Libby's shower was a huge success and you'll see there was no shortage of food or cocktails. That's my kind of shower.I planned a black/white foodie-themed shower for Libby because her wedding colors are black and white and she is a huge foodie, I like to keep themes personal and relevant. I incorporated a lot of Libby's favorite foods into the Italian-inspired menu.
Special thanks to Libby's sisters and future sister-in-laws for helping to provide the booze! And a HUGE thank you to my friend Kristin who helped out with the shower all day.
Here are all the details...
I served a "Blackberry Bridetini" signature cocktail which consisted of homemade blackberry simple syrup, vodka and club soda. The drink was light and refreshing with a hint of sweetness. 
The template for the paper goods is from the Wedding Chicks blog (meant for wedding invitations but I used the scroll for the bridal shower invitation and carried it through with menu cards).
For a non-alcoholic option we had Italian soda from Trader Joes.
Here's Libby, the cute bride-to-be sipping her Blackberry Bridetini.
Kristin, my helper for the day....taking a well-deserved break for a cocktail.
I served cheese and bread/crackers/fruit as an appetizer. Libby is obsessed with bread and cheese. I also created a mini crostini bar. Guests could build their own crostini and choose from three toppings; bruschetta, white bean and caper and artichoke parmesan (full menu below with links to recipes).
More bread than we needed. One thing I have learned...though I think I can plan one bad-ass party, I have no idea how to estimate appropriate amounts of food. I bought way too much food and now have 2 pounds of mozzarella, 2 baguettes and dozens of cupcakes sitting in my fridge. 
We served Italian pasta salad (brought by Libby's sister-in-law, Suzie) and proscuitto-wrapped melon with a lime drizzle for lunch.
Build-your-own caprese sandwiches served with foccacia or ciabbata. The gorgeous basil is from the Mpls Farmers' Market. 
By the time we served dessert everyone had eaten quite a bit plus it was 90 degrees out. Yeah...it was hot as hell. But for an outdoor shower I will take heat over rain any day. Dessert included brownie bites (made by Kristin, they were a big hit) and I made oreo cupcakes. I brought these to work on Monday and received rave reviews.
I decorated the tent with black and white paper lanterns. Thanks to my hubs and brother-in-law, Drew for helping with set-up. 
I kept the flowers pretty simple with white mums and hydrangea purchased from Trader Joes for only $12. I put them in bud vases, apothecary jars and varying sizes of cylinder vases. 
Libby received a wedding tree as a gift from her mom (purchased from Etsy) that will be her guest book at the wedding. Guests put a finger print on the tree and sign their name, great idea for a fall wedding (Libby got the idea from our friend Nicole who is getting married in October.)Now for the full menu:
Italian menu
Appetizers
Baguette/crackers/fruit
Gorgonzola
Gouda
Brie
Dubliner
Build-your-own crostini; bruschetta (purchased from Trade Joes, white bean and caper, artichoke parmesan)
Main course
Build-your-own caprese sandwiches
Proscuitto-wrapped melon with a lime drizzle
Italian pasta salad
Parmesan garlic kettle chips
Dessert
Brownie bites
Oreo cupcakes
Beverages
Blackberry bridetini (blackberry simple syrup, vodka, club soda)
Italian soda
White wine
Red wine
Water
Whew, hungry yet?!
Congrats to Libby and Jason on their upcoming wedding! I can't wait!
I am thrilled to welcome Annie of 
An ivory buttercream cake would be the main centerpiece for my tea buffet, and to dress it up I cut doilies at different heights and worked carefully pressing them into the buttercream. 
Then I finished it off with double folded white satin ribbon wrapped around the bottom of each layer. I secured the ribbon with a straight pin in the back of the cake.
{Photo credit: 
Doilies wrapped around napkins and tied with ribbons make a sweet dressed up napkin ring.
For a menu, I wrote on a doily and attached it to cut colored cardstock, then popped it in a frame I already had.
Two bunches of white and pink carnations served as more than enough flowers! I made over 6 arrangements with leftover stems for under $17. Hope you liked my ideas of some quick, easy ways to dress up a buffet table for a bridal shower! 
{Photo credits: 
{Photo credits: 
As told by Kristen:
The amazing menu:
Thanks so much for sending this amazing bridal luncheon my way, Kristen!
Because it was a couples shower, Trish wanted it to not only be feminine and dainty, but have a strong masculine presence as well. In order to do that she incorporated plaids and wildflower prints.
Trish served bbq foods (burgers, baked beans, corn on the cob, etc.) in small packages (sliders, tiny baked bean pots, etc.). I am in love with those baked beans in a jar and the french fry cones!!!
Trish put together little brown bags with all of the ingredients to create s’morea with a label that read “s’more love” and on the backside the couples’ wedding date.
Be sure to head over to Trish's blog, 
I cohosted a bridal shower picnic yesterday for my friend Amy and had some pretty crazy weather. The temperature was perfect, 77 and sunny. But it was windy as hell! I'm talking about mason jars flying off tables, vases breaking, napkins and plates swirling around in the air. Uh, what a mess and definitely not ideal for a picnic. But...you make the best out of the situation so we had to forego some of the decor and still had a great time. 
We had cute favor boxes and wrote "Love is Sweet" on each one with two chocolate chip sandwich cookies inside. 
We placed the favor boxes on top of a cake stand. They were blowing all over the place and the tops kept flying off!
Amy loves cheese so we had a couple cheese platters with her favorites including camembert and gorgonzola. 
Co-host Melanie handmade fabic napkins and tied some leftover fabric to mason jars which held the silverware.
Freshly squeezed lemonade made my Amy's grandmother. It was delicious.
Gorgeous and delicious cupcakes from 
The gorgeous bride to be with her hair swirling in the crazy wind!