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Mrs. Perfume, DC Age and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor) Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Consultant Engagement Date: May 13, 2008 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia About Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
About Mrs. Perfume

I should be ashamed of myself. I had low expectations for my bridal shower. As I’ve mentioned before, there was a little bit of tension in the planning of it. I had felt that my BMs weren’t into it, and I was over it. So this weekend, when I arrived at my mom’s house with my friend Michelle (to whom I protested), I was VERY surprised and seriously humbled by the huge effort everyone had made on my behalf.

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand  My mother, BM Abby, and my sister pulled together a wonderful and thoughtful event that came together beautifully. My mom cooked up a storm of Vietnamese lunch goodies. Abby made the cutest guest gifts of spatulas and cookie cutters.

And my sister coordinated the whole thing—despite being a busy lawyer commuting between Tel Aviv and New York. I chalked her harried/haphazard planning up to not caring. (But seriously, if I had her schedule, a bridal shower would be the last thing on my priority list, for sure. It was very perspective-giving.)

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Hostess

Saturday was the warmest day in Washington so far this year; it finally felt like spring. And it certainly looked it at my mom’s house. Everything was blooming, including the tulips she potted for the occasion and the ton of bouquets that were displayed.

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Flowers020

Though there was not a lot of planning (my sister arrived in town the night before on Friday), the details did not betray this. My sister got everything together last minute, and used the leftover ribbon from the ring pillow to tie together the utensils. The table looked beautiful with sparkly glasses, Champagne, china, and cutesy napkins. And of course, Abby’s colorful bouquet of guest gift spatulas added to the fun.

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Details

I asked that Vietnamese food be served for the lunch part. Because none of the (pretty international contingent of) guests were Vietnamese, I thought it would be nice to have them taste a little bit of “the homeland”! So my mom obliged with green papaya and shrimp salad, tofu and noodles, spring rolls, and shrimp chips (no those aren’t pork rinds!). The most popular item (that I forgot to picture) were the summer rolls—a salad of greens, herbs, and shrimp rolled in thin rice paper.

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Vietnam

We had such a good time opening up gifts and tasting the food! We didn’t do any of the usual shower games, as we apparently didn’t need them! The afternoon was chock-full of lively conversation that ranged from the wedding, to our significant others, children, then inevitably to travel and ethnic culture. It’s funny how food has a way of bringing people together (who doesn’t love food?), making them distinct (plenty of culturally diverse food gifts), as well as highlighting commonalities (my mom’s yucca cakes that she made for dessert was apparently also something that Brazilian lovely, Desi, makes as well).

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Party202

Everyone was sooooo creative with the gifts they brought. Since Mr. P and I did not register for any gifts, my sister specified in the invitation that people come up with something interesting and food related for “the foodie”.

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Giftsc

Garlic and garlic baker; fun condiments including Filipino banana catsup, truffle oil, pear vinegar and more; neat spices including Britannian fleur de sel and herbs de Provence rub, Boutanese lemongrass tea; Spanish smoked paprika, Russian spices, herbs Parisian; fancy shimmering and rose petal sugars; ethnic pantry items: french oyster hot toast spread and English curry beans; fantastic jams and sweeteners: Malawian honey, Brittanian caramel; pineapple chutney, sour cherry jam; a sh*tload of salt: lavender, Himalayan, fleur de sel, English sea, and French grey.

There was definitely a salt theme! I love salt! I now have a serious array of the seasoning that spans from French grey, to fleur de sel, to English sea salt, to two varieties of Himalayan pink salt.

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand01  One is the large variety rocks that comes with its own grater! I love it!

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Pinksa  A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand02

There was a ton of interesting spices to represent some of the nationalities present.

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand03

One gift of spice was particularly neat and apropos! Abby gave me this lovely box of various seasonings, along with this very special spice tin. Around the world throughout history, food and spices have been given as wedding charms. In a Chinese chard box (which, unbeknownst to Abby, we collect!), there were various charms including Rosemary for remembrance (a la Shakespeare); nutmeg (the German and English give this) for a sound marriage; star anise (given in China to represent all centered-ness (or something like that). There were some peppercorns in there too—I’m guessing to keep things hot!

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Gifts0

My sister gave me a wonderful box of cheese from Artisanal fromagery and bistro in Manhattan. With the help of the chef, she handpicked the three different cheeses, along with tomato jam for the gift box. Mr. P and I looooove cheese, especially the stinky ones!!! And this box was ripe!!!

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand04

There were other thoughtful touches, including a large goody bag from the lovely English belle, Fay! She included things from her homeland like curry beans, a pineapple chutney (that she made), the garlic and garlic baker above (we love spreading roasted garlic on bread!) and something to prep us for our Italian honeymoon: A magazine of Italian gastronomic adventures—the Cucina Italiana!

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand05  A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand06

We joked about all the ethnic stereotypes, including being late. We were expecting one more: Miss Cecile, who is French. The French are always fabulously late!

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Cecile  And she blew in an hour and a half late with fabulous gifts, including caramel (which of course contains lovely salt) from her grandmother’s hometown of Brittany, a vintage Champagne, and many other things from her travels, including Boutanese lemon grass tea and an every day favorite of oyster toast spread!

