"Love is the greatest refreshment in life."
(Pablo Picasso)
On Saturday, April 28, my bridesmaids organized a beautiful bridal shower for me, hosted at bridesmaid Angela's apartment building on Manhattan's Upper East Side. I'm so grateful to them and to all who attended, especially those who came from afar: my bridesmaid Vivien from Chicago, future sister-in-law Grace, also from Chicago, and bridesmaid Robyn from Virginia. The shower showcased some of my favorite eats and treats, which was not only very thoughtful, but also naturally enjoyable for me to partake in! After the shower, a smaller group continued the party at MK Karaoke, where we always have fun.
Drinks and Food
There was a fantastic assortment of drinks, including a signature Sharontini cocktail; I'm not sure exactly what goes into a Sharontini, but I know it contains vodka and beer -- and that it's delightful and refreshing -- as well as wine, beer, champagne, and soft drinks. The delicious dinner was served buffet-style, so everyone had a choice of many of my favorite cuisines, including Thai, Indian, and chicken wings!
Thumbprint Tree
Using a selection of ink pads in various colors, my bridal shower guests left their thumbprints as leaves on a framed drawing of a tree with branches, and signed their initials. I love how the tree turned out, and still laugh when I see Jeannie's giant green thumbprint at the bottom!
Desserts
Dessert is just as important as the main course -- and I always like to end each meal with something sweet (as referenced in the guest
juice cleanse post) -- so my bridesmaids arranged a fabulous table with some of my favorites. In addition to rainbow cookies, which many people know I'm obsessed with, I loved the choice of classic New York black and white cookies and pretty pink and white cookies, French macarons, mini cupcakes, and fresh fruit.
Games and Gifts
After an impromptu speech and toast given by my sister and Matron of Honor Maureen, the bridal shower activities began. My bridesmaid Leslie ran the games, which were simple and interactive, beginning with a "how well do you know your
fiancé" questionnaire on video. Below are just some of the many questions and answers:
- "Which of Sharon's physical features is your favorite?" Answer: Collar bone (also height and hair).
- "A perfect husband is one who..." Answer: ...loves his wife more than himself.
- "A perfect wife is one who..." Answer: ...does not take advantage of that love.
- "If Sharon were a fruit, what would she be and why?" Answer: Peach -- sweet and juicy, with a hard, stubborn core.
Following the video was the classic toilet paper wedding dress-making contest which was thoroughly entertaining. Then I opened gifts.
Christine's Handiwork
My bridesmaid Christine is very talented and artistic, and she made all of the decorations, including a fabulous floral sphere created with hundreds of paper rosettes! She also baked, decorated, and assembled the favors, which were delicious red velvet cake pops dressed up as chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting and sprinkles, each topped with a red Skittle "S."
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| Crepe and tissue paper floral decorations |
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| Adorable cake pop favors |
After-Party at MK Karaoke
Even though I was happily stuffed after the shower, I ate Korean fried chicken while singing to the tunes of Alanis Morissette, Kanye West, LMFAO, Taylor Swift, and Madonna. The staff at MK Karaoke decorated the room, brought out champagne and complimentary drinks, and invited us to play roulette. I don't know casino games, but apparently did really well regardless, until I threw all my chips so I could get back to our karaoke room! At some point, one of our drinks must have spilled on my camera, because the lens protector got stuck shut and wouldn't open without being manually pried.
I can't thank my bridesmaids and friends enough for such a memorable evening. I can hardly believe 2 weeks have already gone by, but time is really flying now that we're in the home stretch. Late tonight, I pick Sam up from the airport after his very last flight back from Grenada!
Last but not least is something I almost forgot to mention, but definitely part of my bridal shower festivities: the office party. On Wednesday, May 9, my Development, Finance and HR coworkers surprised me with a red velvet cake from Billy's Bakery, champagne, and snacks. It was totally unexpected and truly appreciated.
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| Cards and gifts |
