So You're EnGAYged, a LGBT wedding blog

Us in our Vintage Attire

This past weekend Joey and I drove down to Southern California for a wedding shower that my Mom, my cousin Michelle and her wife Jennifer threw for us. A while back my mom told us the three of them were planning a shower around the ideas featured in one of our favorite books I Like You: Hospitality Under The Influence by Amy Sedaris. The book contains multiple homages to the entertaining days of the 50′s and 60′s. When every party had a Jello mold and every lunch had two martinis. A “Classier” era if you will.

We were instantly excited by this idea, little did we know they would do SO MUCH more. We walked into Michelle and Jennifer’s backyard in our vintage attire (they asked people to dress in a Mad Men style) to see an adorable vintage wonderland. The tables were laid out in multiple shades of gingham with pots of daisies and antiques everywhere. The details were so adorable, from vintage ashtrays and matchbooks (My favorite was a matchbook and ashtray from the now defunct Disneyland Tobacco Shop), PEZ dispensers,  vintage candies and magazines.

Backyard at the shower

They had a bar set up in the house with martini and mojito fixings,  and my cousin Eric serving as the bartender and an array of vintage sodas, and YooHoo in glass bottles. Plus a traditional 50′s punch made from Ginger ale and sherbet. For the food they set up a buffet, decorated with old cookbooks and delicious comfort foods like:

• Fried Chicken
• Meatloaf
• Homemade Mac & Cheese
• Salad
• Fruit
• A Jello Mold
• Succotash
• Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
• A Relish Tray

The Comfort Food Buffet

The food was absolutely amazing, everything was so delicious, and I may have discovered that Bubble Up is the worlds best Lemon-Lime soda.  After people were done eating, it was time a few games, the first of which was a guessing game where they popped two batches of Jiffy Pop Popcorn and guests had to guess the number of unpoped Kernals, in which Joey tied for “Worst Guess” at four. He won a vintage LIFE magazine with a young Haley Mills as Polyanna on the cover. The second game was a hilarious Hula hoop contest, which OF COURSE was won by one of the kids, but it did feature my adult relatives behaving foolishly which is always worth more than a few good laughs.

This little girl was far and away the winner

My cousin Michelle wasnt to shabby either

After that it was time to open presents, our family was incredibly generous and wrote some amazing thoughtful and wonderful cards. The whole event capped off a turbulent emotional week (which you can read about in my previous two articles). But I have never felt more loved and supported than I did on this day. It was so amazing! There was nothing but love in that room. I tired to give a speech of thanks but I got a little emotional and in an attempt not to cry I think I just stuttered something completely ineloquent. But the sentiment was there and people knew how much it all meant to us. After the gifts and the tears it was time for hugs and cupcakes.

Mini-Cupcakes, The Vanillas ones were filled with Banana Pudding and the Chocolate were like Hostess Style

I can never say enough thank you’s to my mom, Michelle and Jennifer for this incredible shower. It was the most wonderful way to spend a late summer evening. At the end of the day it was clear that beyond the incredible decorations, food, and gifts what really made it awesome was our wonderful family.

Here are our pictures:

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