Wedding Wednesday #9 - a shower, Red Gate Farm style



Last Sunday was the second and final bridal shower... one with a bit of "Red Gate Farm" flair!

The invitations set the theme and style for the shower.... pink, red and aqua goodness... with a bit of Cath Kidston and country feel.

The weather here has been challenging, at best.  We had downpours on Friday and Saturday... with a bit of thunder and lightening to add to the excitement.  Fortunately Sunday was looking like we might escape the days of rain.  By Sunday morning I had decided to live dangerously and hold the shower OUTSIDE!

So, welcome to Red Gate Farm.... have a stroll around the house to the back yard...

A bit of whimsy in the decorations... and vintage in the honeycomb/paper bells that I found at the local thrift store for $.39 a piece...

Pull up a chair...

The sky may look a bit gray and drab but it was getting mighty warm by now... and the rain was looking like it would definitely hold off.

It took every chair I owned for seating...

Perhaps I could intest you in a little pink lemonade?


And, of course, there are color coordinated paper straws available for your enjoyment, in what else but a little milk glass pitcher.

Now that you've had a little refreshment, it's GAME time!  What's a bridal (or baby) shower without a game or two?  I used to collect ideas for games from a cousin that is the BEST at this... of course now games and ideas abound on the internet... but one idea I got from her years ago was to make the games up in a little packet of some kind.  For this shower the packet is covered with a card I had printed from an image off of the internet.  Then little packets were made with a pastel colored brad in the corner... but a ribbon works well too.

One of the games was about "what's in your purse/bag"?  A fun one for sure... the most points wins!

And my all time FAVORITE shower game is BINGO!  You play it during the gift opening.  I find that people pay more attention during the gift opening with this little idea.... it works great for baby showers too.  The cards take a bit of time to make up so that they are all different but it's not too bad with a computer and printer... if the bride and groom are registered it gives you lots of ideas to put on the cards.  I like to add some very generic and some very specific items....

Once the games were over it was time to eat!  And you can now see that yes, we do occasionally have blue skies here!  The food was mostly planned as small, bite sized items... easy to dish up so that everyone can move through the buffet quickly.

I couldn't resist adding my vintage strawberry jars... I once heard that jam came in these little pots although I'm not sure about that.... (and please ignore their dust... I should have wiped them off first!)

Other decorations included my rotating "thing" meant to hold pictures... with bits and pieces to reflect the shower colors and theme as well as the bride and groom...

I couldn't resist "Johnson's Bingo".... the groom's last name (and soon to be the bride's) plus BINGO!  Enough said....

The wedding date...

The buffet table was actually made up of two old doors and two saw horses.... my standby for picnics and parties.  Throw a tablecloth or two on it and voila... serving space!


I've amassed quite a collection of serving trays and plates... so I went to my stash and pulled out everything pink, aqua, red, white and pastel-y.... plus I found these fabulous paper doilies at Michael's and the pink rose tray at IKEA in just the perfect colors!

And I can't pass up the paper plates and napkins... most were Cath Kidston but were all pink, red, aquas, pastels and florals again....

My grandma's vintage forks and a piece of Cath Kidston fabric put in an appearance...

And after the meal?  Well sweets of course... loaded with strawberries and raspberries.  Sugar cookies, chocolate thumbprints... both Martha Stewart recipes...

Fabulous raspberry white chocolate cupcakes and to take home, little cups filled with truffles from and made by a local candy store.

The cupcakes were even baked in cute little floral paper wrappers!

By the end the lemonade was gone and the peonies a bit droopy...

So to finish up the party, I had rusty old wheel barrow full of flowers that I had grown from seed for guests to take home....


And fortunately, for my sanity,  the weather held through out the shower and it turned out lovely...

Even though I forgot so many little things I wanted to do... but that always seems to be the way I operate!

Today's wedding post is quite appropriate since the soon to be married couple is celebrating a 3 year anniversary today as well!

Looking forward to some quiet weekends and home... but at 7 plus weeks until the big day they won't be quite for long!

Comments

  1. Everything looks so lovely ! Nice photos glad all had a nice time ! Wonderful idea of your plant give away and in the old wheel barrow , wonderful ! Have a good day !

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  2. Everything looks wonderful...I love all of your ideas. We just went to the most interesting and unusal wedding ever a couple weeks ago...you can visit my blog to read about it...it was a carnival theme! I love the colors and all the vintage details on yours...my sons are both just engaged and haven't set a date or theme and we will more than likely haveit here...so all your ideas have been really helpful!! Your pictures are great too...I have been reading all your posts...love your blog!! Have a great day!!

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  3. Amazing ideas and consistent vintage touches throughout. The colors, flowers, stripes and tins . . . . oh my, you have it all . Enjoy these next weeks in waiting . . . Thrilled you are sharing with us!

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  4. Chris, wow, you pulled out all the stops and had a wonderful party on a wonderful day! All your guests are lucky to have been invited. Those cupcakes alone.. ohhh yum! Congrats to your daughter and I'm looking forward to the wedding TahDah post! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  5. Chris: Great shower. Colors are just beautiful and lots of good eats. Glad the weather held out and soon the big day will happen..Happy Wednesday..Judy

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  6. It looks like you thought of everything to me. The food looks yummy and your decorations are so pretty! Wow, plants as party gifts...where do I get an invitation?

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  7. Oh how I wish I could have come to your party...your home is lovely and all of your decorations and food ...a dream!

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  8. It looks like it was a lovely, sunny day!

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  9. Girl - you throw an awesome party! I love the styling and the food looks yummy! Those tissue paper bells are adorable!

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  10. Looks like a wonderful time!

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  11. Looks like you folks had fun! Richard

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  12. Wow, Chris! That's a party to rival anything Martha's done! The decorations are so great! The food looks good, too. You did a fantastic job!

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  13. What a beautiful bridal shower! Looks like it was so much fun, and such a beautiful day! Love all the vintage touches!! xo Heather

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  14. What a beautiful shower Chris! So glad the weather held...it's always a guess these days!
    I love all your wonderful ideas...esp. the spinner rack! You have amazing little goodies that all come together for just the right touch!
    I so look forward to these posts, and was quite disappointed when my comp. was down yesterday!!!

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  15. Oh it all looks so wonderfully vintage! & so beautiful! All your touches where so heart felt for your girl....and a feast for our eyes!
    Happy fourth! we celebrate Canada Day on Sunday July 1st!
    So exciting the count down to the wedding!

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  16. OH my word! I'll marry my husband again if you'll throw the party! All my favorites. You're one crafty lady!

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  17. Happy July 4 to everyone and Id like to invite everyone to my post "Lancaster on 4 wheels part 2 this coming Thursday. Richard

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Please, feel free to leave a comment... it really makes my day! Chris

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