Dave and Brit Plus One

I hosted a Bridal Shower for my best friend, Ginny, over the weekend. I rented my neighborhood clubhouse, and with the amazing help of my mother, along with dear friends and family of the bride, I think she had an amazing shower!

A huge thank you to my mom, Barb & Carli Jo, Stephanie, Lucy, Rita, Diane, Catharine, Christine and Jill for making my vision of this shower for my friend... well... just perfect!

The beautiful Bride-to-Be!

The invite! Thanks to Mellen Designs!

The food and beverage buffet.

Favors & a sign-in platter.

A wishing tree for guests to hang advice & wishes for the couple! Thank you Stephanie!

Decor above the food.

The tables had Mint Julep cups filled with light yellow roses and hydrangeas, Ginny's late mother's perfume bottles, and engagement photos.

Ginny's wedding colors are champagne and gray. She had originally considered yellow. She is having all the bridesmaids purchase their own dresses based on an assortment of color swatches, and she was afraid yellow would be hard to coordinate vs. champagne/ivories. Therefore, I decided to do the shower with yellow instead of champagne.

Loved this banner above the gifts. "Here Comes the Bride!"

Lemon heads as favors!

My mom provided all of the beautiful linens! Buttery yellow accents in table runners and sashes.

I loved these paper fans. They made a great backdrop behind the Bride-to-be as she opened her gifts!

Just another peak into the 2nd room.

The bride's designated seat. Thank you Catharine for making this sign!

Paper poms, gray lanterns and engagement photos.

Ginny's mom, Debbie, is no longer with us here on Earth. She collected perfume bottles & those were passed on to Ginny after her death. My mom came up with a brilliant idea to use those bottles in the decor. We had them scattered everywhere...the tables, the mantles, the buffet, etc. I decided that I wanted all of the hostesses to give Ginny a new perfume bottle to add to her mother's collection. This table had all of the new bottles for my friend. Many were attached with notes explaining to Ginny why the bottle was chosen for her.

I also wrote a poem. Throughout my life, Debbie always wrote poems. She was always inspiring through her clever words and funny rhymes. They were always so personal to the person she was writing for.

Although I'm no Debbie... I tried to channel my friend's mom when writing this. And just in case you cannot read from the picture above.... here is my poem to my friend.

When You Thought She Wasn't Looking

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was watching her tiny baby sleep.
Though exhausted and overworked, she prayed that you would keep.

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was watching her inquisitive toddler play.

The blessing of your life gave her thankfulness to pray.

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was watching her little girl cheer.

During the nervousness of tryouts, she wished she could take your fear.

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was watching her middle schooler get ready for the dance.

Fighting tears of bittersweetness, she'd share her love for you every chance.

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was watching you show others love.

Humbled by your great big heart; to be called mom, she felt undeserving of.

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was watching her broken hearted teen.

She raged inside with emotion; for her baby, she was ready to get mean.

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was watching her senior beam with joy.

She painted each stroke on the homecoming sign hoping you'd enjoy.

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was watching her college student drive away.
She ached to see you go, but she knew you couldn't stay.

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was watching her daughter as a grown up.

The pride of your success flowed over from her cup.

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was watching you fall in love.
Andrew wasn't just any boy, but she knew he was a blessing from above.

When you thought she wasnt looking, she was watching him on bended knee.

And way up in Heaven, she felt your joy as you said yes beneath that tree.

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was loving you as an 80's Bachelorette loon.

She made her presence cleverly known by "gag me with a spoon".

When you thought she wasn't looking, she was laughing down from Heaven.

A shower she could've done, was being given instead by seven.

When you think she isn't looking, she's watching down right here.

With her old perfume collection, her presence feels so near.

When you think she isn't looking, she sees you feeling blue.

She smiles as you hold her bottles and likes that your loved ones have added new.

When you think she won't be looking, she'll be watching a beautiful bride.

She'll walk with you down the aisle that day, her spirit will not hide.

When you think she won't be looking, she'll watch your life grow with joy.

When you start to ache with grief, she'll wish you could hear her say, "Stop and enjoy!"

This life is full of pain, but it's also full of love. No matter the distance, she has and always will... be watching from above.

-In Honor & Remembrance of Debbie Davis McCoy, loving mother of the bride.

The entrance walking into the shower was welcoming with the Groom's and soon to be Bride's last name!

I just love the archway!

Future Mrs. Apro.

Seeing everything for the first time.

Joyful tears. =)

How beautiful she looked!

nom. nom. nom.

The Menu:

Chocolate Fountain and dipping items

Fresh Fruit basket and arrangement

White Potato Salad

Fresh Cheese Assortment & Crackers

Chicken Salad Croissants

Asparagus Crepes

Pasta Salad

Fresh Vegetable Tray

Shrimp Cocktail

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Cupcake Tower

What can I say? We like to eat!

I loved the lace cupcake wrappers my mom found!

Andrew and Ginny share a love for horses. Andrew even owns and races them! I loved this horseshoe that I had made on etsy!

You can't see it well, but the banner was made by the lovely bridesmaid, Catharine. It says, "Love Never Fails."

I am so blessed to have such a best friend! We have grown up together and been through so much! I'm so thankful to see these blessings and celebrate this joy in her life.

The Bride with her big sis, Miss Lucy Lee. Have you ever seen a more beautiful duo?

My mom, Sweet K, and I with the Bride!

Bride-to-be and one of her flower girls!

Just a shot of the tables.

Gifts pouring in.

Catharine and Stephanie! I love these ladies. Ginny has such amazing women in her life!

My favorite closeup shot of the flowers. How beautiful. Ginny's dear friends, Barb and Carli Jo, were responsible for such loveliness.

We loved our florist! Thank you Kim Ross!

Grabbing a beverage!

Enjoying the company and the food.

The groom showed up once Ginny started opening her gifts. It was so sweet! Before the shower, Andrew stopped by to see all of the decor. He was so blown away with everything that he said he was ready to get married that day! HA! He is so excited to be marrying my sweet friend. He loves her dearly and is beyond good to her. She definitely is deserving, but I'm just so thankful that God brought these two together. From the day I met him... I think before Ginny even knew... I knew! He was THE ONE! {At least I wanted him to be!}

And I'll end on a photo shoot of the lovely future Bride and Groom!

What a wonderful day celebrating the blessings in my friend's life! I am so humbled that God was thinking of me when Ginny became my friend as a little girl. I am beyond blessed & my heart is full of joy for what God is doing in her life.

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”

-C.S. Lewis