This past weekend was Nora’s bridal shower and I arrived an hour before the shower bearing a punch bowl, the ingredients for punch, and some lemon squares.

I thought I was oh so prepared for this day because I had actually done some things in advance:  I baked the squares earlier in the week, I knew where the punch bowl was, and I bought the ingredients for the punch and had them chilling in my fridge for a week or so.  Then Saturday morning arrived and I realized that buying the gift ahead of time would have been nice, as would choosing an outfit for the event and getting my hair “did”.

I managed to show up with everything I planned to bring, hair fairly tidy and in clean clothing.  I also brought along some marble magnets that I made in a peremptory move, without asking the Maid of Honour, our hostess, if it was ok as a mini favours for the guests.  I’m very much a last minute planner and the inspiration for the magnets hit me the morningnight before:

I was very pleased with the way that they turned out and the other guests and bride-to-be liked them too. 

The shower was lovely:  the MOH/hostess and her mom worked so hard and it showed.  The MOH’s mom’s home was the location and the house is just perfect for entertaining, and was tastefully decorated:  everything was very pretty.  We played a couple of games, mingled with other guests and enjoyed enough desserts to spoil my next five meals (though that didn’t stop me from continuing the binge). The few veggies I snarfed didn’t have a chance.

One of the games we played is one where you make a bridal gown from toilet paper. Here is my team’s bride:

I know, you were checking out those pretty rosettes at the back, right?  My idea and I made ‘em…and since you’ve twisted my arm, check out the close-up:

I know, stunning!

And what entry about a bridal shower would be complete without a gratuitous picture of the bride-to-be, looking pretty pleased to be there?

Oh weddings, how tumultuous they can be.  Although being the bride is a treat, being a MOH/bridesmaid comes with its own stresses because you want the wedding to be perfect for your friend and part of your desire for perfection is linked to the fact that you have certain ideas of how and when things should be done.  And 112 times out of 10, these ideas will diverge greatly from the bride’s ideas.  In all the weddings I’ve been involved in (three for those keeping score at home), I’ve become increasingly good at biting my tongue and smiling inanely, projecting sereneness and complete accord (just don’t look into my eyes lest you see them flash with barely concealed emotions).  But some magic happens:  after every wedding, when all the dust settles, I look back and see that the wedding turned out (usually) just as the bride wanted or expected.  And that’s always good enough for me.

Filed under: Celebrations, Eating, Friends by jummy