Katherine's Bridal Shower: An Afternoon Garden Cupcake Tea Party

08/25/2011

See more pictures from Katherine's wedding shower in this slideshow!

This past Sunday, we celebrated Katherine’s bridal shower! We had more than 100 female family members and friends come to shower Katherine with lots of love for her upcoming wedding.

As her big sister, I was in charge of throwing Katherine a bridal shower she wouldn’t forget! It was tough to do without Katherine finding out, but with Mommy’s help, I managed to pull it off.

When she walked in and took everything in, she was blown away! The theme of Katherine’s bridal shower was an “Afternoon Garden Cupcake Tea Party.” Mommy and I worked very hard to throw this event -– and planned everything down to the smallest detail. There was a lot of tense last-minute scrambling to get everything done, but the end result was beautiful.

We had Katherine’s bridal shower at a historic home with beautiful grounds where the guests could roam on the beautiful terrace and green lawn, and mingle among the flowers and the fountains. Of course, the color scheme for the shower was PINK! I chose Peony Pink taffeta linens for the tables, beautiful glass urns exploding with pink garden roses and hydrangea -– in gorgeous shades of hot pink and pale pink -- and, of course, our signature pink boxes of Georgetown Cupcakes! The classic gold Chiavari chairs and gold chargers on the tables provided a perfect accent color.

And, it goes without saying, that cupcakes were EVERYWHERE at Katherine’s bridal shower! We used them in a bunch of creative ways at the shower. When the shower was over, there was not one single cupcake left! Here are a few ways I incorporated cupcakes and our signature color into the shower.

Cupcake Placecards
Instead of numbering each table with a number, we named each table after one of our Georgetown Cupcake flavors. So, instead of seating guests at Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, etc., we seated guests at Red Velvet, Lava Fudge, Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter Fudge, Vanilla Squared, Chocolate Coconut, Maple, Chocolate & Vanilla, Lemon Blossom, Lemon Berry and Mocha.

Then, we placed each of the guests’ names on a mini cupcake of the corresponding table flavor. So, each guest had to find her placecard and then see which flavor of mini cupcake she had -- and that’s how everyone figured out at which table she was seated. It was a fun way for guests to find their tables. It got them talking and mingling and discussing flavors. It was definitely playful way to seat everyone!

A Signature Pink Mocktail
When guests arrived, waiters passed around trays of a signature pink mocktail -– a delicious raspberry-infused sparkling cider drink, served in stemless champagne flutes with pink and white striped straws.

A Special Cupcake Flavor for Katherine’s Shower
To go with the tea party shower theme, I created a special cupcake flavor just for Katherine’s bridal shower: a lavender Earl Grey teacake cupcake. I infused Katherine’s favorite blend of lavender and Earl Grey tea in the cupcake batter and the buttercream icing.

I served these cupcakes in a creative way around the huge cupcake sculpture centerpiece for her bridal shower. I can’t give away the surprise creation just yet, so stay tuned to see what we made for Katherine! It blew her –- and all of our guests -- away! I also carried the lavender Earl Grey theme through to the favors for Katherine’s shower. Each guest received a tiny package of Katherine’s special tea blend, packaged in a beautiful cellophane pouch with a heart-shaped tea infuser, and a recipe card for Katherine’s special bridal shower lavender Earl Grey teacake cupcakes. I placed each of these tea favors at each place setting.

A Special Gift for Katherine
Katherine and I both LOVE to collect mixers in different colors, but Katherine is obsessed with getting all the latest colors. Some people collect stamps, some people collect cars ... we collect mixers!

I know how crazy Katherine is about our mixer collection, so I wanted to get her a mixer that nobody else in the world had –- something one-of-a-kind, made just for her. So, I got her a hot pink mixer covered in thousands of pink Swarovski crystals! When she opened her blinged-out mixer, Katherine FREAKED OUT!! She loved it, and I was so happy she loved it so much!

