This post is brought to you by Francis Ford Coppola Winery–thanks for your support of the brands that make Southern Weddings possible!
It seems that more than ever, friends and family members spread out across the country, and even across the globe, which makes coordinating pre-wedding activities, like engagement parties and bridal showers, a logistical juggling act. I have bridesmaids in four different states myself–and I live in a fifth! In situations like this, one of the best times to schedule a bridal shower is over the holidays, when bridesmaids, friends, and the bride may be in their hometowns. But how to plan a shower that is festive and seasonally appropriate, where the bride is clearly the focus of the celebration? To answer this question, we teamed up with Francis Ford Coppola Winery, who sent us some of their Sofia Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine, which comes in the prettiest bottle, and adorable Mini Cans–the first wine to come in a can. Francis Coppola created these wines as a gift for his daughter, Sofia (yes, the chic and talented Sofia Coppola!), inspired by her bright and effervescent personality, and we imagined the bride this shower is celebrating with the same infectious qualities!
Should you be planning a holiday shower yourself, we have a few tips to help you carry it off with aplomb!
Send invitations early. Holiday schedules fill up quickly, and many people make plans months in advance, or have a standing tradition. Give guests plenty of time to rearrange their schedules or adjust their travel plans by sending out invitations at least two months in advance. We love this fun invitation MaeMae & Co. designed for our sparkling celebration!
Choose a color palette or theme that is festive, but original. For this New Year’s Eve bridal shower, touches of sparkle were a must, but we added a little twist to the typical NYE palette by including the bride’s favorite colors: deep red and pink. The Sofia Blanc de Blancs bottle (which comes wrapped in pink cellophane–Sofia Coppola’s idea, inspired by her favorite peonies!) and adorable Mini Cans fit this palette perfectly, and a gorgeous floral arrangement by Alana of Serendipity Designs completed the table. Even the container the Sofia Mini Cans come in is beautiful–so much so that we were inspired to reuse it as a centerpiece vessel!
Keep the focus on the bride. While this shower may be tied with a holiday, it is first and foremost a bridal shower, not a New Year’s Eve party. Schedule it early enough in the day so that there is no confusion, and bring the bride and her darling personality into as many elements as possible so that she doesn’t feel overshadowed by the holiday festivities. Monogrammed details, like our DIY cake topper, are a sweet way to celebrate her!
If you would love to include Francis Ford Coppola Winery’s Sofia wines (the line also include a Riseling, a Rosé, and a Chardonnay) at your next celebration, they have generously offered 15% off your first order and $5 shipping to SW readers with the code COPPOLA15. As you may have seen on Instagram a few weeks ago, getting a package from them is almost as delightful as what’s inside!
Sparkling Wine: Francis Ford Coppola Winery / Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography / Venue: The Stockroom at 230 / Florals: Serendipity Designs / Invitation: MaeMae & Co. / Linens: La Tavola / Skirts: Bel and Beau / Tinsel Drink Stirrers: Em for Marvelous
Lauren Rosenau is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!
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