Sunday was my bridal shower. My Mom threw it for me back home in Massachusetts at the Hopkinton Country Club. It was a ladies brunch for about ninety women. Actually, ninety-three women.
There was a gorgeous spread of food. There was a waldorf salad, fresh fruit salad, stuffed sole, homefries, eggs and bacon. There was also a crepes bar, mimosa bar and candy bar. In front of each place setting, there was a different silk flower that you could take off and wear. There were so many little details that made the day that much more special to me.
The favors were white watches. Every watch was different. The tag read, “The time on the clock is ticking away. Soon we will be celebrating my wedding day. Thanks for coming to my shower.” They were adorable!
My Mom really outdid herself for this shower. She got really creative with it, and worked for weeks on it. It really was a day to remember.
This shower was not a surprise for me. I was able to greet everyone when they arrived, with a hug and a kiss, and "Thank you for coming". It was great. There is definitely something to be said about having a surprise shower, though. I was a nervous wreck the night before. I hardly slept. And if this is any indication of how I will be the night before the wedding, then I am in trouble. I kept waking up... thinking about how many women would be there. And they would all be there for me! I had a lot of butterflies.
There were so many women there, from so many different times in my life. Most were relatives and close family friends. My favorite girlfriends were there, too. The kind of friends who know so much more about me than my own family. There were also lifelong friends, really close to my heart, that traveled from New York, Georgia and Virginia. Brian’s sisters-in-law Fiona and Doreen (my bridesmaids) and my niece Caitlin (my flower girl) traveled all the way from New York to spend the weekend with me, too. There were also women there that I had not met before, that were important to Brian and Breda, and I was happy to have them there, too.
There was a gorgeous spread of food. There was a waldorf salad, fresh fruit salad, stuffed sole, homefries, eggs and bacon. There was also a crepes bar, mimosa bar and candy bar. In front of each place setting, there was a different silk flower that you could take off and wear. There were so many little details that made the day that much more special to me.
The favors were white watches. Every watch was different. The tag read, “The time on the clock is ticking away. Soon we will be celebrating my wedding day. Thanks for coming to my shower.” They were adorable!
My Mom really outdid herself for this shower. She got really creative with it, and worked for weeks on it. It really was a day to remember.
This shower was not a surprise for me. I was able to greet everyone when they arrived, with a hug and a kiss, and "Thank you for coming". It was great. There is definitely something to be said about having a surprise shower, though. I was a nervous wreck the night before. I hardly slept. And if this is any indication of how I will be the night before the wedding, then I am in trouble. I kept waking up... thinking about how many women would be there. And they would all be there for me! I had a lot of butterflies.
There were so many women there, from so many different times in my life. Most were relatives and close family friends. My favorite girlfriends were there, too. The kind of friends who know so much more about me than my own family. There were also lifelong friends, really close to my heart, that traveled from New York, Georgia and Virginia. Brian’s sisters-in-law Fiona and Doreen (my bridesmaids) and my niece Caitlin (my flower girl) traveled all the way from New York to spend the weekend with me, too. There were also women there that I had not met before, that were important to Brian and Breda, and I was happy to have them there, too.
I had never felt so grateful for having such love around me. It was difficult not being able to have enough time to sit and spend time with everyone. It was like I had enough time to give them a big hug and a kiss, and before I knew it I was watching them leave again.
It was a bit overwhelming, having so many people watching you and wishing you well. Everyone had their eyes on me, in my little black and white dress. I was a bag of nerves, but just kept downing mimosas, thinking it would get easier. And it did!
We received some beautiful presents. Most were things that I picked out on my registries, but there were some that were not. Those were really awesome gifts. Gifts that people were inspired to get me. You could tell it was a gift that they got me because they knew me well. I definitely have a couple of favorites, but those I will keep to myself.
I would have to say that my very favorite thing that I brought home from the shower were my wishes. My Auntie Kim (my maid of honor) had bought these little index cards that said “I Wish” on one side, and were blank on the other. The point was for everyone to fill out a card with a wish for me. I read them out loud to Brian on the way back to New York. Most were little wishes of happiness, laughter and health. Surprisingly, there were some really deep and heartfelt wishes.
There are a few that stand out to me. One in particular is from my Mom’s cousin Pauline, who wrote, “Morgan, may you grow into a beautiful mother like the one you have, and like the mother before her- passing onto the next generation all the blessings that God has to give.” It really put such a smile of my face, thinking about the traditions and love that I will pass on to my own children, taught to me by my Mother and my Grandmother.
It was a bit overwhelming, having so many people watching you and wishing you well. Everyone had their eyes on me, in my little black and white dress. I was a bag of nerves, but just kept downing mimosas, thinking it would get easier. And it did!
We received some beautiful presents. Most were things that I picked out on my registries, but there were some that were not. Those were really awesome gifts. Gifts that people were inspired to get me. You could tell it was a gift that they got me because they knew me well. I definitely have a couple of favorites, but those I will keep to myself.
I would have to say that my very favorite thing that I brought home from the shower were my wishes. My Auntie Kim (my maid of honor) had bought these little index cards that said “I Wish” on one side, and were blank on the other. The point was for everyone to fill out a card with a wish for me. I read them out loud to Brian on the way back to New York. Most were little wishes of happiness, laughter and health. Surprisingly, there were some really deep and heartfelt wishes.
There are a few that stand out to me. One in particular is from my Mom’s cousin Pauline, who wrote, “Morgan, may you grow into a beautiful mother like the one you have, and like the mother before her- passing onto the next generation all the blessings that God has to give.” It really put such a smile of my face, thinking about the traditions and love that I will pass on to my own children, taught to me by my Mother and my Grandmother.
The best part of the day for me, was being with family. Everyone seemed to have a permanent smile on their face. There was so much happiness, not a single shred of negativity was there. It made me finally feel true excitement for our wedding day. I can’t wait to share it with all these people, and feel that feeling of support again, with Brian by my side.
One thing that calmed my nerves was thinking that a lot of these women were once in my shoes. They were once young, wandering and searching for their life’s happiness. Eager to find it in a marriage with the man of their dreams.
It also made me feel more secure knowing that I have this group of amazing women in my life, there to rally around me if I ever need it. Mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, nieces and granddaughters. We really are all part of a whole. It is times like these that make me thankful for being a woman and for having the opportunity to celebrate with such wonderful examples of what it is to be one.
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