A little shower help....

My mom and I are planning a bridal shower for my brother's fiancee. My own shower had a theme of "Around the Clock", where guests brought gifts that corresponded with something that I would be use at that time of the day.

But we're stuck on what to do as a theme for the shower. Her mother throws fabulous tea parties, so that is out. We're planning on having it on a Saturday afternoon in May.

So- what was the best themed shower that you have been to?

Shower fun

I've already mentioned it a couple of times before, but after recapping the rest of last weekend (what with a shower surprise, dress fitting, dance lesson and makeup trial), I feel like I can finally get to the main event of the weekend: my shower.

Since my bridesmaids live out of town (and don't all know each other), and my extended family is not especially close knit, my mom, Calvin's mom and Calvin's mom's best friend graciously hosted the event at my parents' house. There were about 25 or so people in attendance for the afternoon tea, from some of the "kids" I used to babysit for 10 years ago to the women from church who were like second moms to me growing up to some of the women who played a significant part in Calvin's life. It was, in a word, overwhelmingly amazing.

The crowd:




Part way through, one of the women from my parents' neighborhood realized that I needed a bouquet for the rehearsal dinner- here they are, hard at work:

(Much to their dismay, I did not break a single ribbon when I was unwrapping packages, suggesting that I will not have kids in the future. This was a conscious effort on my part.)

The theme of the shower, and everyone was assigned a specific hour of the day, and told to bring something that Calvin and I would use at that hour. Calvin's aunt, who was assigned 7am, came in carrying this.

I was a little confused, until I saw the card- Breakfast in Bed! (It contained a basket containing teas and coffee and other assorted breakfast goodness.)

And it wouldn't be a party without food:

This was only half of the spread, but it was amazing.

And a gratuitous closeup of what was left of the petit fours that my mom made. And not just any flavor- no, they were rose flavored, which is one of my favorite flavorings for dessert. (Anyone else think my mom could go into business selling these?)

I still can't get over how generous everyone was, and how wonderful it was to have all of these women together in the same room.

Shower Surprise!

No, I didn't have a surprise shower- living in Michigan with a wedding in Cleveland, it would not have been possible for the shower planners to make it a surprise shower.

Instead, my mom (and Calvin) conspired to bring a shower surprise. I drove into town on Friday for a dress fitting, with a hair and makeup trial and shower on Saturday. I was up late chatting with my parents, but decided around midnight that it was time to head to bed since the next day was going to be busy.

I call Calvin (as I typically do) as I crawl into bed, and he is Mr. Chatty that night- I assume that he was highly caffeinated and was up late playing video games, which he does from time to time when I'm out of town and he's home by himself.

And then my mom calls me to come downstairs. It's 1:15am. I'm exhausted, cold and in my pajamas. And who is there waiting for me?

Calvin, who'd driven in from Michigan to pick up my best friend (and maid of honor) in the whole wide world at the airport. She, who lives in Boston and told me that she wouldn't be able to make it into town that weekend. She, with whom I had been playing phone tag for over a month, and from whom on Thursday I received a voicemail saying that she'd try and talk with me on Saturday.

I was shocked. And speechless.

How have you been surprised in regards to your wedding?