Photo by Janae HardyFor this late-summer soirée, the family of Katelyn Reynolds left no detail to chance. At the end of the bridal shower, the blushing bride-to-be and her guests sent off paper luminaries into the night sky.
Real Parties
The Perfect Bridal Shower for a Dream Wedding
Katelyn Reynolds had dreamed about her wedding day since she was a young girl. With a little help from family and friends, she had the perfect bridal shower to match.
By Haley Darnell
Jun 2019
Throwing the perfect party doesn’t require expensive decorations and a fancy caterer. All you really need are some gorgeous flowers, a family with an eye for detail and delicious food. Luckily for Katelyn Reynolds, now Rodabaugh, and Caleb Rodabaugh, they had just that. Last August, Katelyn achieved her dream bridal shower by keeping it all in the family. Hosted at the home of Mike and Betsy Schaffitzel, Reynolds’ aunt and uncle and owners of Schaffitzel’s Flowers, the shower incorporated the couple’s simple color palette of green and white with vintage and homemade pieces filling out the space.
For decor, Reynolds’ Aunt Betsy utilized items she already had collected through the years. “I just start[ed] yanking everything out,” Schaffitzel says about the eclectic pieces used for the bridal shower. True to the family’s roots, fresh flowers were also a large part of the bridal shower’s aesthetic, with zinnias lining the tables and eucalyptus wreaths adorning the entries. From the party favors to the menu, each detail was created with a personal touch from someone special.
“Our family is very close, and we love all of the details and decor that go into special events,” Reynolds says. “My wedding shower represented love, family and so many memories with friends.”
Photos by Janae HardyAfter hearing of a friend who had chosen only white as her wedding color, Reynolds decided to break tradition for her own wedding day by having all eight of her bridesmaids and six flower girls wear white. For the bridal shower, Reynolds asked her guests to carry over this style choice, resulting in a fresh look against the shower’s colorful accents.
Photos by Janae HardyMelahnie Rogers, a longtime family friend, created this flower backdrop with paper. Although the hosts were unsure where to put it initially, the backdrop found its way to one of the rooms prepared for serving dinner. It was a jaw-dropping addition.
Photos by Janae HardyFamily friend Melahnie Rogers made more than 300 cookies for the bridal shower, including these darling iced sugar cookies given as party favors, all at no cost to the bride and groom.
Photos by Janae HardyWhen it came time for dinner, family and friends once again pitched in to provide the couple and their guests with a four-course meal of soup, salad, an entree and a multitude of desserts. The family-catered meal added another personal touch to Reynolds and Rodabaugh’s shower.
Photos by Janae HardyTo pay homage to the special ladies in her life, Reynolds had the wedding dresses of her mother, Shannon Reynolds, and her future mother-in-law, Paula Rodabaugh, displayed in the entryway. With the help of her Great Aunt Polly Hawkins and Grandma Harriet Reynolds, all her aunts’ wedding gowns were also showcased during the shower.
Photos by Janae HardyThe interior of the Schaffitzels’ home wasn’t the only space decked out for the bridal shower. Limelight hydrangeas and ornamental grasses flanked the walkway to the house to greet guests as they arrived. The quaint house served as the perfect scenery for the day’s events.
