Over Easter weekend my sister’s family came in from Iowa for a tea party-themed bridal shower I held for my niece.

Summer is always a big time for weddings, and for those planning a bridal shower in the upcoming months, or maybe just a tea party for your little girl, I wanted to share some of the highlights from the shower.

Tea Party-Themed Bridal Shower Invitations

A couple weeks before the date of the shower I sent out the invitations.

Because I wanted them to reflect the tea party theme, I decided to make invites that looked like tea bags.

They really were fairly simple to set up.  I ran the invitations off on some lavender card stock I had.  Then I cut them into rectangles and snipped off the top 2 corners to look like the portion of the tea bag that holds the tea leaves.  I stapled a very thin ribbon to the top and added a square of the card stock to the other end of the ribbon.  (This is where I chose to let guests know where she was registered.)

And, of course, who can resist a little pun?  “Love is brewing!”

Tea Party Bridal Shower Party Favors

I saw so many cute tea cups with flowers in them as tea party decorations when searching Pinterest, that I decided to create my own version to use as the party favors for guests.

It is not easy to find pretty tea cups that are inexpensive….  I found plenty of coffee mugs at various dollar stores, but I really wanted something that looked like a tea cup.

I finally found these over-sized clear glass mugs at the Dollar Tree.  I decided they would work quite nicely for what I had in mind, especially since they were just a dollar a piece!

Once home I put an inch of gravel at the bottom of each mug, then I added potting soil.  I had thought about using purple patients as the flowers, but decided on something more personal…  I have Hens and Chicks (a succulent plant) that originated from my grandmother’s collection.  Each mug got one plant.

Then I just hot glued a piece of ribbon in one of the bride’s colors to the mug and added a small gem.

On the day of the bridal shower the party favors were set in a line along our table — a perfect decoration for the tea party, as well as a cute party favor!

Bridal Shower Cupcakes

Ready for dessert?

Going with the theory that simple is best, I opted for some simple flower cupcakes as our bridal shower dessert.

To make the flower on top, I cut miniature marshmallows in half on the diagonal.  Then I dipped the cut parts into colored sugar.

I used 5 sugared marshmallow halves to create each flower, adding a candied pearl for the center.

Easy-peasy!

If you are looking for other ideas for a tea party (like yummy food ideas), check out my earlier post on my daughter’s tea party birthday, including instructions for her super cute teapot cake!

The post Tea Party-Themed Bridal Shower Ideas first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

10 years ago I walked down the aisle to meet my husband.

It’s not the wedding I want to talk about this Thankful Thursday.  It’s not the past 10 years.  Although I am extremely thankful for our lives together.

No, today it’s about the dress.

Let’s face it, when it comes to planning the wedding, the dress is often the first thing future brides look for.  Once upon a time it was circled dresses in bridal magazines, now it’s Pinterest.  And of course, there’s the trying on of numerous dresses in front of tall mirrors, while standing on a pedestal.  I’ve heard some places even serve future bride champagne as they look — the royal treatment.

But me?  I knew which dress I wanted to wear back when I was in high school, long before I even met my husband.

Wrapped in tissue paper, still in the original cardboard box, it had been stored on a shelf under the steps of my parents’ home for 36 before the day I wore it.

You would not believe how hard my mom tried to change my mind.

She insisted we go try on dresses anyway, partly so I could have the experience, but mostly because she really hoped I’d find a different dress.

I tried on three.  People oohed and awed for each one, and I just kept thinking of MY DRESS, under the steps in my parents’ house.

Finally, she gave in, and we got it out so I could try it on.  It was almost a perfect fit.

Next came the hard part, finding a dry cleaner who was able, and willing, to clean an heirloom wedding gown.  We drove almost an hour, and then I held my breath for a week, hoping the dress would turn out okay.  The only thing they couldn’t get out was a single footprint on the dress’ train, left from a relative that was no longer with us.  To me it was perfect.

My mom tried to talk me into wearing a higher heeled shoe than I had chosen (I found white Easter sandals with mini pearls in the girls’ section of Payless.), but eventually I stood on a chair while she painstakingly pinned the dress’ hem and then carefully stitched it to the right length.

Finally, a few days before the wedding she pressed the dress, using  a brand new white sheet she bought just for that purpose.  She was a nervous wreak the entire time.  Me?  I told her it didn’t matter what she did to it, I was wearing the dress.

And then, it was time to walk down the aisle.

I am so thankful that I was able to wear the dress of my dreams.  And looking back, I am thankful for all my mom did to help make that happen, even when she thought there might be a better dress out there.

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Have a Thankful post of your own?  Link it up with us and spread some joy!

This post was inspired by Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop.  Also shared on Black Tag Diaries, The Fontenot Four, Six by the Bay

The post Thankful for THE Dress first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.