Weddingbee Blog

I’ve never seen myself as being the “bridal shower” type. I get flustered by attention, and I hate feeling like people are going out of their way or inconveniencing themselves for me. I actually really enjoyed hosting a bridal shower for my BFF, but I didn’t think I’d enjoy attending as the bride-to-be.

Wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I spent Thanksgiving in Philadelphia with my extended family. On Black Friday, I ventured to King of Prussia with my mom, cousin, and grandmother in the hopes of finding a dress for my grandmother. We returned around 4, and when I walked into the house, my face looked like this:

…because all of my beautiful relations were belting out a hearty rendition of “Going to the Chapel” while it piped through the iPod speakers. Because there were delicate paper wedding bells strung up everywhere. Because there was a mountain of different cheesecakes next to a mountain of presents and because it was all for me, and I had no. idea.

That was just the beginning.

My brother made White Russians (renamed: White Bridals).

My uncle made fresh chips doused in vinegar and Old Bay (my dad and his siblings immigrated from England to Maryland…so this dish is our ultimate) and then some sweet potato fries. My aunt whipped up a few of my other favorite foods—spinach salad with homemade dressing, peanut noodles, and fish tacos. I am so hungry thinking about it. Here I am, pulling a face and showing off my food. You’ll notice that my family won’t even turn off the lacrosse game for a bridal shower. But hey—they put it on mute because they love me.

Kindly ignore my glasses. I had a headache and needed to wear them. Just forget you saw this photo.

Nobody made me play games or answer questions about Mr. PD. I mean, I did have to wear some silly glasses, but I thought I made them look Elton-John-chic:

We just mingled and ate and laughed and opened presents. Since I’ve been opening presents in front of these people my whole life, I didn’t feel awkward. Just grateful.

Then we feasted on my grandmother’s lemon pound cake and nearly a dozen types of cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. We watched more of the Cake Boss marathon and went to a dive bar in Manayunk to watch a cover band.

I never would have thought anyone could dream up a bridal shower that made me feel so comfortable and loved. I wish the same for you!

Were any of you uncomfortable at the idea of a bridal shower? Anyone TOTALLY eat their words (and cheesecake) like I did?