LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A bridal shower is a great way to introduce family members, bridal party participants, and provide a venue for everyone to mingle and get to know each other. 

But Cloverfields Farm & Kitchen's Janine Washle says you don't have to spend a ton of money to make it special. Because most brides want everything perfect, it is easy to go overboard with the spending, which spells trouble if you are on a budget. Doing it yourself doesn't have to mean clunky, homespun, or awkward.  Washle thinks Pinterest creates many unrealistic examples of parties and events that intimidate the less experienced. But she says Pinterest can be a great place to do some creative brainstorming. 

This is a basic guide to creating a bridal event with a Pinterest-y feel. To clarify, Washle says she uses the term 'event' because you may have a household shower where the main idea is to shower the bride-to-be with gifts, tea party, or a garden party. By following a few guidelines, you can host any type of event. The beauty of this is that if you aren't hosting a bridal shower in the near future, you can tailor this for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or whatever works for you. 

The first thing you will notice when viewing diy bridal boards on Pinterest is the color palette. Secondly, you'll probably pick up on a theme. Thirdly, color and theme are coordinated throughout. So to break it down into a doable guideline, check out the following:

Color Palette. Just about every wedding has a color palette. Ask the bride if she has decided on one. You do not have to match it, but it is nice if you coordinate. If her colors are fuchsia, and sea foam green, then work those in as you can using ribbon, streamers, bunting, flowers, and desserts. If the bride hasn't picked a color palette, look at her style. Is she trendy? vintage? animal prints lover? Or, look at her hobbies: Is she an animal lover? photographer? gardener? Once you've determined hobbies, or style then go to Pinterest, and search those words. Boards will pop up, and you can establish a color palette for the shower.

Theme. Will your event have a theme? Let me rephrase, your event should have a theme. Themes don't have to be kitschy; they are unifying. Are you hosting it as a way for her to get items for the general household? lingerie? kitchen? Or, do you want it more elegant like an afternoon tea? Relaxed, as in an in-home spa day? Girly, like a garden party complete with parasols? This is really not the time to host an all day hike with a cook out at the end. This is a time to celebrate being a woman, and all the lady-like or girly things that comprise that. It should feel special, like you really want to celebrate her and all the bits that make up her personality. I mean, that's why you're friends, right?

Unified Decor. The color palette and the theme should be unified. What does that mean? If the colors are fuchsia, and sea foam green and your friend is trendy, stylish, and contemporary then a garden party may be in order. The internet makes it so easy. You don't have to handcraft any of the decor, or maybe you'll make some of it; whatever the case, Amazon, and Etsy have some of the cutest Pinterest-y items like disposable plates, drink ware, serve ware, bunting, streamers, straws, and paper tablecloths that are so affordable. Set a budget. You will soon see how easy it is to fill up your virtual shopping basket. So, set a budget, know exactly how many of everything you need, and be ruthless in sticking to your budget.

Edibles. The beauty of a shower is that the food is typically not a main dish affair. It is small pick ups or spoonables that are light, and as enjoyable to look at as to eat: Wraps, salads in single serving cups, shortbread cookies, cupcakes, tea sandwiches or finger sandwiches so called because they are small and usually only 2-3 bites. While savory items will be hard to color coordinate, desserts, especially if you provide a dessert buffet, will be so easy to colorize. Don't over do desserts if you are serving savory items. Maybe a layer cake because it is festive to see a whole cake. It doesn't have to be tricked out in fondant and frills. A simple well done cake that has a bit of color whether a cake bunting, or flowers, even tinted coconut is a lovely centerpiece. 

Then a plate of cookies in the color palette, and cupcakes. Cupcakes are an easy way to tie into the colors, and fancy cupcakes are so delectable. If cupcakes are too big, use mini cupcakes. Maybe some dipped strawberries or assorted cut up fruit arranged on something other than a deli tray would round out the desserts. If everyone has a sweet tooth, a warm chocolate fondue would be nice and would add that Pinterest-y bar concept to the event. If you are hosting a desserts only buffet, then go big. Not necessarily a great quantity of items, but think about how pretty masses of chocolate dipped strawberries look. Or, a large tray or pedestal of cupcakes. It may be that you only have 4 or 5 items, but when en masse they look spectacular. 