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand07  A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand08

Ever the jokester, my long lost (and recently reacquainted) friend, Eileen, who had been emailing me about her diet trials, gave this bottle of lemon detox (for all the bloat that is inevitable of a high salt diet and any potentially crazy bridal weight loss frenzies)!!!

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand09

And as if all the talk and giving of food wasn’t enough, we had dessert of cupcakes, tropical fruit, yucca cakes, and Jasmine green tea. It was a little east meets west; the Vietnamese usually have fruit and tea after a meal, and what is a modern American bride without cupcakes? My sister picked up these red velvet and cream cheese frosted lovelies from Suzannes, one of the new local cupcakeries in the area!!

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Dessert01  And after everyone left, my mother, sister, and I relaxed on the couch as they opened the hostess gifts I brought: wine glasses for my sister, and pinking sheers for my mother (Abby got Chinese coasters that I sent in the mail).

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Hostgi

Later that evening, Mr. P showed up to get the debrief, some leftovers, and help me pack the car with all the goodies!

A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling :  wedding bridal shower Diyand010

It was a fabulous time, with so much genuine love and kindness, that I have a renewed sense of gratefulness for my friends and family.

Did you have a themed shower?  What was the theme, and what was your favorite gift of the day?

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47 Responses to “A Foodie Fest Shower: Surprisingly Nice and Humbling”

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1.
Gerbera
Member
Gerbera (message)  4,481 posts, Honey bee

Aw. That was a beautiful shower! All the vietnamese food looks so darn yummy!
And I love the food theme gifts!

 
2.
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Bee
Miss Taffy (message)  3,105 posts, Sugar bee

Yum!!!! I’m so glad that you had a great time… all of the food sounds incredible! :)

 
3.
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Member
Newport Nuptials (message)  1,230 posts, Bumble bee

You look beautiful! The shower theme is so cute, I love that your BM Abby made a spatula bouquet…such a cute idea!

 
4.
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Bee
Miss Ballet Flat (message)  852 posts, Busy bee

Oh wow! How neat is that? I saw Penzey’s spices in there…those are the BEST!

 
5.
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Bee
Miss Beagle (message)  1,381 posts, Bumble bee

It looks like it was so much fun! I love all the food-themed gifts.

 
6.
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Member
MrsDavis (message)  251 posts, Helper bee

aawww. I am so glad you had a good time and that everything worked out. The themed gifts are to die for. I love stinky cheeses as well.

 
7.
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Bee
Miss Bruschetta (message)  5,565 posts, Bee Keeper

I’m loving all your salts! A foodie shower sounds amazing! :-) And your dress is oh-so cute!

 
8.
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Bee
Miss Quiche (message)  3,140 posts, Sugar bee

Umm Perf? I don’t even know where to begin or what to say to this luscious post of fabulousness…but here are the Cliff’s Notes:

1. You are gorgeous and your dress is adorable!
2. Mr. Quiche would be in heaven at your shower (as would I, of course…but he would love it too)
3. I’m hungry.

:)

 
9.
purpleHaze79
Member
purpleHaze79 (message)  874 posts, Busy bee

What a lovely shower!! :)

 
10.
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Bee
Miss Quiche (message)  3,140 posts, Sugar bee

Oh, and it looks like the little flower on your dress matches your invitation bows, no? :)

 
11.
GwenMarieDC
Member
GwenMarieDC (message)  111 posts, Blushing bee

That sounds like a lovely gathering! And what fantastic foodie gifts. I recently told my mom that while I will go home to VT to get married,, I want to have my bridal shower here in DC. We just bought a condo in Skyline with an AMAZING view of the city and I think it would be the perfect setting someday!

 
12.
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Guest
Rocío

Beautiful shower!! And you’re gorgeus, where did you get that dress?

 
13.
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Bee
Mrs. Emerald (message)  1,065 posts, Bumble bee

That Vietnamese food looks soooo good! And you are so pretty! :)

 
14.
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Bee
Miss Mascara (message)  859 posts, Busy bee

Glad you had a great time! You look beautiful, love the dress!

 
15.
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Member
Cranley04 (message)  17 posts, Newbee

You and your sister are so lovely, and your Mom is just too cute! You can tell she is so proud of her girls from the pictures.

 
16.
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Guest
Margoxyvon

Sounds like an awesome time! PS-you will LOVE Penzey’s spices!

 
17.
AbbyM
Member
AbbyM (message)  284 posts, Helper bee

The food is making me SO hungry - it looks delish! And I love the “foodie” theme and how creative your friends are - it looks like you had an amzaing time with some nummy gifts! :)

 
18.
LatteLove
Hostess
LatteLove (message)  5,590 posts, Bee Keeper

sounds like a shower fit for a foodie! how fun and delicious!

 
19.
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Bee
Miss Latte (message)  651 posts, Busy bee

sounds absolutely perfect. i love your dress, especially that cute pink flower! i’m suddenly very very hungry…

 
20.
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Guest
sally

I am so happy for you, it looks fab.

 
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Mrs. Perfume
Mrs. Perfume

Mrs. Perfume, DC Age and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor) Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Consultant Engagement Date: May 13, 2008 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia About Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.

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