We all love a surprise, especially when we get to be the one doing the surprising. Over the weekend my girlfriend Candice’s mother threw her a surprise Bridal Shower at the Coral House in Baldwin. I was given orders by the mother of the bride to arrive early with the rest of the bridal party to help set up. I guess 10:45 is early for a Sunday and I was running late. Never having been there didn’t help me much, but I managed to arrive by 11:00. I had no idea the Coral House was so large and so beautiful. When I finally found our room, I realized I had so much trouble locating it because I was the first one there. It wasn’t too long before the other bridesmaids arrived yawning with Starbucks in hand (this made me feel a little better about my tardiness).

The bridal shower was held in the Lakeside Room, which was perfect for the tea party theme her mother chose. The room had bookshelves, wood panels, stained glass, and paintings. The color of the party décor included the same lavender and other purple colors Candice chose for her wedding day. The staff was very helpful in assisting us. They helped set up, placed the favors on each plate, and gave us extra tools that we needed to complete some last minute projects. By the time the guests began to arrive, everything was decorated just as we planned. The surprise part of it was a success too. Candice definitely had no idea.

Being a part of CelebratewithStyle.com has made me more aware of all the little details of event design. You could say that my party senses have been heightened. At the shower, the centerpieces caught my eye. The mother of the groom created them with help from a florist. She found gorgeous porcelain tea pots at Marshalls and thought that they would be perfect for the party (the florist was even curious about where she got them). The day of the party she had them filled with flowers. This was a creative and inexpensive way to add to the theme. Guests loved them and by the time everyone went home there weren’t any left. Sometimes it’s the smallest touches that can make an event all the more memorable.

Filed under: Party decor