June 2009 Weddings
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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"Country-chic" bridal shower ideas?
I am throwing my little sister's bridal shower in December and I need help with some creative, fun, over-the-top ideas. I don't even like country music so I feel a little lost. Any cowgirls out there? 
She is really into fashion and wants something semi-swanky but I am having a hard time blending the country with the chic.
Any thoughts? Recipes? Games? I might veto the game idea. She has already had a super traditional bridal shower and so I kind of want this to be anti-shower. Oh and her shower and b-party are blending into each other, so we all be really dressed up (dresses and cowboy boots).
TIA!
Re: "Country-chic" bridal shower ideas?
I want to help, but I just don't really understand what you're going for. Is this a bridal shower that includes gifts? Does it have to be country themed and chic? Is it just that she likes country music or does she also wear cowboy boots and go line dancing and work on a farm? (Or other stereotypical things.) If she wants it to be swanky, can't you just do that and have some country music playing?
I have ideas, but I need a better idea of what you're going for. (I love stuff like this.)
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Do you want kind of like a rustic, or shabby-chic vibe? Like, signs written on wood, etc?
Maybe some paper products using a rodeo/circusy font (like a banner, cupcake flags -- you know I love cupcake flags!! -- or tea stirrers)
Hmm... I'll keep thinking!!
Her wedding is country-chic. It is in a barn (finished and super nice) and we all might be wearing cowboy boots. Her tables and centerpieces are all really nice but still incorporate a western theme. We are wearing really crazy high-fashion jewelry that is not bridal, at all (it has birds on it). I don't 100% understand the country-chic thing either but everything that she is coming up with looks great together because I think it is really easy to have western themed things look a little trashy (for lack of a better word).
An example: we were talking about food at her shower and she mentioned wanting a non-trashy version of wings & mini hotdog things even though they match the theme. This is where I am confused at most things. But I know I want the food table to look like something out of a magazine...
I am also anti-bridal shower. I requested not to have one for my own wedding because I am not into them. So, since she has already had one, I just want it to be really different and unique. I love throwing fancy parties and I am at a loss for ideas. Hee-yaw....I guess?
That was the theme I was sort of going for with my wedding, since I wanted it to be a little glam, but we were getting married in the Vermont countryside. I found this slideshow to be particularly inspirational.
http://www.bhg.com/crafts/weddings/real/real-weddings-a-modern-twist-on-country-chic/
We did things like flowering plants in pretty little pots for centerpieces. Serving drinks out of mason jars would be nice. Maybe tablecloths that hint at bandanna print (or that might just be Western).
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Dandy- yes, I was already thinking of getting wood pieces for the base of all the food dishes to sit on...do you have other ideas for wood? She loves rustic stuff. I have been designing her invites and she chose crazy western fonts for them. She does want cupcakes and I couldn't think of how to make the western-ish. Flags are such a good way to go! You are awesome, please help more. Thanks!
Zee- btw this is a gift party.
Oh and her colors are chocolate brown and burgundy.
You can use bandanas as cloth napkins (greener option too!) and also favors.
There are a lot of really great beers that are not necessarily cheap. Get some of those and get pilsner mugs that can also be part of the favors. (You can do a beer tasting as part of it even.)
Some other food ideas:
twice baked potatoes (the ones where you mash the potatoes and stick them back in the skins)
Sirloin wraps (different meats wrapped in each other or in filo dough)
chili
cornbread
For an activity, you can all learn a line dance. It's country, but not a cheesy game.
I'd also google images for country themed weddings and things like that.
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Invite design inspiration:
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I second the drinks in Mason Jars. Some sort of spiked lemonade would be great. There is a drink I love to make that would probably work and it combines lemonade, sprite/7up, chardonay, and frozen raspberries. I don't remember the exact proportions but it ends up tasting like a fizzy raspberry lemonade.
Without knowing her colors, red and white gingham are always a safe bet. I like how it looks with sunflowers.
I have a few appetizer recipes that may work but they are at home so I will have to post them later.
For food you could upscale versions of "country" food:
Pigs in a blanket made with sausage and puff pastry instead of hot dogs and pillsbury rolls
Cowgirl cookies (see http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/)
chicken skewers with dipping sauces (peanut sauce, honey mustard, BBQ)
Mini jalepeno corn bread - bake them in mini-muffin tins or reg muffin tins
Jalepeno poppers wrapped in bacon
BBQ sliders - pulled pork or chicken (mini food is always cuter)
For drinks - margaritas would be classic - display in a big glass dispenser and use mason jars for glasses
Other stuff -- I would add some grapevine wreaths with white xmas lights, paisley table cloths/napkins, you could use the cowboy cookie mixes as favors or do, use galvanized tubs to hold wine/beer/water on ice...
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Mamie- I really like those invites! I designed hers and she gave me this as inspiration. She is doing matchbooks but we are using burgundy paper that has damask and paisley on it.
Yes, anyone please post recipes. That lemonade sounds great. Thanks!
Hawkilady- those cowgirl cookie favors are awesome. I am totally making them! It makes me want to incorporate pink into her shower, ha!
Thanks for the food ideas, those are way better versions of things I have thought of. I am a vegetarian so I don't think of fun ways to incorporate meat.
Thanks so much!
If you want to add some vegetarian things too you could do stuffed mushrooms, mac n'cheese cups (spoon mac n'cheese into muffin tins and top with bread crumbs - use fontina, gruyere, etc. to make them more upscale, I often sprinkle the tops with crumbled bacon but you could skip that), deviled eggs.
Hand pies and mini-pecan pies would also be really cute rustic desserts.
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Do you want a Country or Western-themed party? To me, they are 2 very different things.
When I was an event planner, we used to throw a gala every year called "Denim and Diamonds" which was more Western-themed.
Our decor was very similar to this:
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/09/03/texas-inspired-rehearsal-dinner/
...incorporating succulents, cacti, river rocks and faux animal skin accents (table runners and lounge area).
If you want Country, here are some absolutely beautiful ideas for a country-themed party. I absolutely love the old tins and bottles they used as vases.
http://www.stylemepretty.com/
I do agree that either way you go, the mason jars are a great idea (I used them for my wedding, which was more of a "country" theme, pics in bio).
Margaritas are always a big hit at Western functions also. A tequila tasting may be something fun you can all do--if you don't have to drive afterwards
Sounds like a fun party! GL!
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Hawkilady- awesome mac and cheese cup (even though I don't really like mac and cheese...my little sis loves it!) but do you bake them and they stay together as a bite-size thing or do they need a plate and fork? How long do you bake them?
Angel- I have no idea between the difference but I know your second link looks a lot like things she has sent me. Loved the all the details! I should find some old vases, bottles or jars. Thanks!
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