The rituals surrounding weddings elude me. I attended only two weddings as a child, and didn’t receive my first wedding shower invitation until post-college. As it turns out, I am very bad at showers. If it’s possible to do something wrong (wear inappropriate attire, forget to RSVP, ship rather than bring a gift, arrive late) I will surely do it. You’d think that someone who spends so much time partying would be better at this sort of thing…
Unfortunately, simply acknowledging and accepting this short-coming isn’t going to cut it this year. This year, my best friend is getting married. And this best friend happens to be the queen of social graces (no pressure). As maid-of-honor, it’s my responsibility to host several forms of pre-wedding festivities: engagement toast, engagement party, bachelorette party, and a cooking shower.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, and determined to make my best friend the happiest bride in the world, I’ve immersed myself in all things bridal. Emily Post proved invaluable in this department, with an entire collection of wedding etiquette books for daft people like me.
Miraculously, the celebrations have gone off without a hitch – my favorite being the cooking shower (big surprise). The co-ed party took place on a particularly gorgeous day in Marin. My co-host, the bride’s sister-in-law, and I planned everything out to the most infinitesimal detail: individual Chinese chicken salads in monogrammed take-out boxes, gourmet pigs in a blanket tucked in grass, personalized striped straws, twinkle lights and paper lanterns, champagne and wine tasting competitions, wooden spoons to write notes to the happy couple, and bocce ball on the sprawling lawn.
The only element that I put off was the cupcake dessert that the bride specifically requested. Feeling a bit burned out on cupcakes (a sentiment I’m not alone in), I avoided the issue until day-of. On my way to the store to pick up ingredients, I weighed the options: chocolate - too heavy, strawberry - too saccharine, vanilla - too boring.
Suddenly it hit me! The bride’s a major grapefruit fanatic, and with temperatures in the 80’s the refreshing fruit complimented the weather perfectly. Though I’ve never tasted the flavor, I decided that it wouldn’t be too difficult to doctor white cake and buttercream recipes by adding fresh grapefruit and a sprinkle of lemon zest.
The shower was a huge success, and the bride and groom-to be were thrilled. Perhaps there’s hope for me (and the cupcake trend) after all! xx tt
FINISHING TOUCHES…
t+tTOOLS: My grapefruit infatuation in full-effect, I couldn’t stop at confections. Greyhounds are even more delicious imbibed via these darling mini-mason jar sippers - serve with a slice of fruit and a pink paper straw.
