Backyard Bridal Shower

The sunny backyard of Crissi Kessler set the perfect backdrop for a

 "Garden Party" Bridal shower

honoring Emily Beall, soon to be Mrs. Tidwell.

From the invites to the party favors Crissi and I kept with the beautiful purple and green color theme Emily had chosen for her wedding. The white round tables were set with white china, purple napkins, and centerpieces of beautiful summer flowers. We put sliced limes in the vases to add a fresh touch of color. Under the vases we placed pictures of Emily and her soon to be husband, Jim, framed with purple stationary. The photographs added a personal touch and focal point for guests ase they dined.

 Each guest was given an individually labeled champagne glass upon arriving. This glass would double as the party favor for them to take home and enjoy in the future!

 Nothing says summer party like a fresh fruit mimosa bar! A great way to start a party and encourage guest interaction is to provide customizable beverages, where guests can create their own concoctions and share flavor ideas!

A meal of summer quiche, fresh fruit salad with  a lemon yogurt sauce, mixed green salad with pecans and berries, and fresh baked muffins were served.

Homemade Lemon Cupcakes served as dessert, beautifully frosted by Allison Geiser of Timothy Bakery, Woodland

In effort avoid lenghty games, we decided to keep it simple with a participate at will guessing game. The prize? Purple Beer of course!

 Crissi and I mailed a blank recipe card with each invitation and asked the guests to bring it to the shower filled out with one of their favorite recipes they would like to share with Emily. This is a creative way to give the

bride-to-be a useful collection of memories from the special day!