The bridal shower is one of the most beloved wedding traditions. As a bridesmaid or maid of honour though, it can also be one of the most stressful jobs. But it doesn’t have to be! You can throw a charming celebration your favourite bride-to-be will never forget by keeping the festivities simple and stress free!  The best part, it can easily be made chic, throwing a party around one unique theme such as a High Tea (or coffee if you prefer) Choosing a theme sets the tone for your celebrations and will help you determine the venue, decorations, and menus you’ll be needing for the day. Few themes could be more perfect for a sophisticated and tasty celebration than High Tea – it will have your bestie feeling like the Princess she is!

Now that your theme is set, here are some key elements to consider for making it the perfect party…..

1. The Invitation

When it comes to spreading the word, choose or create something that sets the tone for the festivities you have planned, think about the colour palette and décor you will be using on the day. I love how the pretty liner to these invites references the beautiful roses in the floral arrangements. Don’t forget to consider co-ordinating pieces like name cards for the day, as well as Thank You cards for the bride to send out after as a thoughtful touch.

And, since a bride-to-be is often given several bridal showers, it’s a good idea to choose a specific theme for your bridal shower gifts. In keeping with a Coffee/Tea-centric shower, you could suggest that your guests bring gifts that would help your bride-to-be host her own coffee morning or afternoon tea. Think some of her favourite fresh blends for her Keurig® K475 Coffee Maker, teapots, coffee jugs, creamers, sugar bowl, cake stands and serving utensils! Be sure to check with the bride to see if she has a colour or style preference (modern, retro, vintage, etc) and to include these details within the invites.

Or if their attendance is the only present your bride-to-be would really like from her guests, be sure to include that on the invite too. Something along the lines of “Your presence is the only gift Stephanie desires” on the invite would be perfect.

2. The Décor

High Tea is the ideal theme for celebrating your bride-to-be’s love of vintage. Think vintage china place settings in mix and match floral patterns, ornate vintage cutlery and coloured glass. Keep a balance of old and new in your décor for a party perfect for the modern bride. One touch I love to this tablescape is the mix of the geometric shaped wood, featuring calligraphy, with sweet quotes such as ‘Coffee and friends make the perfect blend’.

If the weather permits, consider having your tea party outside in the garden. Warm sunshine, a gentle wind and beautiful flowers make a wonderful setting for an afternoon tea party shower. If not consider a barn or similar space that you can decorate and make cosy.

3. The Flowers

It has to be fresh flowers all around for a celebration that will look and smell amazing. Choose the same flowers your bride is having in her bouquet for an extra special touch that she will never forget.

To save a few $s, make the most of one of this year’s biggest trends and ask the florist to incorporate plenty of greenery for lush floral arrangements that won’t break the bank. Or if your budget doesn’t extend to a professional florist, make the most of another of this year’s biggest trends and forage your flowers! Find a field of wild flowers or ask a friend with a well stocked garden – but do plan a trial run to see how many flowers are required and how much time it takes to pick and arrange them all.

Get creative like the lovely floral wall in today’s shoot – such a fabulous little DIY project. Or how about using elements that fit your theme – milk jugs, vintage tea canisters, even cups and saucers make elegant vessels for holding any bloom.

4. The Refreshments

For a relaxed affair everyone can enjoy, food & drink should be kept simple, sweet and self-service! Think an all dessert tea party where guests can taste different sweet treats, and sip on a range of refreshing beverages.  A self-serve drink station allows guests to truly customize each sip they take – Green Mountain Coffee® is just the perfect go to brew, offering over 50 distinct varieties, there will be something perfect for everyone!  I love the sound of Nantucket Blend® – a full and hearty medium roast coffee that brings together flavours from three different continents. In contrast, Green Mountain Coffee® Organic Founder’s Blend offers floral citrus, crisp apples, and sweet caramel flavours which sound like just the drink for a Summer garden shower!

With Keurig® you also have the ability to brew either a single cup or a four-cup carafe of coffee at the touch of a button – for quick and easy refills that make hosting something like a bridal shower a total breeze. Add delicious accoutrements such as lemon, honey, chocolate chips, cinnamon, caramel sauce, nutmeg, marshmallows (the options are endless!) to allow your guests to create a truly personalized cup of coffee or tea that is totally them. The best part?  These sweet treats double as delicious décor elements to truly style your bridal shower!

And don’t forget cold drink alternatives such as Honest T & Celestial, which offers a delicious brew over ice experience for those that wish for something cool & refreshing on a hot day.

5. The Favours

Last but not least, give the lucky ladies attending a lasting momento of your chic Bridal Shower by letting them take their mismatched china home – they will think of the day over each morning coffee. Or if you’re hiring your china, and are looking for a more budget friendly favour, keep some of your baked goodies aside for guests to take home as a tasty little reminder of the fun you had. How cute would a cookie iced with the guests name or bridal shower date be? And they would make a fab little DIY project for you and the bridesmaids.

Get these 5 things nailed and all that is left is to sit back and enjoy. What a fabulous, fun and unforgettable way to spend the day!

If you love this shoot as much as I do, you can follow along with this sweet couple’s story in the coming weeks on these other fabulous Aisle Society blogs: visit Fab You Bliss to see their creative proposal, Something Turquoise for a fabulous Wedding DIY for your guests at the end of July, Burnett’s Boards for their Coffee Bar & Portraits towards the end of August, and see how they spend their Honeymoon on Knotsvilla in the middle of September.

Amy

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Credits

Photographer ~ Lauren Rae Photography // Venue ~ Vinewood Plantation // Floral Design ~ Juli Vaughn Designs // Event Styling & Concept Design ~ Storyboard Wedding & The Perfect Palette // Tabletop Rentals ~ Vintage English Tea Cup // Rentals ~ Vintage Rental Co // Place Card Holders ~ EsselleSF // Copper Mugs ~ Aisle Always Love // Bridal Shower Invites & Signage ~ The Paper Perfectionist // Desserts & Sweets ~ Blooming Flour Bakery // Coffee Brewer ~ Keurig (Keurig® K475 Coffee Maker in Sandy Pearl) // Food Stylist ~ Southern Flair Events // Hair & Makeup ~ Elizabeth Sloan Beauty // Jewelry ~ Susie Saltzman // Bride’s Bridal Shower Clothing ~ Darling Divas // Bridesmaid’s Bridal Shower Clothing ~ Target // Models: Bride ~ Samantha Wood, Bridesmaids ~ Clare Tompkins & Kelly Johns

This feature is a sponsored post. Compensation was provided by Keurig for Aisle Society but the thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed within this post are my own. They are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Keurig.

If you are interested in appearing on these pages please do have a read of CVB’s Advertise page, which outlines some of the opportunities available  and email me at [email protected] should you like to know more.