cocktail bridal shower | Ultimate Bridesmaid

If you’re ready to be transported, this autumn couple shower will do the trick, taking you to a dinner party in a rustic hunting lodge following a day of horseback riding and quail hunting. The inspiration for the decor comes from two classic cocktails: an Old Fashioned for him and mulled wine for her. Deep burgundy shades with pine green and hints of gold set the tone for a luxurious yet rustic dining room in which the guests could enjoy a dinner of roasted quail and corn and zucchini succotash followed by Jim Beam chocolate pecan pies and drunken pumpkin tarts (to name just a few of the treats on the menu). We particularly love the hand-lettered menus and illustrated cocktail signs that bring personality to the space. The theme is even reflected in the guests’ attire, with the gentlemen donning windowpane jackets and quilted vests and the ladies sporting riding boots and earth tones. Pass the mulled wine!

Channeling a time when cocktails and fancy dress went hand in hand, this happy hour shower is both glamorous and intimate all at once. The inspiration for this vintage bridal shower’s blush and metallic color palette and midcentury vibe came from bride Lauren’s collection of gilded vintage glassware, as well as her striking vintage V-back dress. Lauren’s business partner and friend, Rachel of Sweet Root Village, lined the fireplace with tall mirrored vases overstuffed with soft coral, pale pink and fuchsia roses. Guests at this “little black dress gathering” were greeted with a hand-lettered name tag for their glass of honey green tea fizz or raspberry wine zinger. Rachel explains how the shower’s showstopper—Lauren’s stunning oversized corsage—came to be.

“Lauren bought this beautiful vintage dress that for a time she planned to use as her wedding gown. She had it altered to have more of a cap sleeve, with a low back and a pencil-skirt bottom. The style was very old-fashioned and classy and corsages were all the rage back in the day. Corsages were definitely a bit larger in the past, so we tried to go in that direction but even more so, creating a cross between a typical corsage and a flower crown. Lauren built it herself and we attached it carefully to her dress.”
–Rachel, Sweet Root Village