Ask HWTM {Citrus Shower}
I’ve been getting a lot of email inquiries about bridal showers and where to find things lately, so I thought it might make sense to start posting a few of them on the blog once in a while in case other readers have similar questions and might be interested in the answers as well…so here’s the first one, which comes from Tia, and is regarding chinese paper lanterns and a citrus shower theme…
{Reader Question}
“…I know there are a ton of chinese lanterns out there – I’m just wondering If there is a website you recommend for different types of chinese lanterns, I was looking for yellow. Also I’m throwing a baby shower and going for a citrus theme, lemons, limes and oranges, from looking through your site I have some great ideas. I was thinking hurricane vases with lemons, limes and oranges in them and going with yellow tulips for the flowers. Anything else you can think of would be great!…” – Tia
{HWTM Response}
Hi Tia –
Here are a couple places where you should be able to find the paper lanterns you need:
http://www.shojidecor.com/
http://www.paperlanternstore.com/section.html
I actually threw a citrus-themed bridal shower for a friend last year – so I attached a few pictures from that shower here in case they help. Her favorite color is orange so it was an orange-citrus theme, but lemons and limes are great to work with as well and enable you to incorporate even more colors into the theme. Anyways, one of the accent vases was lined with orange slices – which might be what you’re thinking doing for the tulip vases too. (There’s a skinnier vase within the bigger outer vase, and the slices were dropped into the space between the 2 vase walls, which is what keeps them in place.) For the table centerpieces, I used simple bowls of oranges with little white flowers tucked around in different spots – and gave them some height by flipping smaller bowls upside down to create a “pedastal” for the big bowl.
Also – Izze soda packaging is so great and makes the best party décor just by itself :) They make clementine, grapefruit, and lemon flavors that are the perfect colors & flavors for a citrus shower.
Good luck with the party!
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soooo pretty!! I LOVE orange too – would love to have a shower like this !
Love the idea!!
I wanted to add that IZZE is sooo yummy!! I love it!!
beautiful!
terrific execution. I’ve seen some incredible spreads, but you’ve got quite the knack for simple, elegant displays. gorgeous shower decor, darling!
i partiularly like the raised platter with oranges and blossoms. it softens the otherwise graphic structure of the fruit. your attention to detail is astonishing.
i hope to see you author a book on the elements of entertaining!
thanks so much everyone! And Frankie – I’d love that too! that’s the goal to shoot for! fingers crossed! :)
Love that you are doing an “ask HWTM” feature. I bet it will become one of your most popular, aside from the surprise giveaways!
LOVE this! My sister is planning a citrus themed wedding so these ideas will be very useful to her. Thanks for the wonderful inspiration!
that doesn’t look like your average mimosa…what is it in the flute??
I am over the moon for the shower theme and all these ideas!
Hi Biddy –
It actually is a Mimosa – just very light on the champagne in the one pictured here! we took the images before guests arrived and wanted to save the good stuff for when they got there ;)
What plant is in the pots?
The orange are just mini faux orange stems purchased at Michaels for bout $2 each – and the green plant is actually a small houseplant we already owned :) It was purchased at IKEA for around $5 if I remember correctly, but I don’t know the what the exact name of it would be…and the fluffly white flowers are China Mums :)
Sorry I wasn’t more specific, I meant the yellow and orange pots that have ribbon wrapped around them. They actually are not pictures here, but on the website. I was wondering what was planted in those.
It is in the background behind the mimosa.
Russ and Debbie –
No worries – I understand what you’re asking about now :) Those are actually “Sweet Allysum Bedding Plants” and are very inexpensive! I just bought them in the nursery area of Home Depot. I can’t remember the exact price, but it wasn’t much – I think maybe $2-3 per “6 pack” (enough to fill 6 pots). Here’s an image that looks similar to how they looked packaged at the nursery. Hope that helps!
I know I’m a bit late here, but I would recommend lunabazaar.com as the website with the best selection of colors of paper lanterns. As for yellow, they have five shades to choose from.
I am planning the bridal shower for a wedding in which I am the maid of honor….and we are doing the citrus theme…..and I am having hard time finding those cute little orange and yellow flower pots with the ribbons around them (the favors). Where can I find them??
Hi Erin –
I actually bought those at IKEA, but it was over 2 years ago now that this shower was held, so I’m not sure if they’ll have them any more. I’ve tried searching online and have had a hard time finding anything similar as well.
Alternatives that I might suggest are to purchase regular mini flower pots (from places like Home Depot or Lowes) and just decorate them with orange and yellow ribbon – or spray paint them orange and yellow if you’re feeling very motivated :) Or you could also look for orange and yellow paper or acrylic cups for the same type of effect.
Good luck with the shower!
Thanks!
I actually looked EVERYWHERE for similar mini-pots….and couldnt find anything. BUT….I went to IKEA….and they sell juice glasses shaped EXACTLY like the flower pots (6 for $2!) So I bought a few of them…..got some craft paint….poured it in the cups…..swirled it around to cover the sides…….and they look just like the ones you used! For 60 mini-pot favors……..glasses/paint/ribbon/flowers……..its only going to cost me about $50-$60! Now I’m having trouble finding those little mini faux orange stems…………
IKEA have the best selection, I even bought some in the UK.