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Mrs. Penguin Mrs. Penguin, Sacramento Age and Occupation: 26, Video & TV Producer/Director/Editor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Doctor of Physical Therapy Engagement Date: January 29, 2007 Wedding Date: June 7, 2008 Blogging Since: September 14, 2007 Venue: Winery in the Gold Country About Me: I'm a silly mess of a girl who, above all else in this world, LOVES the Spice Girls. I eat sushi at least 3 times a week, and feel guilty about how much it costs the other 4 days a week. I love designer jeans and cheap accessories. I don't like sweets, but I love the UCLA Bruins!
 
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Mrs. Penguin, Sacramento Age and Occupation: 26, Video & TV Producer/Director/Editor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Doctor of Physical Therapy Engagement Date: January 29, 2007 Wedding Date: June 7, 2008 Blogging Since: September 14, 2007 Venue: Winery in the Gold Country About Me: I'm a silly mess of a girl who, above all else in this world, LOVES the Spice Girls. I eat sushi at least 3 times a week, and feel guilty about how much it costs the other 4 days a week. I love designer jeans and cheap accessories. I don't like sweets, but I love the UCLA Bruins!
About Mrs. Penguin

An OOT Bridal Shower

May 6th, 2008 @ 5:52 pm by Mrs. Penguin

Herro!  I’m back from my 2nd wonderful Bridal Shower out in Long Lake, Minnesota!  It was an afternoon tea, and we had a fabulous time at the shower playing games, opening gifts, and hanging out with Mr. Penguin’s extended family.

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Mr. Penguin’s Mom (far left) and I (the Asian one) with my gracious shower hosts! Aunt Rita, Aunt Lisa and Aunt Janice.

When we were in Vegas last week, Mr. Penguin’s sister asked me how we were going to lug all our bridal shower gifts home. I said to her “well, do you think we’ll just get a bunch of gift cards?” To which she responded…”My family doesn’t DO gift cards!” So we came well prepared with 2 extra empty bags, just in case we’d have to lug a lot of stuff home. But Mr. Penguin’s family and friends did a fabulous job of taking into account the fact that I’d be traveling half way across the country, and came up with some cute ideas so that I would still be able to OPEN a lot of gifts, without having to take them home.

Here’s how we made it back home without tipping the scales:

A few guests that had shipped gifts to California got creative so that I was able to have something to open from them at the shower.

Aunt Janice and her daughters Amanda and Allie gifted us our Stainless Steel Charger plates. The girls made a card out of a printout of the gift, and also gave me measuring spoons in a box so they were able to wrap something up.

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Aunt Lisa also did something similar, including a picture of the gift she sent in her card.

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Mr. Penguin’s cousin Natele gave us a really cute picture frame and in the frame included a picture of the gift that she had sent to California.

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And Mr. Penguin’s mom gifted us our KitchenAid Mixer. She wrapped up some coordinating dish towels in a box with a cute little card.

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And finally, I received a few cases of bar ware that I was concerned about bringing home, and one of Mr. Penguin’s aunts suggested that I return all the glass in Minnesota and re-buy it all back in California. What a fabulous idea for getting everything home safe!

The shower was really wonderful! We had afternoon tea and a fun round of games. Here’s some highlights!

Aunt Janice kicked us off with games:

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Gifts…I got so many it was overwhelming! And now our registry is drained!

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Mr. Penguin’s cousin Pam thought they only did the “rehearsal bouquets” made out of ribbon from the shower in the State of Minnesota! She thought we were too “classy” in California to do something like that. PSH! I showed her. I challenged her to make a better bouquet than the one that my BM made for me at my California shower. I think the Minnesota Bouquet won!

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Mr. Penguin’s stepmom took up crocheting this past year as a hint to her daughter to start making her some grandchildren. She crocheted me a blanket ALL WINTER LONG for my shower! She made it in Grey, to match our wedding color! It’s so beautiful, and I’m a blanket junkie (I work all day long wrapped in one) so it’s going to get many years of good loving.

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I made goodie bags for all the young girls in attendance and they had a good time opening them up…more on those later!

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And of course, tea party food! It was ALL AMAZING, all homemade, from the hand-dipped petit fours to the 5 layer sandwich loaf! It was all painstakingly bite sized and so delicious!

