Leah's Barrington Shower

Leah's Shower in Barrington on Sunday was so much fun! It was so important to us that the day was perfect for Leah. Filled with love, good food and wine, elegance, and little personal touches. So incredible to be surrounded by so many wonderful women. In the group of 25 women that attended it was amazing that not one was divorced, many married for 30 to 50+ years. What a fabulous example for the new couple just starting out on their marriage journey!

Leah and Ben were truly spoiled with gifts from everyone:) And the Bride was so appreciative which makes giving gifts all the more fun! Thank you everyone for coming from near and far, and all of the love your are sharing with the Rinkers-to-Be! Thank you Mom for helping out so much and letting me host the shower at your house, Oma thank you for your amazing desserts you spent all week on, Dad and Opa for watching Jacky Bear, and Leah for marrying Ben!

We did Bellini's as a cocktail because after Ben and Leah got engaged on Naples Pier they went to a restaurant on 5th Avenue called "Bellini's" to celebrate. 

There was a cookbook to write "Words of Wisdom" for the groom in! 

Oma's amazing desserts all handmade! And Barbs yummy cheesecake bites that I need to make! 

Set the tables with fresh potted spring flowers from Mom and I cut out marriage quotes to scatter around the table.  Mom made the cute table favors that had Divine chocolate and Jelly Belly's (Ben first brought home Leah for Easter). 

The Rinker/Pranke/Postma Women! Thank you Aunt Deb for coming down from Wisconsin and taking all of the pictures!

Leah's Dutch Oven from the Hamiltons

Getting her first set of china.  And how cute is Mrs. Dejonge in the background! 

I made her wear the veil for some pics:)

Love this picture! Getting all of her bedding from Mom. 

Jack LOVES that his Aunt Lala is always helping him get his treats:)

I finally can participate in the sister pictures! Love the Mandel girls:)

Leah brought Mom and Oma beautiful tulips and daffodils.

They guys and Jack showed up at the end of the shower. Jack was loving all of the lady attention. The weather was unseasonably warm, like 80 degrees and sunny. So after the shower was officially over a lot of people stayed and chatted on the deck, and of course the guys helped themselves to leftovers! I was exhausted by 7pm, for some reason I felt like a nervous bride all day and couldn't eat a thing, then at the end of the day I had wine and I was out like a light! It was my first time cooking for so many women, of which many I know are outstanding gourmet cooks themselves. But everyone seemed to enjoy the popular Birmingham dish I recreated, "Tzaki's Friday Special". Figured since I couldn't host the shower at my Bama home I had to add a little southern touch:) 

All in all a great day a celebration! 

But it did take Mom and I few days to get the house back in order and to recover from all of the excitement...