Wedding Shower Inspired By Napa Honeymoon

A couple of months ago, we brought you the fabulous photo shoot that Candice Dowling took part in at an amazing old girls’ school in Connecticut. This time, she wasn’t there helping one of her brides, though, SHE WAS the bride!

Here’s one of her engagement shots from Robert & Kathleen Photographers

Candice is the creative force behind Jubilee Events. Based in Connecticut, and working throughout New England, Jubilee Events is one of the premiere wedding planning and coordination firms in our Little Black Book. During these past few months, the height of the 2009 wedding season, Candice was also planning her own wedding!

She sent us a few of the photos from her wedding shower and we wanted to share!

from Candice …

My poor mother – she sure did have her work cut out for her planning this fabulous party! I had to keep a safe distance from the planning and I’m so glad I did. She did such a tremendous job.

My mother shares my affection for wine and wanted to do something that incorporated my love of Vino into my bridal shower. We booked an amazing honeymoon to Sonoma / Napa Valley, so she used that as her inspiration and created a wine country inspired shower.

The afternoon started at my grandmother’s house – which is this fabulous 100 year old Victorian in Connecticut, nestled in a little oasis near the middle of town. When guests arrived they were greeted by a beautifully decorated staircase that comes into the south side of the house. Rose petals, garland, purple ribbon – it was so beautiful!

We served lots of yummy food and wine on the north side of the house out on the veranda and sun porch, including Pavilion Crossing Cabernet, Haymen Hill Merlot, Bogle Chardonnay, and a delicious White Zin Sangria with lots of pitted fruits. Guests nibbled on lots of scrumptious fruits, breads and cheese, like brie, bel paese, jarlsberg and fontina.

I made individual wine guides for everyone which detailed the wines and the region. I even made a custom map of Napa and Sonoma Valley and we asked guests to suggest a vineyard for us to visit and try while we were honeymooning. They were such fun details!

For lunch, we all moved over to the south side where my mother had beautifully decorated all the tables with these amazing centerpieces, purple runners, and lots of wine corks. She served citrus grilled chicken with a mango salsa, salmon filet will dill cucumber and capers and carpaccio with horseradish and gorgonzola sauce. It was all accompanied by three varied salads which included a lot of fresh fruits and nuts. Too yummy! The event was caterer by a local restaurant and family friend, Jesse Camile’s Restaurant. They did a fabulous job! The carrot cake from Let’s Eat Cake was so gorgeous and almost too pretty to eat. The favors were these absolutely DELICIOUS red velvet cake lollies from Lovely Lollies. They melted in your mouth!!

I had such a fabulous and amazing shower. It was so special, mostly because it was at the home of my grandmother which is inherently special to me. My mom put so much thought and love into every detail – she really blew me away!

Thanks, Candice … and Robert and Kathleen Photographers for sharing the day!!