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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

A Perfectly Southern Bridesmaids' Brunch

Because June marks the official start to wedding season, and you're likely hosting showers in honor of brides-to-be, I wanted to share some details of the most beautiful bridal brunch I've ever attended....


While Mindy Weiss I am not,  I Do have some experience when it comes to weddings, and all that they entail. Besides having been a bride, I may have mentioned that I've been a bridesmaid, reader, greeter - everything but a featured soloist - in quite a few weddings. So many (18 - I think) that I lose count!


Last summer I was a bridesmaid for my friend Virginia (aka, VA).

She had an amazing wedding (with nearly 600 guests - ahh!) at her parents' home in southern Missouri (aka, Missour-uh).


My friend Fran and I dubbed it Shelby's (think Steel Magnolias) Wedding from the start of the weekend, but the truth is, it trumped Shelby's wedding - for many reasons, but mostly because VA and her huge family are just a good time; they do not blush because they are not bashful - heehee.


From the formal, country club rehearsal dinner.....


Our crew in the lounge...we were the last to board the bus after the night ended

...until some guests started jumping in the pool latenight at the wedding reception, the entire weekend was one big party!


I adored so many details of VA's wedding...

(and even stole a few for my own nupts that happened a few months after) but my favorite festivity of all was the bridemaids' brunch.


As a professional bridesmaid, I have grown to love the smaller, pre-wedding events. It's the time when you can really steal special moments with your friend the bride. Usually, rehearsal dinners are my favorite, but nothing topped VA's Bridesmaids' Brunch, because as much as I love an honest good time, I'm also a sucker for beautiful, classic details, and this brunch had all that and more!


One of the hostesses, a friend of VA's mom, opened her stately home and met each guest at the door with a mimosa...

The bride with her granny, mama, sister and nieces - good genes, huh?

The home was filled with amazing antiques, and dripping in my fave - crystal chandeliers!


The house, even without any special decor, would have been a fantastic venue (especially because the owner invited those of us who were so impressed by it to roam freely and admire) , but there were two formal dining tables set perfectly for guests....




and smaller tables in the parlor so everyone had a seat...


I don't have to tell you what was served, because every good Southern girl already knows what is proper and standard brunch fare...


I still dream about all the chicken salad I ate that weekend. So yum.


Following brunch, a pretty mini wedding cake was served....


Charms were baked inside, and each of us girls got to pull out one for a keepsake...

Virigina - who loves mint juleps, and who the next day would serve juleps to her guests as they arrived for the wedding ceremony - gave each of us a monogrammed silver julep cup, and thanked us all so sweetly for being part of her happy day! Then we were sent, with what remained of the champange,  off to the salon for a little pre-wedding spa time.

You don't have to have several sets of china and silver or a beautiful, big home to make an event extraordinary, but I do know that you have to put whatever your best is into making any guest- especially the honorary one - feel special. This perfectly Southern, completely classic bridal brunch is timeless to me. The hostesses clearly put out all their best for Virginia, her family and friends.



Yes, I was taken with the spectacular sets of china and silver on display, but more than that, this brunch was given with such impressive hospitality.  All the hostesses were so gracious and welcoming.  Because they loved Virginia, they treated each guest, including those like me whom they had just met, as if we'd been friends for a lifetime. Though we were dining on picture-perfect tables and being served by hired wait-staff, it felt as comfortable as if we were gathered around someone's backyard picnic table, eating chips straight from the bag. 


Good food and a pretty setting, that's easy to achieve; home-spun hospitality, however...that takes more than polish to make shine.

5 comments:

Anne S said...

I heart VGEGP (did I get them all?). I still can't believe she had that many people and her wedding was SO personal! Amazing.

Laura@The Oily Cupboard said...

wow! that would have been gorgeous to attend!

Kate Spears said...

i'm loving your orange one-strap dress missie! what a gorgeous affair and i also can't believe she had that many ppl....looks so welcoming and personal!

Unknown said...

How am i just now seeing this???? silly marg! love it p :)

Leigh Powell Hines said...

Love this wedding post. Your Idol post is not up yet, but I found this one.

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