• Real Weddings

You are engaged and of course you are going to need a bridal shower! To give your friends and family a few inspirational tips we have Megan's backyard bridal shower ideas. Megan met her Irish fiance while living in England, and has been busy planning her upcoming wedding in Northern Ireland, primarily by herself. Meanwhile her three bridesmaids, who reside in Southern California, planned a gorgeous bridal shower for the bride during her visit home over the holidays.

The day is filled with simple yet stylish decorations that can easily be recreated to have a casual chic event. As always be sure to check out more details from this bridal shower in the full gallery, beautifully captured by Oz Visuals.

We also love the idea of having a signature cocktail at your bridal shower like Megan's friends did for her. They put together a super cute table with juice, sugar cubes and mint. Below is a tasty little cocktail recipe from Two Tarts that we think any gal would love to sip on this vanilla salt rimmed cocktail. Below is the recipe.
Minty Dog Ingredients
1.5 oz grapefruit juice
1.5 oz gin (you can use vodka instead, I won't judge)
mint sugar (recipe here)
Recipe
1. Moisten the rim of your glass with some grapefruit juice. (The juice helps the sugar to adhere better than water does.)
2. Put mint sugar in a shallow dish and turn the glass over into the dish to coat the rim with sugar.
3. Pour grapefruit juice and gin over ice. (If you prefer it chilled and not over ice, you can shake juice and gin in a shaker and then strain into glass instead.)

From the Bride:When I moved abroad, I started a blog (because that is what you do) and little did I know that this little journal updating my family that I was still alive, would end up bringing the most amazing friendships into my life. This is what makes my shower so unique; it was packed full of bloggers who I had formed friendships with over the internet for the past three years, but had never actually met in real life. Girls flew from across the USA, having never met me, just to show their love and support.

The shower was held at my Matron of Honors' parent's home in Santa Barbara, California. My bridesmaids brought in flowers from the LA Flower Market and did all of the arrangements themselves. Rentals from Casa De Perrin along with an array of delicious brunch treats, and of course some fancy cocktails, made this afternoon brunch a dream.

Prop or Furniture Rentals: Casa De Perrin

Photographer: Oz Visuals Hair: Natalie Paz from Argyle Salon & Spa Makeup: Ariel Rhodes