and set into cute jars for a thank you to the guests. 
 We shall all have silky hands (and feet) for the wedding :>)







The tables were so pretty... layered with white cloths, burlap, and hot pink and pink stripe runners. Flowers were tucked into glassware, bringing Spring color inside to the bridal shower.



Gift boxes were part of the fun...  the bridesmaids read a poem, which had the ladies passing it to each other according to instructions, with a little laughter among the guests. The last one to hold it received it as the prize.


Oh, the pompoms!  They sure made the atmosphere festive, colorful and fun!  I love these!




More pompoms over the gift table...  


More flowers and pompoms over the buffet table...



Before we take a look at the scrumptious foods set out,  devotional time reminded us how to nurture our marriages - much like gardening - and was a visual encouragement to all of us. 


So let's put on the work gloves, dig in, and work on our marriages, as Ryan and Lindsey begin theirs!
Whether watering, sweetening, communicating, pulling those small or big weeds, 
marriages are precious and worth all the effort, sacrifice and enjoyment.



Mmmmm.  Now let's talk food!
Lindsey's grandmother graciously let us use her beautiful serving dishes to make Lindsey's day that much more special.


Looking at the buffet table, the far left begins with the Baja Chicken Salad 
(marinated and grilled chicken, romaine, black beans, corn, tomato, cucumber, tortilla strips to top it off, ranch dressing or Grandma's special Italian dressing).


The gorgeous soup tureen held the saucy meatballs.


Next up are the skewered Pesto Tortellini
(I'm getting hungry...)


So, these caramel peanut grapes are just like taffy apples...
only easier to eat, and every bite is caramel-y goodness!


Bacon simply had to make an appearance.  Lindsey and Bacon.  
Yep.
And these were scrumptious!


Chilled strawberry soup is so smooth, creamy, and... strawberry.
Served in a collection of demitasse cups made them perfect for the shower.
You need to see all these beautiful cups ~






That was fun!
Then on to a basket assortment of breads and honey butter...


Vegetables with dip bring us full circle around the table,
back to the Baja Chicken Salad!


Refreshing Raspberry Tea, Sparkling Pink Lemonade Punch, and lemon water were served in large mason jar dispensers and in Grandma's punch bowl.



As the dessert buffet began filling, Kristen kept on snapping photos of all the incredible delectables!
Here are Aunt Collette's lemon truffle pops!


Chocolate or Applesauce Cupcakes...


 Aunt Kristy's Poof Balls adorned in pink and purple frosting just for the shower!
    


 Add in Mom's Little Lemon Drops and Grandma's Chocolate Crumb Bars,
some pirouettes and chocolates,
Mom's Mini Key Lime Pies, and cheesecake bites ~




 Desserts were oh, so delicious, and enjoyed all during the gift opening.



 How happy and grateful Lindsey and Ryan were being showered with such generous, thoughtful gifts!
 




Capturing a moment with a few friends...


We are so happy for you, Ryan and Lindsey!   
God  is weaving you perfectly together, and will continue to do so through all circumstances ~ both the exciting times and the difficult days.  A house built on God's promises, love and forgiveness becomes a thriving home.

Now full speed ahead to the wedding... I'm so excited!


January 7, 2013

The House Entertaining

My house likes entertaining.  As in, it likes keeping its rooms full of people and festivities. 
So, it was very agreeable to invite in Samantha's excited family for her bridal shower. What fun!


Samantha and her Josh will be married this May 17th - very special because that's my anniversary :>)
They met at Dordt College in Iowa (they will graduate May 10th), were engaged in California (Josh's home state), and will be married in Illinois with the reception in Indiana (her residence).   They still are waiting on where to begin their married life, depending where their jobs and the Lord leads them.Oh, to be young and adventurous again!







Her friendly family is obviously quite happy for Samantha; they showered her with happiness, congratulations, and gifts to set up her new home. I had a bit of time to sneak around with the camera to capture some of the fun they had planned.












Wedding Colors

Purple and Gray










Menu

Ham Corn Chowder Soup
Broccoli Cauliflower Cheese Soup
Olive Garden Style Salad
Teibel's Warm Rolls

Purple Punch
Hot Cocoa Bar
Coffee

Candy Bar
Finger Desserts




Personal touches....









Set out fixings for hot cocoa...
(The hot cocoa was kept warm and ready to pour from a coffee carafe server.)





I didn't get a photo of the punch/coffee/hot cocoa table all put together.
I can tell you it looked terrific, though!
I do have a quick snap shot of the coffee pot and some ribbons hanging near the punch table, that was just to be for my reference.
I'll let you see that, because this rather ordinary photo makes me smile for several reasons...



Smile 1
My coffee pot was happily conscripted into use for the shower.  It belonged to my Aunt Judie, who went to be with the Lord years back; she had died young from breast cancer.  She, like my house, loved to entertain.
Smile 2
The pot is raised up to get taller coffee cups underneath.  Isn't it the perfect "book" for the bridal shower?  It was a gift from my son Steve this Christmas. Actually, it is an opening wooden box - but concealed as a faux book - with 1 Corinthians 13 written on the lid.  Perfect!
Smile 3
The ribbons conceal a last minute attempt to remove a couple adhesive smudges on the wall... that got worse as I tried to clean it off.  Thank you, Lindsey and Kristen for your  brainstorming solutions!
Smile 4
The candle holder to the side is from Leah's wedding.
Smile 5
The little purple flowers and ribbons are from Jessica's wedding.
Smile 6
Who knew an obscure snapshot can produce so many smiles for one person?






Assemble bite-sized sweets for scrumptious desserts.








Top-Notch valet service ~





...to get the guests' cars up and down the hill.






OK, I know you're not supposed to use similar photos in a blog post,
but I am anyway.  The next close up is so nice, though it doesn't show much of the hill problem.








Time to light the candles...






Welcome in the guests...





Gifts are placed around the tree....






Pray to bless Samantha and Josh... and the food,
and let the celebration begin!











Toss in some Bridal Shower fun with the Left-Right game...













And then shower their gifts on Samantha...
(a happy bride-to-be, by the way ~ she must be excited for her marriage to Josh :>)






A Honeymoon Care Package from her sisters... so cute and thoughtful!
It includes beach towels, sunscreen, beach snack food, crossword and word search books for waiting at airports, Tylenol for any headaches, and these awesome shirts!




A little extra fellowship and final feasting to end the celebration...




It was a pleasure to watch the smiles and hear the laughter of Samantha's family sharing in her joy.

Samantha, God has blessed and surrounded you with caring, loving, and fun-filled people.  
This blessing will continue as they watch, pray, and walk alongside you and Josh throughout your married life.  
That is a rare and beautiful treasure to have.