This past weekend we celebrated my sister Marissa’s upcoming wedding with a bridal shower. After sharing her engagement story and our bridesmaid dress shopping, it felt right to share the shower as well.
I drove home from UNC on Friday afternoon to spend a few days with Marissa before her wedding weekend in May. She has always been my closest friend, and I cherished the time we had together, especially since we don’t get to see each other as often anymore. Marissa had a busy schedule while she was in Raleigh, but I took advantage of having her home — we did a HIIT workout at the gym on Saturday and went for a run on Sunday.
Although I’ve traditionally leaned more toward cardio, Marissa has inspired me to make strength training a regular part of my routine this year. Saturday was the first time we lifted together, and it was so much fun. If she lived nearby, I’d love to make it a habit. The woman at the gym joked that we looked like twins, which always makes me smile.
Bright & early Saturday morning
A lovely group of my mom’s friends hosted the bridal shower and did a fantastic job. The decorations and food looked like something from a magazine or a Pinterest board — everything was so thoughtfully arranged that I wanted to capture every detail.
The hostesses
Whole Foods chocolate cake – the best
Everything was charming and creative, down to the heart-shaped sandwiches. One of my mom’s friends found decorative letters at Hobby Lobby and another discovered a weathered wood board at the beach; together they made a beautiful sign featuring Marissa’s future last name.
We played a fun ring game at the start of the shower: everyone took a ring and had to avoid saying “Alex” or “bride” for the duration of the event. If you slipped, someone else could take your ring, and the person with the most rings at the end would win. Marissa’s adorable flower girl managed to charm nearly everyone and ended up carrying a fistful of six or seven rings by the end.
We also learned about the old shower superstition that the number of bows you break while opening gifts predicts how many children you’ll have. Marissa, unaware of the rule, unwrapped many bows — so the crowd joked that she might end up with a large family.
It was a warm, joyful gathering and I hope Marissa felt truly loved and celebrated by women from different chapters of her life — family, childhood friends, and current friends who all came together to honor her.
my mom & sister
So tell me…
Have you been to many wedding or baby showers? Have you played any memorable shower games?
Do you enjoy hosting parties or showers? Any favorite hosting or decorating tips to share?