If you’re an engaged couple in Northern California, chances are good that you’ve heard of Park Winters. It’s a full-service wedding venue with an on-site Victorian mansion and farm-to-fork catering operation in Winters, CA, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento. Park Winters is well-known for hosting weddings on their gorgeous grounds. But now they have an additional venue option, just on the other side of their property: The Farm at Park Winters!

This space is ideal for smaller events, such as bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, elopements, family reunions, corporate retreats, and more. In order to show off this new space, the owners of Park Winters asked me to organize a styled shoot this past winter. I decided our theme would be a bridal shower afternoon tea, and then I set about to organize my dream-team of vendors for this shoot.

My first call was to Denise Apgar Photography. Denise and I have worked together on real weddings, and she is absolutely the most fun person to be around! I always advise my couples to hire a photographer they like being around, because they spend A LOT of time with their photographer. I knew that Denise’s light & airy photography style would be well-suited to an outdoor bridal shower. Lucky for me, she said yes!

We also wanted video footage of our bridal shower, so next I called my go-to videographer, Philippe Studio Pro. Philippe offers both photo and video services, and I’ve worked with him on all sorts of events. He’s also super fun to be around, and his videos are always so polished.

You can’t have afternoon tea without tiny sandwiches! Park Winters caters events held at the Farm at Park Winters with a curated menu of options.

Don’t forget the mimosa bar! Park Winters can provide everything you need to set one up.

Now that I knew who would document the day, I had to fill in the rest of the team so the photo/video teams had something to shoot. When I think “afternoon tea,” I think “tiny sandwiches and desserts.” I knew Park Winters could cover the tiny sandwiches, and there was only ever one person I wanted for the desserts: Kellie Velasquez of Palette Cakes. Kellie is basically a pastry magician. She’s trained as an artist and a pastry chef, and her cakes, cookies, and desserts are truly works of art. Honestly, I have a hard time eating some of them because they’re so pretty!

Afternoon tea is also known for its variety of delectable desserts, and no one does that better than Palette Cakes!

These mixed berry tarts are one of Kellie’s most in-demand desserts.

Trust me: you won’t regret ordering these mini cream puffs.

One of the best parts about a bridal shower vs. a wedding is that the guest list is smaller, so you can put more thought and budget into the details—like plates, glassware, and linens. Nothing up-levels a table like specialty rentals, and my first call for these items is always Celebrations! Party Rentals in Roseville. They have a huge warehouse (huge!), so they are able to stock soooo many things. I went with some of my favorite items, which also happen to be the perfect feminine touches for a bridal shower.

For afternoon tea, teacups and saucers are a must, and smaller dessert or salad plates are perfect for the finger sandwiches and petit-fours.
Pictured here: Diana salad plate, cup and saucer. Dixie Goblet in Pink. Cabo napkin in Honeydew. Crinkle table runner in Blush.

Rattan chargers give the table a finished look while tying together the fancy china and the outdoor farm setting. These chargers are available from Blossom Farm Rentals.

You don’t want to cover up farm tables with a full tablecloth, so a table runner is a perfect alternative!

Another great thing about showers & parties vs. weddings is that there’s less of an agenda and more downtime for general socializing. And what’s key for socializing? Lounge areas! Smaller breakout areas encourage small groups to gather for conversation. Blossom Farm Rentals in Arbuckle is my number one choice for lounge options. They have so many pieces that you can play with—and they even have pre-set packages if you get overwhelmed by the number of options and just want someone else to make the decisions for you.

When creating a lounge area, don’t forget to have a few tables where guests can put down their drinks and plates.
Pictured here: Chloe sofa, Tribal Coffee Table, Tribal Side Table, assorted pillows, knit pouf, two Dallas lounge chairs, two Willow accent chairs, and cream with pink rug.

Pictured here: four Melody Rattan chairs and Willow coffee table.

Not only did I set up lounge areas with furniture from Blossom Farm, but we also did a gorgeous “gift opening” area for the bride. Unlike at a wedding, the opening of gifts is a major focus of a bridal shower. And everyone is going to be photographing and videoing the bride while she opens gifts, so making that space a special nook will make the bride feel like a princess.

Don’t forget to have a friend (usually your maid of honor) keep track of all the gifts and who sent them so you can write thank you notes later!
Pictured here: Gold Hammered coffee table, 35” Rattan Floor Vase with pampas grass, Delilah 26” Metal Lantern with pampas grass, Opal Vintage chair, 3-piece panel backdrop (option A), and Bride-to-Be gold wood sign.

To embellish our gift opening nook even more, I wanted to incorporate a balloon arch. As luck would have it, one of our models for the day just started a balloon company with her friend! Balloon Architects specializes in smaller events, and their balloon designs will make any space pop—no pun intended!

Without the balloon element, the pink backdrops would fade away into the background. The balloons give it a defined edge and add an additional texture to this overall look.

Last, but most certainly not least, don’t forget about the floral elements! A table simply isn’t complete without a centerpiece. For this shoot I turned to someone I trust implicitly after having worked together on so many weddings and seeing just how creative she is: Courtney Kett of Dixon Florist. I gave Courtney some input as to color scheme and how many items we needed, but I left flower choice and design completely up to her. As usual, she knocked it out of the park.

A variety of pinks and reds stays on-theme while adding visual interest to this centerpiece.

Bridal shower guest lists are generally under 15 people, which gives you the opportunity to create an intimate dining experience.
Farm tables and cross-back chairs available to rent from Park Winters.

Bridal showers are known for games. Give away the floral arrangements as prizes to the winners so they serve double-duty!

This shoot was a blast to work on, because I got to spend the day with my industry friends. If you need help planning a bridal shower, wedding, or any other type of event, please get in touch so I can provide my expertise! And please consider Park Winters, the Farm at Park Winters, and all of these vendors for your event team. I trust them all completely and know that you will be in excellent hands!