Bridal Buzz

From left to right: flora crinkle fans ($20 for 10); Serenade dress ($350); birch chevron flatware ($12 for 20)

BHLDN, Anthropologie’s sister site for all-things-wedding, has rolled out their summer collection. It arrived just in time for the most popular wedding season. I’m definitely seeing a heavy floral-theme with their selection of table numbers, halos, bloom place card holders, and flora crinkle fans. Even the jewelry has a  garden vibe to it. The eyelet turquoise frock in the picture above would be a festive choice to wear either as a guest to a wedding, or as guest of honor at a garden-inspired wedding shower.

But, even if your summer soiree isn’t in the backyard or garden (it just gets too hot in Texas, right?), use the trend to inspire the decor and feel of your indoor reception. You can use the paper fans, garland, and birch flatware to bring the outdoors in.

When you search for local wedding products on Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade items, there are more than 2,000 results. You’re in luck. We did the dirty work for you. Each week, BridalBuzz will present our favorites. From favor ideas and wedding veils to groomsman gifts and décor, we’ll include unique ideas to help you plan your big day.

Coral, mint and white are such a dreamy color combination. It screams spring and summer time, especially when combined into the fun polka-dot garlands from local Etsy shop Mailbox Happiness. While these may be a bit casual for a wedding, the garlands are perfect for a bridal shower or pre-wedding dressingroom. Throw them up in any space – from a beautiful room to daintily strung between trees – and it’ll instantly feel more chic and festive. If this color combination doesn’t strike your fancy, garlands in gold and white, shades of purple, and light blue stars are also available.

Photo by 509 Photography.

When you search for local wedding products on Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade items, there are more than 2,000 results. You’re in luck. We did the dirty work for you. Each week, BridalBuzz will present our favorites. From favor ideas and wedding veils to groomsman gifts and décor, we’ll include unique ideas to help you plan your big day.

Today’s find is from local Etsy store JuneBowtique. Owner Jessica created these adorable fabric buntings for her own wedding, and lucky for us she’s decided to share. She’ll create two custom buntings to match your wedding colors for $60. She can also apply custom petals to the bunting for an extra cost.

Hang the bunting from chandeliers in the reception to hide not-so-cute light fixtures, or add them as an accent to your vintage-style wedding decor. They also look great as a backdrop for pictures. Reuse the bunting for a kid’s birthday party, a wedding or baby shower, or as a fun mobile in a child’s room.

Bridal showers are typically considered a girls-only affair. So when Karely Osborn, the bride behind our weekly column “Hitched in a Hurry” mentioned a co-ed shower, I was intrigued. Inviting guys to the shower adds a whole new element. Not only will there be twice as many guests at your event, but everything has to be unisex-friendly.

Since the weather is warming up, and Karley is getting married in the summer, a Summer Lovin’ theme is perfect. I’m not suggesting that they have a Grease-themed shower (although the photos would be great!!), but something more of the backyard BBQ variety. When it to comes to gifts, request that the guys bring gifts for the groom and the gals bring gifts for the bride–that way the groom gets his share in the bridal–ahem couple–shower.

Image via MelRan on Etsy

Before your bride walks down the aisle give take her for a walk down the red carpet in a bridal shower she’ll never forget! The charm and glamour of old school Hollywood is the perfect bridal shower theme for an old-school movie buff. On the invitations, request that your guests come dressed as stars from the silver screen – think Greta Garbo, Mae West, Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. To find out how to do a Hollywood glamour-themed bridal shower in Dallas, follow the jump!

Inspiration Image from Occasions Online

We’ve all been to wine tastings thrown by our wino friends and cake tastings for our friends with a sweet tooth, but what about a party for our friends who love a strong cup of Joe? This week’s Haute Hostess post keeps the lovely brides who can’t function with out a cup (or five) of coffee to start out their day. With the growing Dallas coffee shop culture, there are more than enough cozy shops to throw a coffee tasting party (known as cupping). Need some inspiration? Follow the jump to check out the perfect bridal shower for the caffeine junkie, she’ll be thanking you a latte!

image via The Party Dress

If there is one thing I learned from growing up in Texas, it’s that there are few things more popular than flaunting your monogram. From stationary to a bumper sticker on your car (and everywhere in between), Dallas girls have been showing off their initials since they were babes. But what happens when one of these monogram loving ladies gets married? She has to start a new monogram collection from square one. For those of you who have friends who are dreading this predicament, reassure her that she has nothing to fear – when her big day comes you’ll help her start her new collection by throwing her a monogrammed themed shower. (If you’re confused about how her monogram changes after marriage, you can check out the rules here. ) Click “read more” to find out how to throw this very personalized party in Dallas.

For this week’s Haute Hostess post I was feeling a little lost – usually I begin the writing process with a theme in mind, but not this one. I looked to People Newspapers staff writer (and great friend) Caitlin Adams for inspiration. “What kind of bridal shower would you want if I was to throw you one this month?” I asked the single (read: in a committed relationship) lady. Her one word response sent me into a whirl of inspiration: “GATSBY.”

The glamorous styles of the 1920’s are back thanks to shows like HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Baz Luhrmann’s movie remake of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s cult-classic The Great Gatsby. These flapper and dandy lifestyles seeped into popular culture, becoming an inspiration for art and clothing and bridal fashions (check it out on the runway of Reem Acra Fall 2013). The sparkling sophistication 1920’s New York, which includes over the glitz, glam, and Prohibition era clothing, is our inspiration for a Great Gatsby bridal shower. An important key to pulling off this theme is the art deco theme (read: flapper dresses with long strings of pearls, rhinestone headpieces and a gramophone playing the Charleston). Ask your guests to come in costume – not only will this make a fabulous photo opportunity, but also take the theme an extra mile. Are you ready to take your bride back to the Prohibition era? Follow the jump to read more.

Mimosa Bar via Home Confetti

Do you have a friend who sends out a group text every Saturday saying “mimosas anybody?” (yes). How about “brunch at Nick and Sam’s, be there or be square?” (definitely). Well then, this bridal shower is for her. Brunch is a phenomenon that isn’t going away any time soon, which makes it the perfect theme for a foodie’s bridal shower. I mean, what’s not to love? When you start your weekends with mimosas, fresh fruit, and a pancake or four, the weekend is sure to be a good one.

The best thing about a brunch-themed bridal shower (beside the food, of course) is that it’s very do-it-yourself friendly! Inspiring chefs, ambitious friends, or someone who knows their way around a take-out menu could definitely throw this bridal shower at home. Check out how to throw this shower in Dallas after the jump.

Images via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Just because the Kentucky Derby is over two months and 836 miles away, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all the Derby fun in Dallas all year long. Why not bring all the charming Southern details home through a Derby themed bridal shower? This shower is perfect for the bride full of Southern charm (and sass) who is on her wedding home stretch! While the horse races are the main draw of the Kentucky Derby, if you’re throwing this shower out of race season, don’t fret. The Kentucky Derby is just as much about the big hats, garden parties, and mint juleps as it is about the horse races! To ensure that everybody is dressed to the nines, ask your guests to wear Kentucky Derby hats of their own, as well as bring a flower to embellish a blank hat you have for the bride. Love this idea but need some inspiration? Click “Read More” to see how we map out how to throw the perfect Kentucky Derby themed shower in Dallas.