Wedding Blog

This was the weekend of both my bridal shower and bachelorette (held in marathon fashion due to my sister living way over West in California as she pursues her PhD there). Here is my uberlong summary of the shower to go with that marathon theme…

As previously discussed, the shower was held at Dos Caminos (on Park). But aside from helping choose the restaurant, I had no clue what else the day would hold. This was hard to swallow since I am an anal retentive and quasi-psychotic control freak love to help out with things. Happily, my help was not needed as my shower ruled the school, lack of my input notwithstanding.

One of my mom’s BFFs hosted the shower (along with help from her three daughters) and the invitation had a little poem that carried through in the tabletop decor–

Invitation:

Then on each table, there was confetti, (Hershey’s) kisses, plus photo confetti of Mr. Daisy and me (a different photo on each side!) as well as the favors, which were pretty candles with flowers in metal frames:

The menus*: these also served as placecards, which I blinged out just so with Swarovski crystal–

Placecard side–clear crystal:

Menu side (back)–smaller pink crystal:

My bridesmaids did a version of the newlywed game, at which I kicked ass (as I am wont to do) getting practically every one right except for those where Mr. Daisy was wrong (i.e. about his favorite song, for example).

The girls did such an awesome job and as a result, the entire room was in stitches. (Not to mention the speed and efficiency with which they got me through the opening of fifty some odd gifts has got to be a record. For reals. I even got to my dessert before the ice cream had entirely melted.)

Mr. Daisy claims that everyone “got his emailed pleas” as–in addition to a set of monogrammed towels (which may ensure that I shower) from Denise the hostess and a *huge* mixer upgrade (the Kitchenaid Professional 600 is the hottest mixer on the block) from her other BFF Joan and her daughters/my former babysitting charges Liz and Andee–I got a boatload of lingerie.

A big thumbs up for presents!

[My bridesmaids also put together for me the most amazing scrapbook. This merits its own post, to come later...]

The tabletop with the centerpiece flowers (two per table):

The large arrangement (with detail inset):

The pomanders:

Yes, after seeing all the weddingbee posts featuring these fabulous balls of tissue paper greatness, I demanded subtly hinted that I might like to have them at my shower. (Amongst other ploys, I lent my bridesmaid Lil E the spring Martha Stewart weddings, replete with a folded over corner on the page with the pomander instructions).

The guac (¡muy delicioso!):

My shower vendors:

Venue: Dos Caminos Park: planning: my mom and I booked this party through Caitlin–the Special Events Coordinator for B.R. Guest restaurants–and she was amazingly easy to work with, entirely accessible and very amenable to making shifts that fit our parameters. I met with her the day before the shower to do a “walk through” and discuss table numbers, arrangement, decorations, etc. It was an absolute breeze and I cannot wait for the next occasion so I can work with her again. (She even called today to make sure everything went well–so thorough!)

Service: The service at my shower was insanely perfect. Catherine managed everything and my fifty guests received the exact food they ordered with a minimal wait. My guests raved about the food (the desserts especially–chocolate empanadas and banana crepes). I can say that my “dos caminos cobb salad” was great. Plus, the staff was friendly, polite, courteous.

I swear you’d think I work for/own stock in Chewlies gum B.R. Guest, but I don’t. I am just really wowed. The guys even broke out a ladder to hang our pomanders and figured out a way to hang them on the highest beam.)

Florist: DeJuan Stroud: On Thursday (two days before the shower for those of you keeping track) my mother decided that the venue needed flowers. So she called DeJuan (my wedding florist also) and despite the short notice (which he didn’t even mention) he came through with twelve gorgeous centerpieces in stainless steel vases as well as a large arrangement for the bar area. He picked the perfect colors to match the room (and the poms!) and everyone died over the flowers (all of which were taken home by various guests). The flowers were there the morning of the shower before my mom, the hostess and my bridesmaids even arrived. Yay!

Cake: Tompkins Square Bakery: Matthew at Tompkins Square Bakery also came through with a gorgeous and highly delicious layer cake–buttercream and yellow cake with chocolate filling (which I am pretty sure I forgot to photograph), also delivered to Dos Caminos with time to spare. (I keep mentioning timing because I hear horror story after horror story about late vendors. For my shower, at least, I am so thankful that everyone was on time to the nth.) Randomly, I ran into Matthew at a restaurant the other night though at that point I had no idea he was doing my shower cake.

Menus: By moi. I found myself to be a delight to work with. And highly professional, mais oui. (Says the girl who decided to make said menus a mere 24 hours prior to the shower.)

Also, in case you’re curious–the contents of the menu:

STARTERS (on the tables when people sat down so they’d have food to eat while they ordered and waited for entrees**): Fresh Made Guacamole & Homemade Tortilla Chips Served Family Style; Seasonal Fruit

ENTREES:

• Pan Torrejas: Rice Crispy Crusted Brioche French Toast with Mixed Berry Salsita and Piloncillo Syrup;
• Dos Caminos Chicken Cobb Salad: Grilled Chicken Breast with Tomato, Avocado, Chorizo, Grilled Corn, Onion and Queso Fresco;
• Quatro Tacos: Served with Mexican Rice and Beans; Dos Pollo: Pastor Marinated Chicken with Tomatillo Avocado Salsa; Dos Asada: Grilled Kobe Beef, Caramelized Onions, with Cascabel Chiles, and Guacamole;
• Vegetable Omelette: Filled with Grilled Peppers, Mushrooms, Onions and Mexican Cheeses Served with Home Fries

DESSERTS:

• Crepas de Cajeta: Warm Pistachio Crepes, Bananas, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Cajeta Caramel Sauce;
• Chocolate Empanada: Cherry Tequila Ice Cream and Fresh Cherry Compote

~~~

* This is the bit that I contributed, since I am starting up my own casual stationery business after the wedding and wanted to test one of my ideas out.

** I can’t be the only who gets cranky when not fed. (Can I?) Thanks to Nutrisystem, which is working (14 lbs. so far!!), I’ve been a raging bitch un peu cranky since Labor Day weekend.