Category Archives: Inspiration Boards

Nautical Bridal Shower Inspiration

Earlier this week, I put together a nautical inspiration board for my friend Rosie over at TrueBlu...and I just couldn’t stop. I set into a kind of blue-and-white-striped frenzy, during which I seriously began to consider incorporating lobster art and a giant marquee anchor light into my home decor. Needless to say, I had more than enough inspiration for another board!

nautical inspiration board 2

I started with this amazing image of sea grasses and wildflowers in colored glass bottles and I knew I had to bring in one of my all-time favorite J.Crew bridesmaid dress images, which was shot in Maine. From there, it was easy to run with the New England theme and add a lobster boil and a crisp cucumber cranberry Cape Codder cocktail (say that five times fast!). This adorable “dropping the anchor and tying the knot” tank and invitation make the perfect tagline for the shower and white and blue striped heels could class up a casual look. A chocolate tart with red and blue berries looks like a decadent end to the meal (but it’s paleo and vegan!), while this sea clay beauty set makes the perfect favor.

The inspiration doesn’t stop there. Check out my Nautical Pinterest board or hop over to TrueBlu to see my first nautical inspiration board, complete with Mastbrother’s anchor-printed chocolates (my kind of party favor!) and a recipe for firecracker ice pops.

Bachelorette Party Inspiration Boards: Lipstick, Lingerie & Wine

Lipstick Love

I’ve wanted to do a lipstick inspiration board ever since I saw the very popular image on Pinterest of rows of lipstick kisses framed after a bachelorette party. The dark reds and browns of this Wedding Paper Divas invite pair perfectly with signature cherry whiskey smash cocktails. Outfit the bride in a custom kiss the bride tee and send the guests home with these old-fashioned homemade ball lollipops. I couldn’t resist going a little bit literal with these cherry chocolate kiss cookies and why not throw in a few mustaches to represent the man in her life (even if no boys are allowed).

Lipstick Bachelorette Party Inspiration Board | Ultimate BridesmaidLingerie and Lace

A lingerie shower is by far one of the most popular themes for a bachelorette party, but too often the result is tacky rather than sweet. I recommend keeping things delicate and fresh with light colors and lace—no hot pinks please! We’re going for bridal, not stripper. I decided to infuse a bit of a Parisian vibe since France is known for its lingerie, so I wanted macarons…but it was really hard to pick which ones! Finally I landed on lemon with blackberry filling because I loved the pop of neon sprinkles on the white icing. I carried through the French connection with champagne in glamorous gold-dusted glasses and an “ooh-la-la” invitation. A clothesline to display the underpinnings is a must and I like daffodils for the flowers because they feel so fresh and sweet. These lingerie favors are some of my favorites—each is filled with chai tea or hot chocolate mix!

Lingerie Theme Bachelorette Party Inspiration Board | Ultimate BridesmaidFine Wine

Women and wine—we just click. I loved the smoky charcoal grey and fuchsia of this Girls Night Out invite and added lavender to complete my wine theme. Incorporate wine bottles into your decor by making them into art pieces like these neon paint-dipped ones, by simply filling them with flowers, or by dressing them up with these faux-fur bags. These creative favor packages include some great ideas, like sending your guests off with bath salts, a corkscrew, chocolates, and wine, of course. Sounds like a perfect bath in the making. The food was too fun. Two words: Cheese cake. Literally. For dessert, incorporate the theme with dark chocolate merlot cupcakes or sweet and tart champagne raspberry popsicles.

Wine Theme Bachelorette Party Inspiration Board | Ultimate BridesmaidFor more bachelorette inspiration, visit my Pinterest board.

This post contains a few affiliate links. All products are selected because we love them—if you love them too, you’re helping support Ultimate Bridesmaid. So thanks! 

Neon Party Inspiration

It’s easy to forget that neon is a throwback to a totally rad era since it’s popping up everywhere right now. I see it on shoes, fingernails, pants, paint chips and, of course, at parties! But chances are a lot of current brides were born in the 80s, so what’s the harm in taking inspiration from the decade that brought her into the world? Plus, you can make neon feel completely current with a few easy tips. The key to pulling it off: Balance with tons of crisp white and avoid stacking color on color. Let each shade shine on its own.001 002 neon table setting 003 neon candy bar 004 lanterns 005 table setting 006 007 008 neon flower vases 009A DIY neon pottery 010 neon invitation

Check out more neon party inspiration, including ideas for party favors and gifts like this friendship bracelet, on my neon Pinterest board.

Sources: Rad 80s tablescape, baby’s breath tablescape, neutral and neon tablescape, neon candy bar, neon lanterns, four-color neon tablescape, utensils, drinks, gift wrapping, stickers, heart vases, tea pot, invitation.

