The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Hi, it's Rosie!
I thought I'd pop in with just a few pictures from my brother-in-law's wedding last weekend, for which my sweet new sister-in-law (who is a GEM, btw) had asked me to help with flowers and a cake. These are the sort of crazy projects I love taking on, so I had a blast.
My sister-in-law (Sister Louise Marie) and I joined forces for the flowers — I ordered what turned out to be a ton of flowers from Sam's Club online (which proved to be the best deal when I was looking this time around, and the roses were beautiful), and she gathered hydrangeas from a friend's house and a literal truckload of greenery from around the convent.
We spent several hours on Thursday prepping everything and then on Friday made one bridal bouquet, one for Our Lady, seven for bridesmaids, four for flower girls, twelve boutonnieres, five corsages, and decorated my in-law's barn. It was a marathon, made possible by my mom whisking away the big kids for most of the day and, as you can see, a multitasking Sister.
The only photos I have of the finished flowers are the ones I quickly snapped after dropping the bouquets off on the table at my in-law's the morning of the wedding. They used pink and white roses and spray roses, plus a few pink peonies for the bridal bouquet, baby's breath, lavender, and lots of greens from the gardens.
I also contributed two of the flower girls, though all four of them were top-notch.
The cake was not a full-fledged wedding cake — the bride and groom had cookies too, for dessert, so they just wanted a cake to cut and to supplement the dessert. They requested a Chocolate Hoosier Cake, a favorite in my husband's family (I've talked about this family favorite before and promised the recipe — here's me upping the talking and promising!).
The only other instructions I was given were to, if possible, make it look “not just like a birthday cake.” So I used 1.5x my usual amount of the batter, making three eight-inch layers instead of the usual two nine-inch ones. A ton of frosting and a few of the wedding flowers, and it looked lovely.
For the record, and since I often find that I only remember these things later if I write them down on the blog and can search for them later, I made the layers ahead of time, wrapped them well, and froze them. Then a few days from the wedding, I assembled and frosted the cake entirely, froze it until solid, then wrapped it and kept it frozen until the wedding morning.
I brought it to the reception site (my in-law's beautiful barn) in a happily perfectly sized styrofoam cooler, set it up on its table, and then actually just popped the cooler over it upside-down so it could slowly defrost until the reception. This worked great, despite a warm, humid day. And flowers are great for covering flaws!
On to our links!
- The one problem with this wedding was that, at four months postpartum and nursing a four-month-old (funny how that works), I had no-thing to wear. Despite looking in stores around here as well as clicking on every bit of targeted advertising that came my way (result: my feeds are now entirely full of floral dresses), resulting in me looking at every single nursing-friendly dress on the Internet, I rolled into wedding week empty-handed. In one last attempt to find something to wear that was neither obviously maternity nor the one seasonally inappropriate dress I wore to the last two big events in my husband's family, I started browsing on Amazon. I ended up buying a dress in two prints in two sizes each (just in case… free returns, right?), and lo! I loved them. Cute, forgiving, flattering, sleeves for church, nursing-friendly (it's a flowy maxi, so could definitely work for most of pregnancy, too), under $30, POCKETS. I would love it more if it were cotton, but beggars can't be choosers, and apparently I count as a beggar in the dress-buying world. So here, for the collective memory, is the dress I wore to the wedding, in case you want to be twins with me (affiliate links, thank you!). If you click around the related links while you're there, you'll find a lot more in the same genre, like the one my sister-in-law wore (desperate nursing mothers think alike!), this floral one, or this one with stripes. I know that Deirdre just ordered a few others to try out for her brother-in-law's upcoming wedding.
- Auntie Leila actually visited St. Stanislaus in Milwaukee when she spoke in that city recently, thanks to a tour from her host. This wonderful tour-by-drone gives you all sorts of views of a church built by immigrant Poles that has been rescued from the worst 70's wreckovation (including the removal of stunning, irreplaceable stained glass that is now being restored — you can see some of the garish contempo ones that are still in place).
- For the poetry lovers (and high school students) among us (or for those who need a little convincing): Burns in Glory – an appreciation of one of the greatest, Robbie Burns.
- I would embed this little video if I could (file under: what is the internet for, anyway — answer: cats-being-schooled-by-birds videos).
- Have you ever been on this super scary bridge? I have and it's Not Okay.
- We have a map- (and indeed fact-) oriented person in our midst — Pippo. He's six but he knows that Alaska — even on this excellent map, highly recommended — is not to scale, but is actually bigger than Texas. So… how big is Texas?
