My April started with a shower – a Bridal Shower thrown by my soon-to-be aunt and cousins. We all met up for at a local Italian restaurant and ate linguine and cake while I opened more presents than any girl should receive at one time.
One of the most personal gifts was a quilt that Will’s grandmother made. It has fifty panels – each featuring the name and flower of a state. The embroidery work is gorgeous. I’ve never met this grandmother as she passed away before I came on the scene, so having something she made is very special. I need to get good pictures of the quilt and when I do, I promise I’ll share.
Both families had been asked to make poster board displays of childhood photos. My Mom and sister did a great job culling the perfect pictures to encapsulate my childhood. That said, perhaps we could have done without my fourth grade school photo where I slept in curlers to have “Kelly Kapowski bangs.”
Will’s mother had selected pictures with equal love and care. Watching her narrate them was incredibly heartwarming. Her love for her son is palpable.
I can’t believe how generous everyone was. My soon-to-be mother-in-law is one of the most outgoing and inclusive people I’ve ever met. She has oodles of friends – friends willing to buy serving dishes and hand towels for a girl they hadn’t officially met yet.
Throughout the afternoon, people were pulling me aside to tell me how wonderful my new mother in law is. I assured them that I knew.
On the ride home to Chicago I got text messages from my mother and my sister both elated over how great the afternoon had been and how welcomed they’d felt by my new family-to-be. I knew beforehand that everyone would get along, but it’s always nice to hear such rave reviews.
I’m so lucky to be marrying into such a loving family.
Hemborgwife says
I had a ribbon bouquet too, my husband found it cute but my little brothers however were in love with it and wanted to play with it so bad!
Hemborgwife says
I had a ribbon bouquet too, my husband found it cute but my little brothers however were in love with it and wanted to play with it so bad!
renita says
I held a “ribbon bouquet” and had a goofy novelty veil for my rehearsal dinner, yes. I was never privy to these things growing up! 🙂
renita says
I held a “ribbon bouquet” and had a goofy novelty veil for my rehearsal dinner, yes. I was never privy to these things growing up! 🙂
Allison Gans Castillo says
Yes, carried a ribbon bouquet made by my generous, kind mother/aunt/cousins-in law. It was great fun. I also made one at my friend Miriam’s shower, and surprised myself at how pretty it looked. Enjoy!!! 🙂
Allison Gans Castillo says
Yes, carried a ribbon bouquet made by my generous, kind mother/aunt/cousins-in law. It was great fun. I also made one at my friend Miriam’s shower, and surprised myself at how pretty it looked. Enjoy!!! 🙂
Will's mom says
LOL..You do NOT have to carry the ribbon plate at your rehersal….(unless you want to…and only if it embarresses Will)
( You are so sweet!)
Helena says
Haha, you didn’t see me when I got home from the shower STAPLING the ribbons down to make sure it held up until October. I’ve wanted a ribbon plate since I saw my cousin’s back in 1999!
Will's mom says
LOL..You do NOT have to carry the ribbon plate at your rehersal….(unless you want to…and only if it embarresses Will)
( You are so sweet!)
Helena says
Haha, you didn’t see me when I got home from the shower STAPLING the ribbons down to make sure it held up until October. I’ve wanted a ribbon plate since I saw my cousin’s back in 1999!
Jessica @ Faith Permeating Life says
I had a ribbon plate! My bridal shower was in Buffalo, and we had flown out there for the weekend. (I had requested not to have a shower, but it was foisted upon me by Mike’s extended family over the fourth of July weekend.) So the gifts and the ribbon plate were driven home to Ohio by my future father-in-law, transferred to my future mother-in-law’s house (they are divorced), and then sat in her hallway for several weeks. I was sure she would forget to bring the container of stuff with her when she came to Chicago for the wedding, but she did not, and I got to take my ribbon plate to the rehearsal!
It actually came in extremely useful to have a fake bouquet to practice with so I could figure out at which point I needed to hand it off to my matron of honor. The funny part was that during the wedding she got overzealous about doing her part and there was a brief tug-of-war of sorts when she tried to take it from me too early 🙂
Jessica @ Faith Permeating Life says
I had a ribbon plate! My bridal shower was in Buffalo, and we had flown out there for the weekend. (I had requested not to have a shower, but it was foisted upon me by Mike’s extended family over the fourth of July weekend.) So the gifts and the ribbon plate were driven home to Ohio by my future father-in-law, transferred to my future mother-in-law’s house (they are divorced), and then sat in her hallway for several weeks. I was sure she would forget to bring the container of stuff with her when she came to Chicago for the wedding, but she did not, and I got to take my ribbon plate to the rehearsal!
It actually came in extremely useful to have a fake bouquet to practice with so I could figure out at which point I needed to hand it off to my matron of honor. The funny part was that during the wedding she got overzealous about doing her part and there was a brief tug-of-war of sorts when she tried to take it from me too early 🙂
Nancy says
My friend’s family does not do the “bow-ribbon bouquet”. Someone in the family sews a huge heart out of some kind of mesh type material trimmed in lace with a slit in back in which the bows and ribbons are stuffed. It looks like a huge pillow. Then those bows and ribbons are used for all the gifts the newly married couple give throughout the coming years, i.e. birthdays, Christmas etc. until they are all used up. Only then the couple may buy ribbons/bows for future gift giving. (I prefer the plate bouquet idea myself.)
Helena says
Wow, I’ve never heard of this tradition – very green!
Nancy says
My friend’s family does not do the “bow-ribbon bouquet”. Someone in the family sews a huge heart out of some kind of mesh type material trimmed in lace with a slit in back in which the bows and ribbons are stuffed. It looks like a huge pillow. Then those bows and ribbons are used for all the gifts the newly married couple give throughout the coming years, i.e. birthdays, Christmas etc. until they are all used up. Only then the couple may buy ribbons/bows for future gift giving. (I prefer the plate bouquet idea myself.)
Helena says
Wow, I’ve never heard of this tradition – very green!
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