Tea Party Bridal Shower Inspiration

A tea party is one of the most common bridal shower themes, but it can sometimes come off a bit matronly. Don’t fall into the trap of pastel-on-pastel or doilies overload! I’ve compiled inspiration and ideas for creating an elegant tea that’s the perfect mix for a vintage yet modern bride.001 patterned table settingFirst, let’s talk decor. The key to a strikingly gorgeous tea party is restraint. It can be tempting to pile pattern on pattern—doilies, lace, patterned tablecloths, floral china, bright burst of flowers—but it’s all too much. The intricate beauty of china patterns will be completely lost if there’s no respite. The eye needs negative space to appreciate the beauty of a simple object. Solution? A neutral canvas. Stay away from patterned or lace tablecloths, instead opting for the plain wood grain of the table or a cloth in a solid, warm shade. If you must incorporate lace, use it as a table runner. Above, brightly patterned seat cushions and beautifully mismatched china are balanced with white flowers and a sandy tablecloth. 002 tea party inspiration Here, a lace runner adds a little touch of femininity to a strong wood table, and rattan place mats balance the floral china. The white teapot doesn’t distract from the delicate pale pink roses—a patterned pot might overwhelm them! (Learn how to make teapot flower arrangements here.)
004 table settingYou can use this image as a guide to creating a proper table setting, gorgeous in its simplicity. Again, there’s plenty of wood here to balance the pastel pink and lace. The china is the star and the flatware and glassware become neutral accents.

Next up, invitations. By now you should be seeing a theme in the types of invitations I choose—modern and clean with strong typography. Pastel, lacy invites with birdcages and curly calligraphy are really, really not my cup of tea (excuse the pun). So it should be no surprise that my two favorite tea party invites have clean, crisp designs with a little dash of cute. You can find the pastel orange invite here and the charcoal and pink teacup invite here.005 pastel tea cup invitation006 tea cup bridal shower invite

Your first important decision is what tea to serve. Whatever flavor you choose, make it loose leaf! The difference between bagged and loose tea is night and day. Loose tea has a much more concentrated and complex flavor. This is a party, so spring for the good stuff! It’s not even that expensive! You can find lots of nice affordable loose teas at Whole Foods or World Market. Can’t find loose tea in your area? Mighty Leaf is an online retailer with a good variety at reasonable prices. Here’s a great video that shows how to brew loose leaf tea.

leaf teasIf you haven’t tasted a certain tea before, you can get a pretty good idea of what it will taste like by smelling it. It might be nice to choose a few different types of teas, like a black, a green, an oolong, a chai or a flavored. At a traditional tea party, you would brew the tea in the kettle, pour it into pots and then serve your guests from the teapot. But if you want to let guests sample several teas, create a tea bar with a kettle of hot water and filters or tea balls, and guests can brew their own cups. Either way, be sure to use some of the tea as decoration by setting out little bowls so the smell of it fills the room.

tea bar 3The traditional accompaniment to high tea is an array of tea sandwiches. I’ve compiled some of my favorite finds here, from modern spins on traditional tea sandwiches courtesy of the BBC to healthy updates on multigrain crackers.

traditional and modern tea sandwichesGingered pea and green goddess tea sandwiches
gingered pea and green goddess sandwichesI love this triple berry kale salad as an accompaniment. It’s light and refreshing with bursts of sweetness from the berries and a bit of crunch from the almonds (plus, there’s a tart strawberry vinaigrette).010 triple berry kale saladIf it were up to me, I’d make the tea sandwiches, but order dessert. I just do not have the skill nor the time to produce gorgeous fruit tarts like these!

013 mini fruit tarts

If you’re inspired and brave enough to make your own desserts though, try to strike a balance between decadence and freshness. This honey tea cake could be paired with fresh berries and whipped cream, while these shortbread tea cookies would be perfect for dipping (though the Queen would disapprove).011 honey tea cake 012 tea bag cookies Have you heard of a champagne tea? Well, now you have! Champagne teas are actually quite common (and traditional) for celebratory events. Start the party off with a glass of pink champagne, move onto your tea, sandwiches and cakes, then cycle back to champagne to keep the guests in the spirit.

pink champagneYou’re hosting a tea party, so you’re going to need tea things. The ideal situation is that a friend or relative has a tea set you can borrow, but as social calls no longer seem to involve much tea, you may have to purchase a teapot and set of cups for the event. Beautiful vintage pieces can be found on Etsy, some at surprisingly affordable prices, or you can buy modern pieces (many of which still look vintage). I particularly like the selection of patterned teacups at Anthropologie.

anthropologie teacupsWant to play a party game that doesn’t involve toilet paper wedding dresses? I’m sort of in love with this tea-leaf reading kit.019 tea leaf reading kitFor your gift to the bride-to-be, I love these personalized teacups with a custom sketch of the happy couple.020 custome couple teacupsFor guest favors, give tea! The cute little packages on the left come filled with chai tea (my personal favorite), stamped with a sweet slogan and wrapped in twine. Loose tea is so beautiful by itself, so test tubes are the perfect way to show it off. Plus, it’s an easy DIY project—all you need is loose tea, test tubes, corks and gift tags.

tea party favorsFor more inspiration, check out my tea party bridal shower board on Pinterest.

