In addition to a “wild” bachelorette party, the bridesmaids joined forces with Leticia, the mother of the bride, to put together a bridal shower in honor of Sam at Park Avenue Bar & Grill.

I found these invitations on Etsy and was instantly sold. They had the perfect vintage feel, which we infused throughout the entire decor. With enough tables for the 40 confirmed attendees, we were able to transform the restaurant’s private room into a rustic wonderland.

Sam’s sisters – Kylah and Kianna – and I went in on this burlap wedding date banner together. I also brought some red mini clothespins to hang pictures of the bride- and groom-to-be from 2005 (when they first met) through today!

We ended up hanging the banner from the fireplace behind the bridal table. It looked great!

Next came the details. Sam’s mom picked up large mason jars and inserted metal wiring into the lids so that the flowers would stay upright. She also brought together this amazing bouquet of reds, whites and blues. After tying twine around the jars for a finishing touch, we had our centerpieces.

For favors, we found these lip balms with custom tags and labels. We decided to order them in mimosa and sangria flavors to match the drinks being served at the shower. Combined with a treat from Bath & Body Works, they were a great take home gift for our guests.

We also decided to do aprons since the future married couple loves to cook. Leticia found an embroiderer to sew on “Sam’s Bridal Shower,” plus the date and a red heart.

Sam’s sister Kianna drew this pretty box for cards, while Leticia made a burlap “gifts” banner…

…and a memory board for guests to pin their favorite photos of Sam (and Alex).

Last but not least, we had “showers of happiness” chocolate cupcakes in the shape of an umbrella!

These tasted as yummy as they looked.

With all the decorations in place, there was only one element missing: the lovely bride-to-be!

Sam arrived just in time to snag a mimosa and say cheers with family and friends.

Hayley and Lauren…

…the bridal party…

…and mom and daughter!

We squeezed in a quick game of He Said, She Said.

Then it was time to eat. The menu at Park Avenue Bar & Grill was amazing. For the shower, we were able to have a first course that was a soup or salad, a second appetizer course – for which we chose empanadas and stuffed artichokes – and a third course selection of pasta, fish, chicken or beef.

We also started out with a delicious bread basket served with a tomato-based dipping sauce.

I chose the 35th Street Garden Salad for my first course, which was comprised of mixed greens, breaded goat cheese, roasted beets, smoked almonds and a white balsamic vinaigrette.

For the appetizer course, I went with the empanadas. The beef version was my favorite.

I think the bride-to-be agreed with me. 🙂

And for my entrée I chose the stuffed roulade of chicken, served up with more goat cheese and spinach, along with a side of grilled squash and truffled potatoes. I couldn’t taste much truffle but the dish was overall very good.

After lunch, we played a game of What’s In Your Purse? I had a rather eclectic mix following the bachelorette that included Dramamine, a theme park map and glow bracelets. Plus a leftover ticket from visiting the Capitol in D.C.

The rest of the group got to searching and jotting down their various items.

We read each item and its corresponding point total aloud. Once everyone had tallied up their scores, I started asking people to raise their hands if they had “more than 10…20…30.” Eventually we got to more than 60 and there were two hands left. Letty had a final score of 64, while Sam’s friend Reci ended up with a whopping 93!

This came as no surprise to those of us who had been at the bachelorette. Reci comes prepared!

Once the winners had been determined, we took a trip down memory lane. In the invitations, I had asked everyone to come with a favorite photo of Sam. It was so much fun to hear stories of how she has impacted our lives in both touching and hilarious ways.

Then it was time to open gifts! Sam received a lot of great things.

We also brought out the cupcakes to enjoy while playing one last shower game: toilet paper bride! Lauren was gracious enough to volunteer as one of our models.

Along with Susie…

…Vanessa…

…and Rebecca.

Ultimately Vanessa was determined the winner, but all four ladies looked fabulous.

It was a truly awesome shower, and I was glad that everything came together so beautifully. Most importantly, the bride-to-be seemed happy – and more excited than ever for October 12.

T-minus 45 days until my best friend says “I do!”

Abrazos,