Bridal Shower: She Found Her Main Squeeze

Looking for the perfect bridal shower theme that will incorporate natural elements and pops of color? Bring on the lemons, limes, and oranges! "She Found Her Main Squeeze" is a theme with a lot of unique and tasty possibilities.

As the matron of honor for my best friend, Jessica, I was responsible for hosting a shower for her closest family and friends. With her wedding scheduled in October, I decided to host the event in August. Living in Texas posed a few logistical issues, but luckily with my Dad back in Wisconsin I was able to make it work.

With an initial guest list of around 40, I was able to choose a small venue. The Fort Atkinson Club Community Center situated right on the Rock River was the perfect spot with its historic character and newly renovated rooms. The Club Room had neutral tables and chairs with direct access to a prep kitchen. The space was full of windows and the pale yellow walls tied in effortlessly with the theme.

COVID-19 definitely impacted the RSVPs. Understandably, some invitees did not feel comfortable attending a social gathering. I decided to plan for 24 guests with the responses I received. Hand sanitizer and masks were at the ready!

I wanted the theme to match the bride-to-be and citrus is playful, yet low-key. I found an Etsy template and printed the invitations myself. I used brown kraft envelopes from Hobby Lobby for a rustic touch.

Deciding on a menu can be difficult, especially with dietary restrictions and allergies. I chose dishes and drinks that not only fit the theme, but were colorful and flavorful.

I made barbecue chicken with mini Hawaiian rolls, fruit skewers, Asian ramen noodle salad, cheese, pineapple salsa with chips, lemon bars, and mini key lime pies. Talk about the prep work! I was busy baking, chopping, and cooking the entire day before the shower.

Most of the platters and bowls I was able to borrow from my best friend, Abbey, and my Dad. He has a variety of antique colored glassware and pedestals that added a unique touch. I used a three-tiered stand I picked up at Hobby Lobby to showcase the mini pies.

Now you can't have a bridal shower without mimosas! The venue provided champagne flutes and I stuck a paper straw in each one for a pop of color. I also set up a cute drink dispenser I bought from The Home Depot with lemonade and citrus water. I found a matching plastic tub and ice bucket at Target to keep beverages cold.

The tablescapes were the most fun to design, especially after finding two lemon linen tablecloths at Hobby Lobby on clearance. SCORE! I ordered burlap tablecloths to cover the guest and gift tables.

For the centerpieces, I used braided maize placemats and 12" white ruffled cake stands. They provided an elegant base for the fresh citrus and seeded eucalyptus. The various textures elevated the overall look.

I purchased vibrant paper plates, napkins, straws, and plastic silverware from Target. Cleanup was a breeze! To save time, I pre-rolled cutlery with a napkin and tied it together with burlap twine. Layering the lunch and dessert plates added dimension.

Favors can be tricky, but food is usually a safe bet. I baked homemade orange white chocolate chip cookies and placed three in each 3" box with lime green crinkle cut paper shred. I made "thank you" tags out of cardstock paper and flower appliqués and attached them with burlap twine. Adorable, right?!

Before traveling to Wisconsin for the event, I made a lot of decorations ahead of time at home. I made a cardstock "Miss to Mrs" bunting sign, cardstock food/drink signs, a cardstock gift sign, fabric garlands, and a digital sign to display on the television. I bought silver mylar "XO" balloons to stick on the windows and placed multicolored balloon bouquets in the corners of the room.

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

Hosting a bridal shower is a lot of fun, but don't underestimate the amount of work. A bit of organization, DIY, and planning goes a long way. The process is especially rewarding after the event when you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that your best friend loved it! Cheers to Jessica and Adam!