Showering Best Wishes for an October Wedding

This past Sunday we celebrated the bridal shower of my youngest child and daughter, Tricia.  Mostly family and a number of Tricia's friends filled my daughter Katie's living-room-turned-cafe for an afternoon of really good food and lots of happy chatter.  Together with the other bridesmaids, Tricia's sisters Katie and Meghan  produced an exceptional party.  Tricia never stopped smiling the whole time.  Her joy is obvious as her wedding (just 27 days away) looms!

I wrote previously of the preparations leading up to the shower.  The funny thing is, I expected the guests to mozie up to my apartment from Katie's house, but none did.  We stayed downstairs and had such a good time there was no reason to wander off.  So, my little apartment got all dressed up for the party for no reason, and that's just fine too.  Right now, it's ready for guests at a moment's notice.  Usually, my apartment looks like baking-central and now everything baking-related is put away, out of sight. Mine almost looks like a "normal" kitchen again!  But before the great hiding away, my kitchen produced a bit for Tricia's shower, including scones and fancy cupcakes.  That was nothing compared to what Katie produced.  She made wonderful carrot cake petit fours which were enrobed in a cream cheese glaze.  They were beautiful and delicious, a tiny bite of autumn sweetness that everyone loved.  I'll post that recipe in a day or two.  Katie also made two soups to go with the elegant tea sandwiches (salmon with cucumber and capers, curried chicken salad, shrimp salad, and cream cheese with cucumber) she picked up at The Whistling Kettle in nearby Ballston Spa.  Her soups were butternut squash with apple, and creamy wild rice and chicken, and both were exceptional!  Bridesmaids brought an abundant pasta salad, a luscious fruit platter, a black bean confetti dip and toasted tortilla chips.  Mother of the groom Carol made unbelievably decadent brownies with Snickers!  No one went away hungry, that's for sure!

Really good food!

More of the good stuff...

Katie's carrot cake petit fours

The desserts!

The night before the shower, Katie and Meghan had moved all the furniture out of her living room and set up five round tables with chairs.

The setting...

Tea pot wishes... (later shellacked for preservation)
(tea pots and placemats decorated by bridesmaid Val!)

The tables were draped with gold-colored tablecloths, and decorated with placemats as well as personally painted tea pots (party favors for each guest), both made by Val echoing a tea party theme with an Alice in Wonderland motif.  Katie and Meghan made centerpieces with branches from her woods, stones, and purple calla lilies which were beautiful in their natural simplicity.  Meghan strung white lights in a zig zag pattern across the living room, giving the space a very festive glow.  I actually relaxed and let my girls do the work, enjoying their collaboration to make this happen.  It was great to let go, trusting them to do a good job, and realizing the terrific work they do without my help!  It's liberating!

The centerpieces

Here are a few shots of moments that made the afternoon so meaningful to Tricia (and to her sisters and me).  It was a lovely day!



Pretty pillow matched Tricia's sparkley dress!

Games!
Katie, my sister Anne, and my sister Ginny

Tricia with her future-aunt Judy and mother-in-law Carol!

Lovely Cousins Lauren and Louise

Meghan, me, Tricia, and Katie

Tricia with precious Grammy Mary Lou Eddy!

A collage of bridesmaids!!!



Fiance Jeff surprised Tricia when he showed
up as the Mad Hatter!

Love and all the best wishes to Tricia and Jeff!