Personalized Takeaway Favors
In addition to the tea, tea infusers, and recipes, we also gave each guest a box of 4 mini cupcakes as they left the shower! In each box were Katherine’s four favorite flavors: Peanut Butter Fudge, Salted Caramel, Lava Fudge and Vanilla Squared. Each box was gift-wrapped with a beautiful bow and a thank-you note to each guest for attending the shower.

After all the planning and work that went into the shower, in the end, the four-hour bridal shower flew by! Mommy gave a heartfelt speech, and we laughed and cried ... and ate a lot of cupcakes!

Stay tuned this fall to see Katherine’s shower on a special episode of DC Cupcakes: Katherine’s Wedding!!

xoxo, Sophie

Image courtesy Sophie LaMontagne

Comments

[Melissa - Bling Diva Designs]

I enjoyed SO MUCH to be a part of this secret gift for Katherine! Biggest crystal project I've ever done!

[Mia]

OMG that mixer is AMAZING!!!! I want one!! Where/Who can I contact to get one made like that? I own a pretty boring silver one, but with silver crystals OMG my kitchen would be so cute!!

[lovebug]

Bling Diva Designs did the mixer!!! They are awesome.

http://www.blingdivadesigns.com/

[KateW]

Bling Diva Designs made the cake topper for my wedding cake. I <3 BDD!

[Bre Bauer]

Bling Diva Designs did my wedding cake topper too! Melissa is AMAZING!!! So jealous of that mixer!

[Staci]

Bling Divas does amazing work! Not only did they do my sisters beautiful and unique wedding, but they've done cupcake toppers for my daughters birthday! Always a quality product and super cute! I think I may be hitting them up to bling out my Kitchen Aid now ;)

[Christy Klein]

Melissa from Bling Diva did such a fab job on the mixer. I love her work, and I love HER! For those of you inquiring about her work, you can find her here... http://www.blingdivadesigns.com/

[Kat]

That mixer is unbelievable! I NEED one! Contacting Bling Diva Designs today to get a quote on a red one to match my kitchen!

[Chef Ira]

I love their work!

Chef Ira @ http://www.partychef.ca

[How Many Calories are in a banana]

I like to eat those lovely cupcakes.. Hope I could make some such good and yummy as in the picture.

[How Many Calories are in pineapple]

Congrats to all! Especially to the ones who made the lovely cupcakes. I really like it

[tea favors]

That mixer is awesome! omg I want one! And the cupcake flavors you sent home with your guests - yummy! (need that mixer to make some cakes) How fab!

[Katy]

I am OBSESSED with katherine's dress she wore to the bridal shower, who is it by? Its absolutely gorgeous and I would love to know who made it!

[Elsie]

Congratz! Everything looked beautiful! I also loved Katherine's pink floral dress at the bridal shower. Please tell me who is it by? where can I get it? Thanks!

[Grace]

Those cupcakes look so yummy! Beautiful event. Katherine looked gorgeous! I loved her dress.

[Rita]

I recognize the venue as being Graydon Hall, in Toronto (Canada). Why did you come from DC to Toronto for the shower? Why did you not say in the show's credits or web description where you held the shower? Did 100 of your friends really travel from DC (or elsewhere) to Toronto?

[judy]

Please can you tell us where Katherine's dress is from...it's gorgeous!!

[@MSEnthusiast]

I love the table with the letters that read "sweet." That idea is sweet! The post is BEYOND cool.

Quote:If you want sweet dreams, you've got to live a sweet life." ~Barbara Kingsolver

[Grace]

Has anyone found out who is the designer or what brand is her shower dress by? I really like it but I don't see any responses about it. Thanks!

[engagement rings]

That kitchen aid is freaking awesome. Seriously, purple/pink and sparkly? I want it, and I want it now!

[Sophie & Katherine's No. 1 FAN!!!]

Rita- they were born and raised in Canada, so I would assume that most of the guests traveled locally, but some might have flown.