a couple’s shower challenge

Happy Wedding Bridal Party Challenge Wednesday!

Our good friends, Kam and Susan, and their daughter, Savannah {one of my bridesmaids} with boyfriend Andreas, threw Drew and I a wedding couple’s shower at their home last weekend. Now, this is was no ordinary shower that us ladies are used to. There was no tea sipping, opening up measuring spoons or typical Q & A games. It was a friendly, backyard and party atmosphere where you can slip on your cowboy boots, sip on your beverage from a mason jar and be fully entertained by the fun games in store {and the men were invited, too!}

The decor was an old western saloon. Bandanas were tucked under the flowers and placed into cowboy boots on the tables. The drinks were adorable mason jars wrapped with a rustic twine and heart attached to it. They did a fabulous job!

The games that our hosts created for us were without a doubt HILARIOUS! It was called Bridal Party Challenge – the groom and his groomsmen versus the bride and her bridesmaids. It was officially game time.

In the first challenge, Annie and Marco had to roll the large die on the grass until they rolled two 6’s or two 1’s. Unfortunately for the girls, Marco won. Groomsmen: 1  Bridesmaids: 0

The second challenge was a juggling competition. Chad and his girlfriend, Lindsay, were competing. I think Chad may have been a better juggler, but the crowd voted for Lindsay – sorry Chad! Groomsmen: 1  Bridesmaids:1

In the third challenge, Savannah and JT had to place an Oreo cookie on their forehead and skillfully move it into their mouths without using their hands. Savannah wrinkled her cheeks and nose while JT did squats to toss the Oreo in the air.

Savannah came out notorious! Groomsmen: 1  Bridesmaids: 2

The fourth challenge was perfect for Jessica and Jenna, who we all know are ‘girly’ girls and do not typically enjoy competitive activities. Except that they were paired against their husbands 🙂 It was the girls against the boys, each team seated across from their partner. One member of each team had to feed a bowl of whipped cream to their teammate. Whoever finished their bowl first won the round. The trick: everyone was blindfolded 🙂

The boys won by less than a second. Groomsmen: 2  Bridesmaids: 2

The final challenge for the bride and groom involved a paper plate, a flipper and a tortilla. Drew and I had each had a plate tied to the top of our heads and a flipper on one of our feet. We had to flip the tortilla from our flipper to our plate without touching it with our hands. Drew and I are equally competitive, and we were both in it to win it!

Let’s just say, I kicked his butt 🙂

The winning {bride and bridesmaids} team

The ‘A for effort’ {groom and groomsmen} team

Bridal Party Challenge. Unique. Fun. Completely entertaining. It was a perfect shower activity to get people involved and have an absolute blast! Our guests enjoyed watching and our wedding party enjoyed participating. Our Bridal Party Challenge extravagganza was something that we, as well as our guests, will never forget!

Thank you Kam, Susan, Savannah and Andreas for your inspirational creativity for our Tutto Bella brides!

{images via tutto bella}

something for the host{ess}

We all love to bring that perfect little something to say thank you for being such a lovely host and/or hostess. Well, here are a few host/hostess gifts we think are just great.

Jodi just bought our aunts and grandma pairs of Toms shoes {in one of her wedding accent colors} to show her gratitude for the nice bridal lunch they hosted for her upcoming wedding. So comfortable and cute.

Lisa at With Style and Grace has a brilliant idea for “morning after” hostess gifts – all the ingredients and recipes for a Bloody Mary and Mimosa cocktail –  beautifully presented, of course. Love it.

Martha Stewart Living has a fun and creative game{s} on gift. Games are a perfect gift for the host and/or hostess…and the newly married couple with no money that need to be spending most nights in throughout the week to save their pennies.

Martha also came through with the simple, yet great, idea of a bar in a box.

Get some funny cocktail napkins at Fleur de Lis {a paperie}.

Who doesn’t love a personalized gift? Monogrammed stationery from Fleur de Lis would be oh so thoughtful.

Buy the reader in your life a PSA Essential stamp {also available at Fleur de Lis} that he or she can stamp From the library of… inside the cover of all his/her books.
Or, give the host and/or hostess a PSA Essential stamp with his/her address.

{images via Tutto Bella, With Style and Grace, Martha Stewart Living and PSA Essentials}

sip and see

Sip & See.

Definition: A meet and greet to introduce your new baby to the world.

My personal thoughts on a Sip & See party…genious! I love baby showers, but as beautiful as a preggo mama is at her shower, people love to hold a baby and say ‘ooh and ahh.’  

It’s like show and tell, with the best gift of ALL…a sweet bambino.

I’m all about giving the new mom {and second, third or fourth-time moms} space to adjust to life as a new mom – let’s face it, her life has been turned upside down and all around…in a good way. Not to mention the hormones that will have her crying for no apparent reason. 🙂 I admit, I am one of those women who prefer to be left alone after having a baby – so I would need at least three months before I could do a Sip & See – but others are different and enjoy being around people after giving birth {and God bless you for that}. So, whatever time is right for you, make the time {or have a friend or mother, or mother-in-law make the time} to host a Sip & See.

I love this party at The Party Dress because its adorable, and, of course, has some fun cocktails for people to Sip while they See.

Tori Spelling threw a Sip & See shower for her friends, the famous “guncles,” with the adorable theme, Simple Simone after the baby girl’s name, Simone. Courtney as Pizzazzerie helped designed the logo.

I saved the best for last because I am IN LOVE with this MILKaholic Sip & See by Carrie Sellman of Half Baked {found at Hostess with the Mostess}. You HAVE to see more details of this party…the details are amazing!

The idea of making a diaper thoughts station is brilliant. Love it…also a great idea for a baby shower {with the baby still in mama’s belly}.

{images via The Party Dress, Child Mode, and Hostess with the Mostess}