photos: amanda moss // back seat photography // location: amelie’s french bakery 

Hosted by my mother Terrie and sister Shannon, we celebrated my bridal shower at one of the sweetest places in Charlotte, Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe, on a gorgeous summer afternoon. My mother and sister were insistent that I not get involved in the planning. Therefore the only item I knew prior to walking into the event was truly where it was located. While I wanted to know everything prior, it was so incredibly nice to sit back and allow them to plan everything. A bride has enough to worry about with the wedding, right? Lucky for me, my mother and sister know me so well and captured my personality and vision perfectly! There were pops of blue everywhere, champagne flowing, and the sweetest little treats everywhere.

Upon arriving, guests were greeted with mimosas with raspberries to drop in! They were then well prepared to mix and mingle while also taking a look back at Joshua and I’s courtship. There were photos printed from time when we were just friends right up to the month prior to the bridal shower.

Each guest was seated at adorable bistro tables with sweet details including custom candles for the vent and simple floral arrangements. Baby’s breath and daisy’s filled the center of the tables adding just the right amount beauty to each bistro table. I love the way my mother and sister decided to decorate the room. Again, they completely captured my personality with the simple details

The buffet table of pastries, sandwiches, macarons, brownies, and more was so sinfully sweet! For a room for a gals there could not have been a more perfect display of food. There were salted caramel brownies, Amelie’s signature dessert as well as my favorite, cinnamon macarons. I couldn’t help myself from going back between each guest greeting!

The mimosa bar with orange juice, cranberry juice, and fruit was one of my favorite parts of the shower. As mimosas are my absolute favorite drink especially when given the opportunity to pour myself, the perfect mimosa {1/4 OJ, 3/4 champagne}! My girls also really enjoyed pouring and creating their own concoctions.

I truly could not have asked for a more special shower! It meant so much to me to have the women thatI love host such a beautiful event to shower me. 

My top tips for any bride to be preparing for her bridal shower are: 

1. Sit back and allow others to plan if they’re wanting to. You’ll enjoy the event a lot more as you won’t be stressed. Also giving you more time to work on your upcoming wedding. Plus you’ll get to see how well the party planner really knows you {insert wink emoji} 
2. Don’t feel like you HAVE to wear white! While it’s fun to dress in all white during your engagement, it’s also exciting to find something that is totally you. I talked a little about this topic here. I tried on several white dresses but never felt any of them were quite right. When I tried on this romper, it was an immediate connection. Emily will tell you, without even having it all the way on, “I said this is what I’m wearing to me shower.” I felt comfortable, confident, and like it expressed my personality + style perfectly. 
3. If you have an item, game, or food that’s really important for you to have at your shower, vocalize it. I knew I wanted mimosas at my bridal shower before I was even engaged! I had this idea of a little mimosa bar and sipping my favorite drink with my gals. So I immediately told that to my mom and sister when asked what I really wanted. Walking in, I knew without a doubt it would be there and I was relieved not having to worry about that. 
4. Soak it all in! Take the time to sit back and take a look at the room. These woman LOVE you! They’re there to celebrate you and your soon to be hubby. That’s a pretty sweet thing. Don’t let the day go by without soaking that in! 
5. Get a photographer! You’ll be SO happy you did. These photos {and the other 200+} are ones I will cherish forever. I love having photos of my bridesmaids, friends, family, and soon to be family all in one, celebrating a really exciting time. 

If you have any questions about my bridal shower, what to do for yours, other tips/tricks, or anything else please let me know! Comment below or feel free to email me at [email protected]. 

I want to say a special thank you to my mom and sister for all the hard work they put into the shower to make it everything I ever wanted and more! I appreciate the time, energy, money, and effort you poured into this event for me! I love you both!! Also thank you to all my sweet friends and soon to be family who also made this event so special for me!