Breakfast at Tiffany's

TWO POSTS IN ONE DAY?

YEP!

I have to devote an entire post to the Bridal Shower.

Planning a Bridal Shower two time zones away isn't the easiest. Especially when you have super busy recent college graduates (i.e. poor) bridesmaids. So although it was extremely stressful leading up to the big day, everyone really stepped up during crunch time and it turned out beautifully. 

Ariel LOVES Audrey Hepburn, so I thought a Breakfast at Tiffany's theme would be perfect. We just had a slight problem...nowhere host it. With 75 people were invited, we needed a big venue, and big venues are expensive and many were all booked up. At several points, we had options that fell through and one was even double booked. So we ended up having it at a bar because Ariel's parents are friends with the owners and it was big enough, a good location, and decently priced to rent.

A BAR? Yes, a bar. I had never seen it, but the other bridesmaid weren't too keen on it. But since no one had any better options, Ariel's mom made the final decision after a stressful month of no luck. It had some pros...it was in a good location, decently priced rental fee, and was large enough for everyone. But it was a bar. I was SO anxious to finally see it when we decorated the night before. I had seen some pictures, and I was really worried about all of the posters all over the walls. When I finally saw it though, I realized we could do it. The wooden tables and chairs were actually quite pretty and despite the wood paneling, it was pretty nice. Of course, we did everything possible to glam it up to make it Tiffany's worthy. All of the other bridesmaids had to work the night before, so one other bridesmaid and I decorated the evening before from 4:30PM to 10:00PM. I might have been slightly obsessive though... ;) I sort of had to force myself to stop decorating.

The morning of the shower was crazy, but it really came together! One of the bridesmaids works at Yankee Candle and she had a wax melt that made the place smell delicious...not like a bar at all. Another bridesmaid surprised us by bringing a huge speaker with a microphone that played music from her phone via bluetooth. Another one's mom bought a bunch of coffee and a beautiful coffee pot to fill it in. All in all the shower was wonderful. One of Ariel's relatives even came up to me after the shower and said that it was one of the best, if not the best, bridal shower she had ever been to. And she made sure to say she had been to a lot of them. That was so great to hear after all the hard work (and money hehe)! But above all Ariel was so happy, and that's what counts.

I didn't take these pictures. In fact, I was so busy I didn't take a SINGLE picture! So here are some that another bridesmaids took..

Days before the shower, one of the bridesmaids said her aunt used to work in a bakery. Ta-da! Our cake box cupcakes turned into a beautiful cake. I bought the gloves and tiara for Ariel to wear as soon as she came in and we surprised her.

Ariel in the center with all of her bridesmaids.

Gift table. (See the pretty peonies on the side and the bird cage for cards?) Ariel did actually get one real Tiffany's present, a beautiful crystal plate from her fiancé's sister.

The table when you walk in. We started off with a game called "ring robber." Each person is given three rings. If someone hears them say "wedding," "bride," or "dress," then they get to take a ring. The person with the most rings at the end of the shower got a prize. One of Ariel's cousin's had like 30 rings!

The main area. I covered all of the beer and sports signs with tablecloth and ribbon to look like Tiffany's presents and tags that said "Ariel and Co. Est 2014). A little see-through but it worked.

I am ridiculously proud of the centerpieces. I arranged the flowers myself. One of the bridesmaids made the favors and glammed them up way more than I had planned them to be. We used pearl strands and tiny "diamond" jewels to decorate the table. This picture doesn't have the main floral arrangements: white roses, baby's breath, and white hydrangea in a mason jar. They looked so beautiful that people took them home! I am starting to reconsider a career as a florist. :P

The bride's chair. One of the bridesmaids bought Ariel a beautiful necklace with a Mickey Modo pearl in it as a bridal shower/wedding present with her mom, and Ariel is going to wear it with her wedding dress.

We played the toilet paper dress game and it was a huge hit! Ariel chose her aunt's dress (behind her) because of the 80's shoulder pads in the dress. 

Centerpieces again.

Here is the main floral arrangement I was talking about, minus the mason jar.  I did take this picture after the shower! 

The food! And the "Future Mrs Koerber" sign I made. This picture was taken before all the food arrived. We had about 50 people, so thankfully Ariel's aunts brought hot food. We had a yogurt bar (which was super adorable) and cucumber sandwiches and we provided the drinks for everyone.


Those are all the pictures I have! My bridal shower present to Ariel was a lace veil that I made...a cathedral veil that extends about 4 feet past her train. I can't post those until the wedding in September....but as you can see I am obnoxiously proud of my handiwork and the veil is no exception. ;) 

The trip was so fun but also super busy. Since Ariel could only travel home once before her wedding, we did everything we could possibly think of for the wedding. Let's just say I was tired when I got back at 2am on Saturday night!

Overall success! Now read the post below. :)