Last weekend, my mom and I hosted a fun kitchen-inspired bridal shower for a family friend who’s getting married in June.
It’s like family to us, so my mom and I were happy to spend time planning a fun shower together. We had fun plotting all the details.
I shared the invites in April, which I think set the tone for a soiree. I stuck with red and aqua throughout. Although, since there was also a lot of black and white going on in the space, I tried to pull that in as well. As I mentioned, we booked a private space at a local restaurant for the event, and the chef actually did a cooking demonstration for guests in lieu of bridal shower games.
He was awesome and it was such a fresh change of pace. He discussed the differences in pastas and sauces, how to make them, and then made each guest a fresh pasta dish to order on skillets in the room (similar to an omelet station at a brunch).
Besides the demonstration, I spent amy time focusing on decor. It’s my favorite part of hosting a party. I’ll share lots of photos here and will try to post later about some of the projects to share more details.
One of my favorite things to do with any shower is to have some sort of welcome display. It sets the tone for the whole party.
The entire space was truly lovely on it’s own. I loved the focal wall and was able to add just a few things to make it really pop and feel personal. I especially love that the shelves and large built-in gave it lots of height – and plenty of places for photos and decor.
Now, here are the details ..
(Eat, Drink and Be Married wine bottle centerpieces)
(Gift table, with another appearance for the kitchen chalkboard)
(DIY kitchen towel cake)
(Kitchy printables via Over the Big Moon)
(Check-in table and cupcakes)
(Cupcake toppers)
(Engineering prints from Staples, mounted on a black Dollar Tree foam board with vinyl letters)
(Butter printable via The 36th Avenue)
(Stamped napkins using the same stamp from the invite)
(Floral arrangements in mixer and colanders, inspired by In This Wonderful Life and Hostess with the Mostess.)
(DIY signature platter and recipe box for recipe cards from each guest)
(Photo booth – banner created with my Silhouette, black and white cards are part of a matching game from Crate & Barrel)
In the end, I think the shower was a success on all accounts. There was a great crowd. We ate well, laughed a lot, and the bride went home with a load of great items to stock her new kitchen.
P.S. Love red and aqua? I’m sharing my monthly idea board over at Houzz today that’s all about red and aqua in the kitchen.
Where can I find a cutting board like the one you used that displayed a picture of the couple? And what and how did you get the white wording “kids the cook” in white on top?
Thanks!
I bought the cutting boards at IKEA, Big Lots and Target. I have a post about a similar project, but I cut the vinyl myself.
https://newlywoodwards.com/2014/01/a-repurposed-cutting-board-memo-board.html
You outdid yourself, friend. Again. SO many awesome details! I clearly need a silhouette in my life because I have to pay someone to make those things for me. I love the idea of the kitchen themed shower and a cooking demo is the best idea I’ve heard! I’m always trying to keep people form doing the normal boring shower stuff so I’ll throw that idea in my arsenal.
You can plan my parties any time! You are really really good at this!
Thanks, Julia. If I didn’t spend a fortune every time I’d do it more often. 😉
What an epic shower! I love the flowers in the mixer. SOOO cute!
Thank you, friend. Lugging that beast around was a huge operation. I left out the part where the restaurant was actually closed when we started setting up so we had to load EVERY SINGLE THING (including the mixer and the big chalkboard) through the kitchen door and around the restaurant. We were exhausted before we even began. =)
Kim! You are a party throwing rock star! You seriously did an amazing job! I’ve never seen a more fun setup for a bridal shower. Seriously!
Thank you so much! It was fun!
Love the theme and you pulled it off expertly!! Seriously great attention to detail!
Thank you so much! It was fun to plan and I loved seeing it all come together, too.
Once again, you knocked it out of the park. I want to be your real life friend so you can throw me a rocking party sometime! 😉
I love the Kitchen Aid arrangement!!
Awww…. we are totally friends in real life, according to me.I want to have a floral arrangement in my stand mixer at all times. =)
Looks like a great party! I love all the thought you put into party planning and every little detail :). And I’m definitely in favor of anything that takes the place of shower games….not a fan of shower games! Right up there with hugging 😉
I usually don’t mind shower games, but I know I’m in the minority. This was a good compromise that everyone seemed to love.
I love this so much! My bridal shower was a cooking demonstration too…so much fun, and a nice change from the traditional shower. You guys rocked it…love your multi-functional (and multi-function!) traveling chalkboard!
The cooking demonstration was a blast. I want to do this every time.
What a lovely party! You are truly talented beyond words! Thank goodness for a wonderful mama too.
My mom is the bed – she totally rolled with all my crazy ideas.
Kim, This is so adorable! I’m trying to plan my BFF’s baby shower (in just less than 2 months!). Do you think I could just fly you in to do it all, because it’d probably be so much better! The details truly are impressive!
You could. But I’m not cheap. 😉
Such a beautiful shower. I wish you were here to help me plan my sister’s shower! You’re the party queen. I love all the little details, especially the flowers in the mixer and colander, and the stamped napkins!
Bridal shower? Let me know if you’d like me to send you the banners I made. I love making traveling party decor. 😉
You are seriously the hostess with the mostess. You can plan me a party any time!
Adding it to the list.
Wow what a great party. So many crafts and decor item. I loved the stamped napkins and everything else 🙂 That kitchenaid as a flower post was awesome 🙂
Thanks, Katja! The entire shower pretty much happened after I saw flowers in the mixer and colander. I love that idea! (And I kept the colanders.)
Oh my gosh, Kim you are so talented!! This party looks amazing. I am planning a baby shower for my sister in November, I totally wish you could help me! I love all of the amazing ideas in this party. So Pin worthy!! 🙂
Your party will be amazing. Wish I was closer so I could help you – also known as, spend all your money. 😉 IF you need anything, let me know. I could probably ship you off some banners and such. I may even have some decor in my basement.
Love this! I’m getting married in 18 days, so I’m loving all things wedding right now! (And I also love all things kitchen, too.)
Wow! It’s right around the corner.
ahhh what a beautiful shower! The chalkboard art is my fav.
Thanks! I love my traveling chalkboard so much. Its not a party without a massive chalkboard.
adorable! i love the printables and what a cute bride!