Secret Garden Themed Bridal Shower

Last Saturday's shower was a bridal shower and we had a Secret Garden theme for most of it.

Each shower planning begins with an invitation:

I used lots of Tombow Mono Adhesive Dots and Mono Adhesive Permanent.

Now for the day of the shower...As you came into the room where the shower was held, we displayed on a table a candle, fresh flowers, a picture of the engaged couple as well as some old books, a sheet to sign in and some address labels for the guests to fill out if they brought a gift.

To me, the perfect thing to do in a Secret Garden would be to read, so we decorated the tables with old books. Beneath the books are book pages from a very old book taped together and the edges cut with a decorative paper punch.

Also, every Secret Garden needs a key to enter it. I just tied some ribbon onto vintage keys and tucked inside the book pages.

Sticking with a "garden" theme, the flower pots are painted peat pots and then a doily hanging out of the pot and silk flowers arranged in each one.

The dessert area had a tiered curtain covering sad marker board with ivy hanging from it. On the table we had an old crate box with doily, old books and Celtic plaster designed cross and a mirrored window frame.

 There was also a green with gold design scarf, cake platter made with terre cotta pot and base painted with off white chalk paint.

I found these pretty garden plates at Party City.

 I put a piece of waxed paper on the plate part and stacked with dark chocolate brownies.  The bride-to-be told me she loved brownies and ice cream, so we served brownie sundae's.

We served 3 kinds of ice cream: chocolate, mint chip, and vanilla...

 
Toppings were chopped Resee's, mini marshmallows (found in the hot chocolate section at the grocery store), chopped Andes' Mints, and chopped peanuts. We also had Vanilla Bean, Strawberry, and Chocolate sauces to choose from as well as canned whipped topping not shown.

 and alas...this is why this post is late (since I had told some ladies I would have this post up on Monday as they were looking for the recipes used at the shower). I was limping at the shower as my ankle was really hurting and continued to get worse (I can be stubborn and think if I wait long enough something will get better), but by yesterday, it was pretty clear that it was not going to get better. Somehow I tore some ligaments and ended up with a spur on the back of my ankle. Amazing how something so big and bulky and tight can make the pain so much more tolerable.

Here are the recipes and inspiration used for this shower:

Ultimate Double Chocolate Brownies

via moneysaving mom

• ¾ cup cocoa
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 2/3 cup melted butter, divided
• ½ cup boiling water
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup chopped pecans, optional
• 12 oz. package chocolate chips*

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine cocoa and baking soda. Blend in 1/3 cup melted butter. Add boiling water and stir until well blended.

Stir in sugar, eggs and remaining butter. Add flour, vanilla, and salt. Stir in nuts (if using) and chocolate chips.

Pour into a greased 9×13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Makes a 9X13 pan

**note: I did not add the chocolate chips and I used Hershey's Special Dark cocoa

Vanilla Bean Sauce (this was the most requested recipe)
adapted from motherthyme.com

• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 vanilla bean split lengthwise and beans removed.

1. Add sugar, butter, cream, vanilla beans and pod to a small saucepan and bring to a low boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Reduce heat to a simmer for about 15-20 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, discard vanilla bean pod and allow to cool slightly.

Chocolate Sauce
(this recipe came from my son's friend)

4 Tablespoons cocoa
4 Tablespoons butter
1 Cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 Cup evaporated milk or whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Boil to desired thickness then add vanilla

Strawberry Sauce
via:budgetsavvydiva

What You Need

1 Pint of Strawberries – clean and sliced

1 Tablespoon of Vanilla

1/3 Cup of Sugar

What to Do

Over medium heat add all the ingredients to a skillet – stir and cook for about 5 minutes

Once the liquid starts to boil turn off the heat and let sit for 15 minutes (this will allow the sauce to get thick)

Use a potato masher and mash the sauce (this helps break up the remaining strawberries)

my Secret Garden Pinterest inspiration board