ali harper photography

My latest wedding shower, thrown jointly by my sis-in-law, Kristin, and my Mom’s fav friend, Mrs. Frost, was a sweet success! Kris took cupcake decorating classes and even made gluten-free ones for my personal enjoyment. Pretty deliciousness!

Matt and I ventured back earlier today from our quick stay at Pura Vida — the place where our Rehearsal Dinner will soon be held, and where all our family will be gathering with us for our wedding festivities. It was a somewhat eventful, but relaxing weekend at the same time (lots of items checked off the wedding “to-do” list thankfully), as the place is pure bliss… I have many more photos to share of the winter wonderland that surrounded us, including a frolicking Miss Ellie in the snow! (Oh did it just make her weekend, that’s for sure.)

In the meantime, Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours, I hope it was full of sweetness…

Saturday I was given quite honestly the best gift ever. My dear friend Dawn threw me a vintage-glamour inspired shower and filled her home with my most favorite girlfriends in Atlanta. Dawn said it best: it was a day filled with happiness & laughter, thoughtful, heart-felt gifts, crafting amongst a roaring fire, delicious homemade food, shared memories, and even a few tears (but the good ones!). My mom traveled up with Dad all the way from Florida just to attend, which made it even more special because she finally got to put names and faces together.

And of course, Dawn made it the most special just doing what she does best: creating beautifully inspired vignettes, so thoughtfully befitting of the person she throws the party for. A-MAZING details…

Drawers filled with turn-of-the-century baubles sharing space with crusty bread.

Mannequins outfitted with their own vintage veils. A cake adorned with an encrusted brooch.

We ate delicious cold-weather chili in her mix & match china and vintage napkins.

The invitation (oh my, I can’t wait to share that with you – stay tuned) included a handmade recipe card… everyone brought their favorite one to share with me. You’ll see why that is so meaningful in just a second…

Fresh macaroons were hidden amongst glamorous jewelry and candles. (I think I ate 5, they were so good!)

We shared craft tables, where everyone got their own can to decorate however they liked. The cans will later be tied to a vintage bicycle, kind of like our “get-away car”. I think it is so fun that I get to have something inspired by each girl at the wedding! So fun.

Aren’t they amazing? (I have some incredibly talented friends.)

This is pretty much what I felt like all day. Crazy happy.

But there were also some tears: Mom made me the most thoughtful gifts, and I shared a note with everyone she wrote… (yah, we passed the tissues around!)

… about the recipe cards that she had saved from my Dad’s mother (Ethel), who passed away when I was 18. She had saved them all these years, and took out the recipe book Ethel had orignally given to here… where she pasted in recipe after recipe from family and dear friends. I’ll use this book to place all the recipes the girls gave to me at my shower.

And I even got a basket signed by everyone who attended.

I mean, can it get any more thoughtful? “Thank-you” just doesn’t suffice. I am more than blessed, I am more than thankful. What an amazing day… I left Dawn’s house thinking it all just went by too fast. I can’t even imagine how I’ll feel the day of my wedding if I felt like this today.

So very loved.