This post contains a few affiliate links. All products are selected because we love them—if you love them too, you’re helping support Ultimate Bridesmaid. So thanks! 

Bridal Shower Inspiration Boards

Shower-planning season is in full swing as spring and summer weddings approach, so I took inspiration from five bridal shower invitations, all from Wedding Paper Divas, to create inspiration boards for five very different types of brides, from a modern citrus shower to a magenta and orange sunset celebration.

crafty bridal shower invite

I took my inspiration from the natural cork background of this invite set off against the modern pop of yellow. The text looks hand-lettered and makes me think of a DIY shower complete with lots of greenery. Champagne cupcakes and citrus cocktails are the perfect treats for the day, and mixing lemons or limes with flowers (or even using them on their own) would make a stunning, cheerful centerpiece. Here’s an inspiration board for this sunny shower.

modern yellow and green shower

Images from: Cupcakes, citrus cocktail, flowers, shower sign, balloons, pom-pom wrapping.

chalkboard invite

I love the idea of taking the “shower” part literally, especially for an April shower. The chalkboard background of this invite could be a jumping off point for chalkboard-paint projects galore, with pops of pink and blue to accent the more modern charcoal black. My inspiration board includes drinks with umbrella accents, soft roses and a simple yet chic paper chain that reminds me of raindrops.

pink chalkboard shower theme 2

Images from: Chair decorations, cakechain-link dessert table, shower glasses, roses, chalkboard menu.

deco invite

This invite reminds me of a scoreboard—perfect for a sporty bride. I’m imagining a backyard party complete with lawn games, bite-sized burgers, and plenty of craft beers. I kept it feminine by adding pops of coral in the flowers and place settings.

coral picnic shower

Images from: Mini burgers, beer tasting card, box lunchflowers, cream-filled browniescroquet.

watercolor invite

Sometimes color is all you need as an inspiration, and what’s more beautiful than a watercolor sunset palette? Choose an outdoor location to take advantage of the natural beauty of the setting sun and as day turns to night make sure to have some twinkle lights to keep the party going. I chose explosions of orange and magenta for this inspiration board, from the flowers to the drinks.

sunset colored shower

Images from: Flowers, sunset table, blueberry lavender lemonade, pillow seating, flatware setting, watercolor table.

rustic tree invite

Bride a nature girl? This rustic invite is perfect for a picnic shower set amongst the trees. I used lots of plants instead of flowers in my inspiration board and chose dishes that highlight fresh produce and seasonal ingredients. Send guests home with jam (homemade or from a local artisan) or a potted plant of their own.

rustic back to nature shower

Images from: Table setting, copper drink dispenser, mason jar chandelier, straws, summer salad, plant favors.

This post contains a few affiliate links. All products are selected because we love them—if you love them too, you’re helping support Ultimate Bridesmaid. So thanks! 

1920s Party Inspiration

Decadence, glamor, candlelight and alcohol—what more do you need for a classy bachelorette party or swanky shower? Channel the Roaring 20s with a speakeasy vibe, strong cocktails and tiny canapes. This is a great theme for an at-home party as it instantly fancies things up. Here are some simple tips for creating a 1920s vibe.

A room with dark wood or brick walls is the perfect setting for your speakeasy 1920s soiree. Choose deep, rich colors as your accents, like burgundys and mauves, and don’t be afraid to throw in a few peacock feathers. I love the vintage Deco prints used as placecards here. A vintage tarot deck could be put to use in the same way with absolutely striking results.

Visit Grandma’s house or local flea markets to look for vintage pieces that will make an impact. A lace tablecloth would be delicate and striking, but make sure it’s not a family heirloom (real lace is incredibly expensive!). An old radio or typewriter will set the mood and is much likely to end up with red wine all over it.

Prohibition meant unmarked bottles and secret cocktail lounges. Since you probably want your guests to know what they’re drinking, think about decanting your liquors into beautiful bottles with your own labels. The bar instantly feels like an exclusive destination.

Don’t have an old library cart? A bookshelf can easily double as a bar. Line up glassware on an old silver tray if you have it. A mirror is a great alternative. Add candles at night for shimmer or flowers for a daytime event.

During Prohibition, the quality of alcohol was pretty low, so big batches of punch were a good way to make a little liquor go a long way and mask the taste. You can make a high-class (and way tastier) version, like this pomegranate champagne punch. Note that it uses one large ice block, another authentic detail to the era. For a really large one like this, fill a loaf pan or metal bowl with water and freeze. For individual cocktails, you can buy king-size ice cube trays like these.

When it comes to wardrobe, you can carry the theme a little, a lot or not at all. If you want to add a little 1920s vibe but not put pressure on all the ladies to buy complete ensembles, nothing says flapper like headwear. A scarf, a velvet cap, a feather—it all looks good. Add a long strand of pearls or elbow-length evening gloves to almost any outfit and you’re all set.

Inspiration from Wedding Chicks, Green Wedding Shoes, and Ruffled.