If you follow me on Instagram, it's no surprise to you that I LOVE curating table-scapes. Which means, every chance that comes by way to create one, I jump on it! My most recent creation was for my sister-in-law's bridal shower. But at a bridal shower, the table-scape isn't the only important aspect. Here's a glimpse into my process on how to throw a fabulous shower:
STEP ONE: THE THEME
At first thought, you might think a theme is cheesy or not needed, but it brings a focus to the event. It doesn't need to be over the top and everything doesn't have to be "matchy-matchy." More a general guideline that drives your decisions for decor, food and ambiance. When I'm thinking of a theme I like to first think of the guest of honor. For my sister-in-law's shower I choose a tea party theme knowing that she loves attending Christmas tea every year, she loves to dress up and have close-knit family time. 
This allowed us to sit down at one table to enjoy each other's company (so often at shower's you are all standing and eating). It also inspired people to dress up and fit perfectly for the season, spring.
STEP TWO: FIND YOUR INSPIRATION
Now you're probably sitting here thinking, "what the heck is eclectic-english-chic?" Well, not to worry because I totally just made up that term. My thought process was to combine fun florals (that didn't scream grandma!) which evoked the feeling of the English countryside, with pops of color and modern touches while weaving tea cups throughout the decor.
STEP THREE: STAY ORGANIZED!
If there's one thing I've learned about throwing parties, is that you can never start too early when it comes to planning. Once you have found your invitations (I usually source mine from ETSY), get them addressed and ready to go, even if they aren't going out for a few weeks. Once the date rolls around to put them in the mail (by the way, set a date you're going to send them out. Usually about a month before the event) you'll be thankful you aren't rushing to get them addressed.
Plan your menu! Luckily, I have a wonderful friend that loves to cook who planned the menu this time around. We decided to add a fun extra element by getting menus printed up (from vista print).
If you're going to offer party favors (one of my favorite parts!), try sourcing them from a small business. You'll want to plan ahead on this as well, since a lot of small business have a 2-3 week time-frame for custom orders. It's also fun to give a favor that is related to the theme. For this event, I ordered 2 oz Chai Tea body polish from Urban Oreganics and paired it with three bags of tea. We also offer wedding/shower favors in the form of 4 oz candle tins, which have been a hit in the past!
Here are a few more pointers that help make the bride feel special:
Buy thank you notes ahead of time, leave them out for the guests to fill out their return address before they leave. That way when she goes to send thank you cards, half the work is done!
Find a special glass for the bride to drink from, one that's different from everyone else. For this event, I bought a tea cup for the bride that she could take home!
Lastly, leave time to take photos! I always give myself about 15-20 minutes to capture the decor and details. Then after the show is over, play photographer and allow the bride to choose who she'd like photos with! See us below...the bride is looking very happy in dark blue (second from the right).
Cheers to your party throwing endeavors!