A Colorful Surprise Bridal Shower in Texas

It was a surprise, and it was awesome.

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Ashley Rose's Bridal Shower

When Ashley Rose and her friends started talking about her bachelorette party, the plan was always to do something low-key. And so, the month before she tied the knot, the owner/creative director at Sugar & Cloth, and her seven friends rented The Wilde House in Ben Wheeler, Texas, for a mellow getaway not far from her home in Houston.

But her friends had a surprise in store for her—an impromptu bridal shower. Most of the planning and designing was done by Kayla Haykin and Brittni Mehlhoff, who incorporated many of the bride-to-be's favorite elements, like balloon garlands, sugar cookies, and pom poms, and used the wedding day's color palette as inspiration.

"They set up the entire party, gift boxes, etc. while I was out, so everything felt really magical when I got to the house," Ashley says of the pop-up party. Her fiancé, Jared, was an accomplice in the scheme, by distracting her and taking her in to town so the gals could set everything up.

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The Setting

Sugar and Cloth

Just a few hours from Houston, The Wilde House was the perfect setting for the girls' getaway, and accommodated the group of eight. Outside of the modern farmhouse in eastern Texas, a laser-cut sign by Studio Noel boasted the wedding's hashtag, which celebrated the couple's low-key and relaxed vibe.

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Fashionably Speaking

Sugar and Cloth

Ashley snagged an inexpensive emerald green wrap dress from ASOS and paired it with nude heels from Steve Madden.

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A Sign of the Times

Sugar and Cloth

A message board from Ban.do spelled out the celebration's hashtag, #ashgonemild—a play on the wedding hashtag #smithsgonemild.

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The Table

Sugar and Cloth

One table held the entire group. "It was quaint, fun, and all in the details," Ashley says of the backyard bridal shower.

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Pretty Centerpieces

Sugar and Cloth

A few arrangements of blooms (including ranunculus, garden roses, and lamb's ear) ran down the middle of the table. The flowers themselves were sources from Flower Muse and arranged by Meredith Staggers and Brittni Mehlhoff.

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The Place Settings

Sugar and Cloth

Palm-print and gold-foil menus from Minted sat atop each place setting's plates. The gals dined on assorted flatbreads that they made later that night in the venue's kitchen, and sipped on Miraval rosé.

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Airy Décor

Sugar and Cloth

An installation of white balloons blown up to various sizes framed the space.

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Sassy Stir Sticks

Sugar and Cloth

Cocktail stirrers made by Studio Noel added a fun, and humorous, touch to the drink glasses.

Another entertaining part of the shindig came with a twist on the Newlyweds Game. Ashley's husband-to-be, Jared, had been filmed answering questions, which Ashley was asked in person. She answered first, and they showed his responses after. "One of the best questions asked was 'what is your partner's go-to dance move," Kayla recalls. "It was hilarious watching Jared impersonate Ashley, and vice versa. They know each other so well and totally nailed the mannerisms."

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The Cake

Sugar and Cloth

A two-tier red velvet cake from Maple and Love was decorated by Brittni Mehlhoff using fresh flowers and French macarons from Tout Suite, which were also served for dessert along with sugar cookies by Okie Doughkie.

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Flower Power

Sugar and Cloth

Inside the house, the communal area also got a little tszuj with extra blooms.

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The Favors

Sugar and Cloth

Each guest got a goodie box loaded with items that made the weekend getaway that much more fun: Sugarfina candies, hair mist and an exfoliating face sponge by Artifact Skin Co., pink oval good to go flasks from Ban.do, clear clutches from Ban.do, and matching sweatshirts by Sudara.

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Dressed Alike and Having Fun

Sugar and Cloth

The following morning, clad in their matching black "this is not a sweatshirt" sweatshirts, the ladies toasted the bride and continued the festivities.

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Sources

Sugar and Cloth

Photography, Jared Smith of Sugar & Cloth

Location, The Wilde House

Event planning, Kayla Hankin; Brittni Mehlhoff

Flowers, Flower Muse

Stationery, Minted

Cake, Maple and Love

Macarons, Tout Suite

Sugar Cookies, Okie Doughkie

Bride's dress, Asos

Bride's shoes, Steve Madden

Bride's manicure, Olive & June

Stir sticks and laser-cut signage, Studio Noel

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A Colorful Surprise Bridal Shower in Texas

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Ashley Rose's Bridal Shower

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The Setting

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Fashionably Speaking

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A Sign of the Times

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The Table

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Pretty Centerpieces

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The Place Settings

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Airy Décor

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Sassy Stir Sticks

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The Cake

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Flower Power

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The Favors

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Dressed Alike and Having Fun

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Sources

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