Two creative bridesmaids turned the DIY factor up to 10 to put together this handcrafted backyard shower in sunny California, beautifully captured by Alex Rapada Photography. Almost every element was handmade, from the Chinese buffet to custom “He” and “She” signs at each table. Fluffy white china mums and sunset-orange roses pop in the hand-painted aqua Mason jars and set off the delicate lace tablecloths. And I’d take a scrapbook and a shower gift over a blender any day—it’s such a thoughtful keepsake that will last a lifetime. Each guest left with fortune cookies dipped in chocolate and coated in sprinkles—such a cute modern twist! 
Tag Archives: california bridal shower
A Chic Chevron and Stripe Handmade Bridal Shower
Chalkboard signs and paper rosettes, patterned burlap garlands and chevron table runners…this shower is just bursting with handmade touches, all done up in soft greys and pale pinks—with a few pops of color, of course. Photographer Megan Small couldn’t wait to plan a handcrafted shower for her best friend (since second grade!) Hillary. Guest book idea I’m stealing: Have the guests sign a cookbook next to their favorite recipe—now you know what to make when they come over for dinner! Check out Megan’s list of the stellar Etsy vendors who helped her pull off the event below.
Photography: Megan Small Photography | Patterned paper rosette garlands: Jennifer of The Papier Studio | Faux chalkboard signs: Katie of Lane Love Designs | Burlap pennant signs: Jessica of Cuter Than Words | Chevron printables: Heather of YouMakeDo | Rosette centerpieces: Lili of Beautiful Paper Crafts | Hillary + Adam bicycle print: Michael of DexMex | Catering: Susan Jodon of Swanky Catering and Events
A Warm Vintage Tea Party Shower (With Fancy Hats)
It’s all about old-fashioned charm at this tea party shower for bride Brianna in San Juan Capistrano, California. Each guest picked out a colorful hat to get in the spirit and enjoyed tea and cakes at the Tea House on Los Rios surrounded by kitschy-cute floral wallpaper straight out of your grandmother’s living room. The feeling is old-timey cool and oh-so cozy. The photography by Michelle at MK Studios adds to the vibe as the warm yellow lighting evokes vintage photographs. (My favorite detail: the literal shower going on in the clawfoot bathtub outside. Love it!)
A Pink and Sky-Blue Candy Bar Shower
Oh hello, gorgeous candy bar! My eyes lit up at the sight of this flawlessly coordinated pink and sky-blue shower with a stunning candy display as the centerpiece, crowned by a rock candy tree. But even though the decor is totally envy-inducing, I think what I love most are the special moments photographer Robert Swapp managed to captured at this California shower—check out the epic high-five shared as two guests win Bride Bingo or the sweet shot of the bride thanking a friend for a gift. Plus, who can resist a bride who color coordinates with her shower? All she needs is a glass of pink champagne and she’d blend in seamlessly. 
A Linens and Lace Bridal Shower
There’s something beautiful about taking ordinary objects—like bedsheets and tablecloths—and turning them into the delicate backdrop for a sweet bridal shower. Bridesmaid and photographer Helen and her fellow maids did just that for bride Irene’s tea-party shower. Hosted at her fiance’s family home, the shower features linens and lace with plenty of texture to create photobooths, a charming dessert spread and even a scrapbooking station! The result feels like the sweetest little tag sale you’ve ever seen, or laundry day gone oh-so-right. 
Helen shares how she and the other bridesmaids came together to create this pretty scene:
We tried to adhere to Irene’s preferences for pastel colors and hearts as we planned her garden tea party–themed shower. Her fiancé’s backyard was a wonderland that boasted amazing levels for partitioned scrapbooking, food, photobooth, and lounging/games areas. We used vintage hankie bunting from our wedding to line the weathered fence, staircase, and deck; pastel and lace tablecloths to spruce up the furniture; vintage milk glass vases bursting with fresh flora to accentuate tables; delicate doilies and tissue paper hearts to embellish windowpanes; and an amalgamation of vintage tablecloths, lace, and fabric to construct a makeshift photobooth. The photobooth was my favorite feature, as sweet guests made use of time-honored props to immortalize fun memories with the bride-to-be.
Thanks to Helen for sharing these images from the day. You can see more of her beautiful photography on her blog, Ah, That’s Love.
A Spanish-Style Floral Bridal Shower in Southern California
Sometimes a shower is all about simplicity…okay, simplicity and flowers. Because let’s face it, I’m getting all dreamy over the eye-popping purples, pinks and corals in the bougainvilleas used to decorate every inch of this Spanish-style shower in Southern California. The best part? Every single bloom was free, sourced from the homes of neighbors and friends. With the help of some DIY doilies and a burlap bride sign and the bold contrast of a black-and-white striped tablecloth, I feel like I’ve just stepped onto the patio for luncheon under the hot Puerto Vallerta sun. Salud! 
Bridesmaid and photographer Jennifer Daigle shared how everything came together.
When we began discussing the decor for Elise’s bridal shower, we knew that Blue Agave would be catering. Knowing that there would be delicious Southwestern food, I had to stick to this theme. What is better than being poolside at a resort in good ol’ Mexico?
A number of ideas came to my mind…terra cotta, bougainvillea, papel picado, and fans were just a few ideas that fell into place that day. The terra cotta pots and glass vases were collected between my mother and I, and the bougainvillea snippets were gathered the morning of the shower (special thanks to a few neighbors). The paper flags and chandeliers were made from doilies and burlap string, while the fans were an at-home project made from paper bags, doilies and ribbon. The striped tablecloths were made by my mother and the candles and their holders were from the 99-cent store. We borrowed the black candelabras from a family friend and threw in a burlap sign above the bride, stamped with distressed ink. All in all, it took two nights to prepare all of the decorations and the morning of the shower we were all bustling like bees to make it perfect.
Photography: Jennifer Daigle | Catering: Blue Agave in Yorba Linda | Rentals: Create-A-Party in Brea