This past weekend we celebrated my sister Marissa’s upcoming wedding with a lovely bridal shower. After sharing Marissa’s engagement story and our bridesmaid dress shopping, it felt natural to tell you about the shower as well.
I drove home from UNC on Friday afternoon to spend the weekend with Marissa. It was the last time I’ll see her before her wedding weekend in May, so I wanted to soak up the time. She’s always been my best friend, and I treasure the moments we get to spend together—especially now that visits are less frequent.
Marissa had a busy schedule in Raleigh, but we made time for a HIIT class at the gym on Saturday and a run on Sunday morning. I’ve usually leaned more toward cardio, but she’s motivated me to build strength training into my routine this year. Saturday was the first time we lifted together, and it was so much fun. If she lived nearby, I’d do it regularly. The woman who checked us in even asked if we were twins, which I always take as a compliment.
Bright & early Saturday morning
A group of my mom’s friends hosted the shower and they did a beautiful job. The decor, food, and small details looked like something from a magazine or a Pinterest board—I wanted to photograph every bit of it.
The hostesses
Whole Foods chocolate cake– the best
Everything was charming and thoughtfully arranged, down to the heart-shaped sandwiches. One of my mom’s friends found wooden letters at Hobby Lobby and another discovered a weathered wood board at the beach. They combined those pieces to create a beautiful sign featuring Marissa’s future last name.
At the start of the shower we all took plastic rings and played a fun rule-based game: you weren’t allowed to say “Alex” (the groom) or “bride” during the event, or someone else could take your ring. The person with the most rings at the end would win. Marissa’s adorable flower girl charmed the guests and ended up with a fistful of six or seven rings by the end.
We also discovered a playful shower superstition: the number of bows you break while unwrapping gifts predicts the number of children you’ll have. Marissa didn’t know the rule in advance, so by that logic she might be in for a busy household—many bows were broken that day.
It was a warm and joyful celebration. I hope Marissa felt deeply loved and celebrated by the women who came from different chapters of her life—family, friends from school, neighbors, and coworkers. The mix of guests made the day feel especially meaningful.
my mom & sister
So tell me…
Have you attended many wedding or baby showers? What fun shower games have you played?
Do you enjoy hosting parties or showers? Do you have any favorite hosting or decorating tips?