YummyPages: L-THEMED BRIDAL SHOWER

the main table with the all the L goodies

one of the reasons i find new recipes to try is that i need them for the parties i plan and/or host. so, i thought it'd be inspiring and fun to add posts about the parties i've put together, along with the food i contributed.

i've done a couple baby showers at work and birthdays, of course, but this one party was a little more special for me. it was a bridal shower for my boss, who i've also been hired as the day-of wedding coordinator. she got engaged in august, but i had been secretly brainstorming way before that. i wanted this to be perfect, as i knew it would be my pièce de résistance!

first things, first...how do we surprise her? people in the office are well aware that when i'm gone for a period of time, there is a party decorating session happening. so, i schemed with my other boss to fake a sickness. i was really worried that she would not be fooled since i never, never call in sick. but, this worked like a charm!

next, what was the theme? for this, i usually go to my favorite party planning blog, hostess with the mostess. but, i was inspired by a photographer's blog, d. park photography, and the utterly engaged design challenge he photographed. based from the photos, i got my color scheme and overall feel for the bridal shower. but, the theme came from a more personal point-of-view. my boss and her fiance both celebrated their 30th birthdays with initial-themed parties...an "r" party for her and an "a" party for him. guests were encouraged to dress as something beginning with that letter: at her's, people came as red riding hood, a ransom note, rockstar, etc. and his there were acrobats, acdc, alice in chains. so, i thought it only natural to celebrate her new last name with an "L" party.

the challenge was that this was an office party. i couldn't possibly ask co-workers to arrive in costume. so, i improvised with food & drinks beginning with an "L" (little cookies and lemon bars) and providing name tags with "L" adjectives (miss Ladylike and mr. Laidback).

finally, i had to decide on what i was going to contribute. L, L, L...think, think, think? how about "libations" (aka red wine sangria), lettuce wraps, and lolli-cakepops. perfect! and, my co-workers helped with the rest of the tasty offerings: little cookies, lemon bars, lemon cookies, L-shaped rice krispy treats, loosely pulled pork sandwiches, low-fat deviled eggs, layered dip, le formage et le casseur (cheese & crackers), and libations (champagne).

so, congratulations to my boss who is going to be one of the most beautiful brides and her lucky husband to have such a catch!