Mom wanted to throw a bridal shower for Chelsy, specifically to bless her with her pantry. Mom’s so amazing! Schedules were consulted, a date picked, invites sent out, and Mom and Anna and Mary began planning! (I wasn’t much help until the last two days due to Sunflower’s Christmas Miracle and then trying to catch up on work. I’m VERY excited to tell you that the books came in a little early, and we’re beginning to ship TODAY! Watch your e-mail for a tracking number if yours is in the first batch.)
The girls and Mom planned an amazing spread of refreshments, including a hot cocoa bar. They rearranged our living room to make accommodating a large group easier. They decorated, transforming everything into a beautiful, cozy setting.
Monday arrived, and the preparations kicked in 110%. My sisters are extremely creative and lovingly invested a lot of time in all the little sweet touches.
Since this was a pantry shower, we asked each guest to bring a spice and then other items to stock the pantry. I loved seeing the creativity with which people gifted them! One of the brothers even sent along some hot sauce and directions on how to boil water. 🙂 John and Chelsy have an awesome stock in their pantry (well, they don’t have cabinets installed yet, but hey, that’ll come!).
GiGi gave a wonderful devotional, sharing things she’d learned in her marriage to Grandad for over 65 years!
We’re so grateful for our neighbors and friends who blessed John and Chelsy.
Love,
Sarah
Mary rolling out sugar cookies.
Anna had a great idea.
Mary lettering for the shower sign.
Doesn’t that just spell cozy?
Don’t you love this idea? A Date Night Jar so guests could write ideas for the bride + groom to have a creative date.
Chelsy and GiGi
Abby made the pillow with John and Chelsy’s initials.
Calia was really cute helping Chelsy open gifts.
Elissa did this creative veggie tray!
Amazing sisters of mine!
So much amazing food.
Betsy’s date night idea: Play UNO!
Most of the Maxwell and Bontrager ladies. (Melanie had already gone home, so we missed her in this group picture!)
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent
is thy name in all the earth!”
Psalm 8:9
Love this post! What a great way to make her feel welcomed into your family.
Thanks!
The photos depict a lovely afternoon! Chelsy must have felt honored to celebrate her upcoming wedding with family and friends. Love the pantry theme. Several years ago, I hosted a shower for my niece with an afternoon of tea, sandwiches and petite fores. My arts and crafts creativity did not come up to par with Mary and Anna, but it too was an enjoyable afternoon? The wedding is fast approaching. Will be praying for everyone as the wedding and Christmas preparations continue.
Thank you! I’m sure your shower was amazing!
“It was cute” for a photo of little girls???
That’s what happens when I don’t review my post carefully enough! Life is going on top speed right now! 🙂 Fixed that, thanks!
That was sweet of you guys. Thank you for sharing the pictures.
Thanks, Rebecca!
I love that idea! What a sweet and unique way to bless a new married couple! It is not something people think about- but it is quite expensive to stock a pantry. I have moved enough to know that! 😉
You’re right! I’ve never had to do that myself, but I imagine it would be when you take inventory of what a pantry entails!
Beautiful pictures! Pantry showers are wonderful!
Love Mary’s cookie tray. The Zebra’s are one of our fav’s to make!
Betsy’s date night sounds fun to me!
Blessings,
Johnna
Thanks, Johnna!
What a great idea for a shower! In the south there is a tradition for a bridal shower could a “pounding” to stock the bride’s pantry. It is so nice to give the new couple all the “basics” to set up their kitchen.
That’s great.
So thoughtful and looks so fun!! Loved all the ideas, especially the date Night sticks! So creative!
I really liked the Date Night sticks too. 🙂
That looks like so much fun!!!
Thanks! Wish you could have been here!
Good Bless you, Family, friend and everyone who always take time to do everything possible things we see!
You know what it’s about God in everything
Love to see that!
Thank you!
Beautiful wedding shower! The date night idea jar was such a good idea! I’ll keep that in mind, since there are still 5 of us 7 to get married! And fill up the pantry was a great idea too! A very commonly over looked detail 🙂
🙂
What creativity! That is so special I love it! I’m sure she felt very loved from all your effort. Everything looks so cute and inviting. The hot cocoa bar, “Joy” veggie tray, and heart-shaped cookie design are so awesome! Thank you so much for sharing the pictures, I really enjoy seeing these events 🙂
Thanks! It was a sweet time! 🙂
great post sarah! love the preparation, decoration and ideas of your soon to be sister-in-law… parties are always fun. great job to your sisters… you still part of the party because you wrote the blog…thanks for sharing the pics and congratulations to the soon to be bride… very exciting!
I’m sure you would do an even better job with decorating. You throw amazing parties! 🙂 Thanks for your kind comment.
I love showers. They are so fun. I’m so excited for Chelsey. The girls did great planning the shower. It’s a good thing you had the guys leave for the shower. I know from experience: if they are there, they’ll eat all the food ( cause that’s all they care about at a shower anyway). 😉
It was a sweet time. Yes, ah, John enjoyed treats ahead of time! 🙂
What a great way to bless Chelsy and John! I love all the great ideas such as the date night sticks and the hot cocoa bar. Such a fun afternoon for everyone! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
I was really impressed with my sisters’ idea on the hot cocoa bar. I’d never seen that before!
Looks like a lot of fun! Im sure Chelsy feels very welcome to be part of the maxwell family!
Yes, so amazing she’ll be Chelsy Maxwell soon!
Love the pics. What a special time everyone. I loved the Uno date night. We have been married 27 years and sometimes we turn off tv and listen to music and play cards or Yatzee and talk , just the two of us. That is special time 🙂
It is good to just have that time to focus!
I am rewriting this because I think I lost my first one! I really like the pilow Abby made. It is so cute! The ambiance of the whole gathering was so warm and cozy! I love how Teri started with such a practical, yet creative idea and then it was added on to and made even better with the cocoa bar and date night idea jar! This was such a successful collaborative effort that will bless EVERYONE, both John and Chelsy as a couple and all the attendees, who took creative ideas home when they left. Congratulations!!!
I thought they did an amazing job too!