Bridal Shower: She Found Her Main Squeeze

Looking for a playful bridal shower theme everyone will adore? Bring on the lemons, limes, and oranges! "She Found Her Main Squeeze" is the perfect choice for any spring/summer event. The decor and menu possibilities blend seamlessly together to create a zesty atmosphere.

As the matron of honor, I was thrilled to host a celebration for my best friend, Jessica. I decided to plan the bridal shower in August a few months before her wedding. Living in Texas posed some minor logistical issues and required extra forethought. Fortunately, I was able to coordinate with family in Wisconsin to ship and borrow supplies.

I booked a small indoor venue based on the initial guest list of 40 people. The Fort Atkinson Club Community Center was an easy pick with its historical character and newly renovated rooms. The Club Room included circular tables, neutral chairs, and direct access to a prep kitchen. The space was full of charming windows overlooking the Rock River and pale yellow walls, which effortlessly matched the theme.

I found an adorable template on Etsy and printed the invitations myself. I used brown kraft envelopes from Hobby Lobby for a rustic touch. Planning an event during COVID-19 definitely impacted the RSVPs. Understandably, some invitees didn't feel comfortable attending a social gathering. Most responses were tentative, so I decided to plan for 24 guests. Hand sanitizer and masks were at the ready!

Finalizing a cohesive menu was a challenge with unknown dietary restrictions, food preferences, and allergies. After searching Pinterest for ideas, I made shredded barbecue chicken with mini Hawaiian rolls, fruit skewers, Asian ramen noodle salad, pineapple salsa with chips, cheese cubes, lemon bars, and mini key lime pies. Talk about the prep work! I was busy baking, chopping, and cooking the entire day before the bridal shower.

I borrowed most of the platters, bowls, and serving utensils from family and friends. My Dad's vintage glassware and antique pedestals added a hint of classy pizzazz. The three-tiered stand I found at Hobby Lobby was an eye-catching way to showcase the mini key lime pies.

Now you can't have a bridal shower without mimosas! I placed a striped paper straw in each of the champagne flutes for an extra pop of orange. At Target, I found a plastic ice bucket to keep the bubbly cold and pitcher for orange juice. I bought a dual drink dispenser online at The Home Depot to serve refreshing lemonade and citrus water.

Designing the tablescapes was my favorite part! I verified dimensions with the venue before ordering supplies. Luckily, I discovered two lemon linen tablecloths on clearance at Hobby Lobby. To cover the gift and guest tables, I used rustic burlap tablecloths to offset the bright pink, yellow, orange, and green hues.

For the centerpieces, I put 12-inch white ruffled cake stands on top of braided maize placemats. The elegant pedestals added a bit of height to display the fresh citrus and seeded eucalyptus while allowing guests to easily see and talk to each other. The combination of various textures and natural details elevated the overall look. Unfortunately, I forgot to slice a few fruits in half to highlight the juicy segments.

I purchased affordable paper plates, napkins, straws, and plastic silverware at Target. To save time during set up, I pre-rolled napkins with cutlery inside and secured each one with burlap twine. Layering the lunch and dessert plates added dimension. Cleanup was a breeze after the busy day!

Favors can be tricky, but food is usually a safe bet. To match the citrus theme, I baked a large batch of homemade orange white chocolate chip cookies. I packaged the desserts in clear plastic 3-inch boxes with lime green crinkle cut paper shred. I fastened "thank you" tags, which I crafted out of cardstock and flower appliqués, with bows of burlap twine. Adorable, right?!

To jazz up the room, I made a "Miss to Mrs" bunting banner, cardstock food/drink/gift signs, and fabric garlands. Multicolored balloon bouquets and silver mylar "XO" balloons enhanced the empty corners and windows. Initially, I wasn't thrilled about the black television and thought of countless ways to hide it. A digital image on a USB flash drive was the clever solution!

Once lunch was finished, the gift opening commenced. Jessica received an abundance of cookware, towels, and baking supplies to jumpstart her newlywed home. My present for her was a hangable string art wedding guestbook sign, which I finished just in time for the event!

Hosting a DIY bridal shower is a lot of fun, but don't underestimate the cost and amount of work involved. A successful celebration bursting with beautiful details requires thoughtful planning and organization. The process is especially rewarding once your best friend shares her love of the final result. Cheers to Jessica and Adam!