In my sweet hometown of Fairfield, bridal showers are a BIG deal. And not only are they a big deal, but showers in Fairfield are done differently than any other showers I’ve ever known. I love that about my sweet hometown!
Due to COVID, my bridal shower originally scheduled for the beginning of May was postponed along with our couples shower and the wedding. My bridal shower in Fairfield was moved to early June, and it was perfect timing as Drew and I were just getting settled into our new home!
I’m excited to share some photos from that special day, and a few of the details that make Fairfield bridal showers a little different, but oh so meaningful and special!
the dress
I wore this dreamy white dress from Red Dress Boutique that I bought last spring before I was even engaged! The minute I saw this one online I added it to my cart to save for that special day as a bride! During March and April as COVID hit hard it hung on the mirror in my room and served as a daily reminder that sunnier days were ahead! Unfortunately, since it is from 2019 it is no longer available, but I did link some of my favorite white dress finds from Red Dress at the bottom of this post!
the details
The shower was hosted in the home of my very best childhood friend, Natalie’s, mom. I grew up spending many many afternoons playing at the Neill house with swimming, sleepovers, barbies, makeovers, bike rides and many more memories! Natalie’s mom Lindy so graciously opened up her home for the day, and hosted such a beautiful shower! In order to take precautions for COVID, invitations were mailed with time slots for guests to come in three waves, so we were not crowding the house and were able to better distance. Also, instead of having an open buffet of food, sweet treats were pre-packaged and the punch was sealed to avoid spreading germs that way as well. Even with the added COVID precautions it was just as sweet!
Please forgive the iPhone quality photos!
the hostesses
One special part of growing up in a small town of less than 3,000 people is you are not only raised by your parents, but by an entire community. And that community is so much more, it’s a family. The mothers of some of my best friends growing up, our church friends and special women throughout my upbringing all came together to make the day so special. I never knew it was not totally normal to have 20+ hostesses for a bridal shower, because it’s all I know, it’s the Fairfield way! I had many special women who have been there from the very beginning who made it all come to life, and I am so grateful!
the gifts
Another Fairfield shower tradition is this: the gifts are not wrapped. Instead, gifts are displayed throughout the home or venue where the shower is held with cards displayed alongside them stating who they are from. As guests come to the shower and are mingling they walk throughout the home to see all of the items you are being gifted and who they are from. I always loved this part of attending showers because it’s so fun to see the things a bride and groom have picked out for their new house with everything from dish patterns, to decorative pieces and appliances. Unfortunately (due to COVID of course, what’s new!) my china pattern was recently discontinued, so our china was not on display, but there was a table full of cards for pieces purchased from the new collection I picked out and am waiting to arrive!
the party
It was so sweet to reconnect with so many old friends, and to celebrate our wedding in a little bit more unconventional way as we had already gotten married and moved into our house, yet still had the anticipation and excitement of the big wedding coming up! At the end of the morning, the men in our family came by to help load up the gifts. It’s tradition for the groom to come at the end of the event to see all of the new gifts and then to help load them into the car. Drew was very excited when he noticed an item specifically for him that he added to the Amazon registry and had been eagerly waiting for! Men and their tools/yard supplies!
Overall it was a sweet day I’ll remember forever and ever!
And the countdown continues… 45 days to go!
xx,
Madison
