I Drove 3 Hours for a Southern Illinois Bridal Shower and Came Home With These Ideas

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This Southern Illinois Bridal Shower Had the Cutest DIY Stations You’ll Want to Steal

I hope you’re like me and try to make the most of your weekends. Sometimes that means packing two days with as many plans as humanly possible, and other times, making the most of the weekend means sitting on the couch and doing absolutely nothing.

This past weekend was definitely the first kind for me. It was packed with adventures and, more importantly, people I love. While I could brag about the entire weekend, there was one part in particular that I have to share because it gave me SO many ideas.

If you have a bridal shower, baby shower or even a girls’ get-together coming up in Indiana, you may want to steal a few ideas from this Southern Illinois celebration.

Callie Sue

A Bridal Shower That Meant a Little More

I’ll admit, I’ve moved around quite a bit over the past five years. Because of that, there are people I’ve unintentionally lost touch with. Not because I wanted to, but because sometimes life, distance and busy schedules just get in the way.

So, when an invitation showed up in my mailbox for the bridal shower of a friend I hadn’t seen in years, I was SO excited.

My friend Dusti is getting ready for a destination wedding with the love of her life, Colton Henry. I’ve known Dusti from her first boyfriend all the way to her last, and there is something really special about watching someone you’ve known for years find their person and then seeing them surrounded by people who love them.

Dusti Ellner

Dusti Ellner

My already fun weekend ended with her bridal shower in Southern Illinois, and I have to say, it may have been one of the best bridal showers I’ve ever attended.

And I’m taking notes for the future.

Dusti Ellner

Dusti Ellner

First, We Have to Talk About the Food

You cannot have a good party without good food, and this shower definitely understood the assignment.

There were fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses, endless desserts and quite possibly one of the cutest cakes known to mankind.

Dusti Ellner

Then there was an entire taco bar.

As someone who still had a three-hour drive back home to Indiana afterward, I was VERY thankful to leave happy, full and fueled for the trip.

But the food wasn't even my favorite part.

Callie Sue

The DIY Stations Were the Star of the Show

Let's talk about the stations. And yes, that's stations with an "s" because there wasn't just one activity waiting for guests.

There were several.

Dusti's shower had a make-your-own candle station, create-your-own tea station, DIY bath salt station, build-your-own bouquet station, flower crown station and a drink station.

Dusti Ellner

Instead of everyone sitting around waiting for the next traditional bridal shower game, you could wander around, make something and catch up with people along the way.

I spent so much time crafting and talking with girlfriends I hadn't seen in years, and that's what I loved most about the entire idea.

The activities gave everyone something to do, but they also gave us a reason to slow down, walk around and actually talk to one another.

Plus, instead of leaving with a random party favor that might eventually find its way into a junk drawer, guests could leave with candles, tea, bath salts, flowers and other things they had made themselves.

Dusti Ellner

Steal These Ideas for Your Next Indiana Bridal or Baby Shower

This is where I started thinking about all the ways you could recreate this closer to home.

If you're planning a bridal shower or baby shower in Indiana and you want to change things up this year, an interactive station could be such a fun alternative.

Dusti Ellner

For a bridal shower, you could have guests make candles, bouquets or custom tea blends. For a baby shower, you could do a flower bar, decorate baby blocks or create something special for the nursery.

Even a simple bouquet bar could double as an activity AND a party favor.

It turns the shower into more of an experience, which is exactly what made this one stand out to me.

Callie Sue

The Creativity Definitely Runs in the Family

Dusti's mom, Marilyn, was behind all of this, and I can't say I'm surprised that she absolutely knocked it out of the park.

Dusti Ellner

Marilyn has her own shop, so creativity is kind of her thing. She even made the gorgeous glass mirror sign welcoming everyone to "Dusti's Bridal Shower."

Dusti Ellner

From the food to the stations to all of the little details, you could tell how much thought went into celebrating Dusti.

And maybe that's why I loved the day so much.

Yes, I came home to Indiana with a full stomach, a few things I made and a camera roll full of pictures. But I also came home reminded of how special it is to reconnect with people you haven't seen in years.

Life gets busy. People move. Years pass much faster than we think they will.

Sometimes all it takes is a bridal shower invitation in the mail to bring everyone back together.

And if that bridal shower happens to include tacos, candles, flowers and crafting?

Even better.

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