Also, a Pinterest-y touch is to vary the heights of food. This is so easy to achieve when you turn to shoe boxes. They are light weight, sturdy, easy to butt up to each other to create a larger surface, every woman has a bunch, and they are easily hid under tablecloths. Now the trick to that is to use several tablecloths and layer them so you have at least 4 to 6 inches of overhang; otherwise, it will look awkward. Whether you use the same color, or layer a couple colors, it is easy to see what a custom touch it is!

Serveware. Try to use the same colors or composition of serving pieces. Stick with silver (there is plasticware that is silver tone and actually looks good), glass (again, there is plasticware that looks like cut glass), or high end paper products either eco friendly which have a pleasant beige color palette, or pretty patterns to tie in with the theme. Renting dish ware, and serve ware can be costly so don't smirk at the idea of disposables. It doesn't look like picnic ware anymore. 

Also, craft stores like Jo-Ann Fabrics, and Michael's have a great array of themed ware that is affordable. Much of it can be re-used for other events down the road. Don't discount the grocery store either. You can buy mason jars there, fresh flowers, decent frozen appetizers, and bite size desserts like cream puffs, or single serve ice cream containers (cover the outside with floral duct tape from the craft store), twine, and you're on your way to a shabby chic, country-style, even Western themed event.

If you were wanting to make your own centerpiece cake, you can't go wrong with a red velvet cake. What? Her color isn't red! That's why this recipe is so perfect. Switch out the red food coloring for whatever color is her predominant color. Fuchsia? Seafoam green? Even black. Wilton makes a 'no taste' black food coloring. As you can see, for color coordination, a red velvet cake recipe is a great one to have in your recipe file. The flavors of cocoa, and buttermilk are subtle. The texture is light, and moist. And, you cannot mess up the frosting. So easy, and delicious. Even if you don't consider yourself a baker, this recipe will make you re-think that comment.

Red Velvet Cake

Makes: One 9" cake serving 10 to 12 guests

Ingredients: 

Cake:

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

1-1/2 cups sugar 

2-1/2 cups cake flour, sifted

2 TB cocoa powder, sifted

1 TB baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

2 TB red food coloring (or whatever color you choose)

1 TB white vinegar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

Cream Cheese Frosting:

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

2 pkgs cream cheese, room temperature

8 cups powdered sugar (1 2# bag), sifted

1 TB milk, may or may not need to thin out frosting

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 9" cake pans with non stick spray. Line the bottoms with parchment paper circles. Set aside.

Make the batter by creaming together butter and sugar in a stand mixer using the paddle attachment until it is pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each. Whisk together cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. In another bowl whisk together the wet ingredients; buttermilk, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla. Add the dry and wet ingredients to the butter mixture beginning and ending with dry (3 dry additions and 2 wet additions).

Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until sides pull away from the pan, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack for about 20 minutes before turning out and cooling completely before frosting. Pull off parchment paper after cakes have cooled to prevent any cracking. Cut off domed top if there is one to create a level surface.

Prepare frosting by beating together butter, and cream cheese in a stand mixer using the paddle attachment. When mixture is smooth add powdered sugar a cup at a time beating just until incorporated before adding the next. If frosting is too thick, add the milk.

To assemble, place a cake layer top side down (or cut side down) on a cake plate. Spread about 1/2 cup of frosting over surface. Place second cake top side down; press lightly to adhere but not so much frosting oozes out. Frost sides, then top with remaining frosting. You can get fancy by applying enough frosting to hide the cake then spooning the rest in a piping bag and make about 10-12 rosettes on the top to denote the servings.

NOTE: You can crumble the cut off pieces if you had to level the cake layers, and actually crumb the sides of the cake for a pretty touch. 

FREE BRIDAL SHOWER RECIPES BY EMAIL! 

Cloverfields Farm and Kitchen also has a special Bridal Shower Recipe Booklet available by email. To ask for a complimentary copy, just email Janine Washle at cloverfields.farm.ky@gmail.com

Janine Washle's CloverFields Farm & Kitchen

Hardin Springs Area

Big Clifty, KY 42712 

Connect with Janine and Cloverfields Farm & Kitchen on her website, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest.

About Janine Washle: 

CloverFields Farm & Kitchen is primarily an on-line destination.  They are not open to drop-in visitors as it is a private residence. 

"Authentically from Farm to Table"

CloverFields Kitchen researches and reinterprets many traditional recipes using local produce, much from their own gardens, and adding a global perspective.

"Exploring Global Tastes through Local Foods"

Janine is working on her first cookbook, but she also has a long resume developing recipes for several companies. She has also won several contests and cook-offs with her original recipes. 

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