My "Fresh Off the Market" Bridal Shower 🍓🌿
One of the most special moments leading up to our wedding was celebrating my bridal shower with the incredible women in my life. After months of wedding planning, it was such a fun opportunity to slow down, spend quality time with family and friends, and soak in this exciting season before Chad and I say "I do."
My heart is so full after this day, and I'm so excited to share all of the details with you!
The Theme: Fresh Off the Market
I've always loved a garden-inspired aesthetic, so when we came up with the idea of a "Fresh Off the Market" bridal shower, I knew it was exactly the look I wanted. The theme combined everything I love—fresh florals, seasonal produce, soft neutral colors, and charming farmers market-inspired details.
From the flowers to the décor, every little detail came together beautifully. It felt elegant while still being warm, welcoming, and perfect for a summer bridal shower.
The Details
One of my favorite parts of planning any event is dreaming up all of the little details. We wanted the shower to feel thoughtful from the moment guests arrived, and every element reflected the market-inspired theme.
The florals were absolutely stunning and helped bring the whole vision to life. We also had a bouquet bar where guests could build and take home their own floral arrangements, which ended up being one of everyone's favorite parts of the day. It was such a fun interactive experience and doubled as the perfect party favor.
Looking around and seeing everything come together exactly how I had imagined was such a surreal moment.
The Food
One of the highlights of the afternoon was the incredible charcuterie setup by Up North Social. They created the most beautiful grazing display filled with artisan cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruit, crackers, nuts, and all of the perfect accompaniments. It was almost too pretty to eat!
The grazing board fit our "Fresh Off the Market" theme perfectly and quickly became a gathering spot for guests throughout the afternoon. Everything was fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. We received so many compliments on it, and it truly elevated the entire event. If you're planning a bridal shower, baby shower, or any celebration in northern Minnesota, I can't recommend Up North Social enough.
The Games
No bridal shower is complete without a few fun games! We wanted activities that would get everyone involved, spark conversations, and keep the afternoon full of laughter.
We played He Said, She Said, How Well Do You Know the Bride?, Guess the Bride's Age, How Many Berries Are in the Basket?, Dress the Bride, and Bridal Bingo while I opened gifts. Every game brought something different to the afternoon, and it was so much fun watching everyone get competitive—especially during Dress the Bride!
One of my favorite parts of planning was creating all of the game materials myself using my Cricut. I designed and made the game cards, signs, and other paper details so everything matched the overall "Fresh Off the Market" aesthetic. I love incorporating DIY elements whenever I can because they make an event feel so much more personal.
Not only was it a fun creative project, but it also allowed me to customize every detail exactly how I envisioned it. Seeing everyone laughing, comparing answers, creating mini wedding dresses, and marking off their Bridal Bingo cards made all of the time spent designing everything completely worth it.
Opening Gifts
After the games, it was time to open gifts, and I was overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. Every gift was so thoughtful, and it was incredibly special getting to celebrate this season with the women who mean so much to me.
Chad stopped by carrying the most beautiful bouquet of flowers I have ever seen, while I was opening gifts.
Everyone cheered when he walked in, and it ended up being one of my favorite moments of the afternoon. It was such a thoughtful gesture and a sweet reminder that in just a few short months, I'll get to marry my best friend. I'll never forget that moment.
Celebrating With My Favorite People
As beautiful as all of the décor was, my favorite part of the day was simply having so many of the women I love together in one place.
Looking around the room and seeing lifelong friends, family members, future family, and so many people who have supported Chad and me throughout our relationship meant more than I can put into words. There were so many sweet conversations, lots of laughter, and memories I'll cherish forever.
Wedding planning can sometimes become all about timelines, decisions, and to-do lists, so this day was the perfect reminder of what this season is truly about—celebrating with the people who have loved and supported us every step of the way.
Feeling So Grateful
None of this would have been possible without my amazing mom and everyone who helped make the day happen. From planning and decorating to setting up, hosting, and making sure every little detail came together, so much love went into creating this celebration.
I'm also incredibly thankful to everyone who attended, traveled to celebrate with us, sent thoughtful gifts, or reached out with kind words. Chad and I feel so blessed to have such an amazing community surrounding us as we prepare for our wedding.
One Step Closer to "I Do"
With my bridal shower officially behind us, it's finally starting to feel real that our wedding is just around the corner.
Thank you so much for following along on our wedding journey and celebrating these milestones with us. Sharing these moments with all of you makes them even more meaningful, and I can't wait to bring you along as we continue counting down to our wedding day this September!