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My Step-MIL and her good friend Lucy

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And of course, no tea party is complete without tea! We had 3 yummy kinds, White Peony, Green with Mango, and another I forgot…Mr. Penguin, a tea fiend, was so jealous!

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An exhaustingly fun day. We partied till dinnertime! And then we ate some more :)

Do you have any fun ideas for gift giving/receiving at an Out of Town Shower?

21 Responses to “An OOT Bridal Shower”

1.
SKM says:

That’s awesome! What a thoughtful bunch of ladies you have in the family you’re marrying in to. I have to admit, I’m a little jealous :) …. glad you had such a great time and were spoiled like you deserve to be! :)

2.
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Miss Gingerbread says:

We’re having an out of the country shower in a few weeks so I’m taking notes!

3.
tberry says:

Wow, they did such a great job! I will be having an OOT shower (in the my home town where we will be married) as well as a local shower. (I told everyone that they didn’t have to give me a shower ut everyone was shocked by that and siad od course you will have a shower and probably two since people would have to drive and spend the night if we only do one.) I hope they are as inventive with the gifts so that we don’t have to worry so much about hauling them home. We do drive back and forth so at least we will have the car but that always seems full even without the gifts!

4.
Lilyputts says:

What a wonderful spread! Are those cucumber sandwiches? A truly wonderful way to start a forever relationship!

5.
Michelle says:

You look so happy and Mr. Penguin’s family looks so nice and welcoming!

6.
HamiHarri says:

It looked like an amazing time - you lucky duck! And it was genious what most of your family did - re: pics in cards rather than actual gifts to ship back. We’re getting married in a province way far away from us, so we’re hoping our family does this as well :) My Aunt already had our wedding and shower gifts shipped…yay for proactive family!

7.
rebecca says:

Miss Penguin, how did your family know to not give you actual gifts? Did your FMIL spread the word, was it noted on the invite, or did they just know to send it to you? My shower is also far away, and I’m worried that my family may not be as clued in as yours. And if I need to lug it back, I’m worried about trusting the airlines with the gifts!

8.
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Miss Penguin says:

@rebecca: I think coming from such a big family, they are kind of pros at the whole shower thing…I was very lucky! The “picture of the gift” in the picture frame and all the other clever ways to present gifts, while now seeming obvious, are something that I would have NEVER thought of before hand, especially being new to the “shower scene”! But you might want to just drop a hint to your FMIL that it would be hard for you to travel with big heavy items (especially now most domestic airlines are beginning to CHARGE YOU for a 2nd bag!!! AAAHH!) So that might make a good lead in for your FMIL to bring up with your guests…”I cant believe theyre charging on airlines for a 2nd bag now!” and suggest smaller, portable gifts, or getting gifts shipped direct to your house.

I think its okay to have your FMIL spread the word!

9.
cookiechristina says:

What a great idea about returning the barware Miss Peng! Oh I am so sad we had to leave our new drinking glasses at my parents’ because we were too afraid to fly with them!

10.
Beebs says:

Oh Miss P — Your future in-laws are so creative!
My OOT shower given by my future in-laws was also in Big Lake! Three cheers for Minnesota boys!

11.
Fallon says:

What a lovely shower! You are lucky to have such great in-laws. I really like the idea of pictures of the gift instead of the actual gift they were very thoughtful.

12.
rebecca says:

Thanks for the advice!

13.
Beebs says:

That would have been way more relevant if Miss P’s shower was actually in Big Lake…rather than Long Lake. :)

14.
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Mrs. Bee says:

wow they’re so smart and creative! great ideas! :)

15.
Alli says:

That looks like such a great shower! I’m glad you enjoyed it and hopefully you got to MN after we got the snow and before this rain storm! :)

16.
aryan says:

WaW thats nice… thanks for such a nice advice

17.
Guilty Secret says:

I just love the blanket - how lovely of her! And so creative with the gifts :)

18.
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Miss Toucan says:

Aww… looks like you had fun! Your in-laws are so creative! :)

19.
ErinSea says:

What a clever group of ladies! I like their picture gifts. And that silver tea-service! How beautiful! I’m gonna register for THAT!

20.
Kris says:

Damn, I didn’t think that bridal showers like that acutally existed in the real world. ;-) Looks like it was a great time.

21.
Red says:

wow, looks like you’re marrying into AWESOME family, so loving and thoughtful. :-)


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