Today in the Liturgical Year: St. Mary Magdalene! “The feast of St. Mary Magdalene is considered one of the most mystical of feasts, and it is said that of all the songs of the saints, that of Mary Magdalene is the sweetest and strongest because her love was so great. That love was praised by Jesus Himself who said that because much was forgiven her, she loved much.”
From the archives:
- Just in case you didn't realize it's up there on the menu bar: 10 FAQs about Auntie Leila.
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Kevin says
Wow! Your cake looks as good (or better) than any full-fledged wedding cake I’ve seen. Awesome job 🙂
Nicole says
Rosie! You look beautiful! Out of curiosity, how was the sizing on the dress? I’m 5’9 and 16 weeks pregnant with baby 6, so thinking I could get a lot of mileage out of a dress like this and my maternity clothes are all so tired! Could use it now and next spring/summer too after baby! I’d be curious if the sizing is super small as many Amazon items are when they’re from Asia!
Rosie says
Thanks! I hear you – there is a sizing chart in the listing with measurements, which made me think I should maybe size up. So I ordered my usual large and an xl just in case, but the large was just right. I’m 5’6 and it came to my ankles (I think you can maybe see in the photo), which was just right for me because I don’t like a super long dress while I’m also dealing with toddlers.
Emily Barton says
Wow, Rosie. The flowers and cake are gorgeous. Love the DIY. Great job!
Shyla says
I am just super blown away with how everything turned out! Rosie, you are so talented! The flower arrangements are stunning! I love seeing how everyone pitches in together to make a beautiful day without hiring everything out and spending mega mega bucks! Thanks for sharing!! This gives me so much inspiration and hope for when/if my 5 girls get married
Haus Frau says
The flowers and the cake are lovely, and so is the family!
Still, I’m glad to know I’m not the only one saving these “collective memory” wedding tips! Our 7th daughter is due in eight weeks! 😉
But what boggles me is that I lived the first half of my life in Indiana–Hoosier born–and never knew there was such a thing as a Hoosier cake! You’d think I’d remember THAT! 😉
Clarice says
It is all beautiful, and so are you and your family. Show us more pictures of the day, if your family doesn’t mind. It looks magnificent.
Rosie says
Thank you, Clarice! This is really pretty much I have, actually, until the photographer sends some out!
BeingRefined21 says
Rosie, all your creative efforts look amazing!! Wow! Please DO share the cake recipe…soon. The wedding cake looks spectacular. The flower arrangements are delightful!
The dress you found looks lovely.
Thanks for sharing the lovely photos.
Yes, I’ve seen and driven over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Bridges don’t usually bother me, but the cross-winds on that bridge can be very strong and scary. I would not drive across it in bad weather; I would find another route.
Kathryn says
The cake and flowers are beautiful! Peonies and hydrangeas are pretty much my two favorite flowers ever.
I have been over the Bay Bridge many times. We live west of Baltimore and go to the beach in Delaware so the only way to get there is over! My concern is less that we’ll fall off and more that my little old minivan with 100K miles will leave me sit on the bridge.
Diana says
So. unbelievably. gorgeous.
Drooling over those lovely, lovely pictures!! Great job!!
Lacey Walswick says
I am also 4 months postpartum with my 4th and I just now bought that dress. Great find! And here’s a church dress I found I love in return: (https://www.target.com/p/women-s-sleeveless-button-up-shirt-dress-who-what-wear-153/-/A-52157617#lnk=sametab) I have it in the b/w floral and the multi-floral (note: it needs dry cleaning– the only problem with it. That whole beggars/choosers thing again, I guess…).
Faith says
Hi Rosie,
Thanks for sharing the pics! A beautiful day no doubt – a family wedding is always such a wonderful mix of happy and somewhat tiring but fun none the less. I remember them well. Your work contribution to the beauty of the event shows much love especially with the busy little ones. Thanks be for mothers and family members for helping with the children too. I think all the flowers and cake were so well crafted. You have a really good eye. The flower girls look like they took their job very seriously – so cute. I’m so glad you were able to fit in a family picture as so often we miss those moments at a family function. Good job!
Faith
Melissa says
That cake looks so pretty, and delicious.
I’m looking forward to the recipe.
I’ve driven over that bridge a number of times.
The bridge is unnerving; what gives me nightmares, though, are it’s tunnels.
We ALWAYS seem to pass by huge trucks traveling in the opposite direction.
MaggieO says
Everything you did looks lovely, but what is truly impressive is doing it all while you have a four-month old! 🙂
Amelia Desch says
Nursing dresses…modest ones…pretty ones…inexpensive ones…we are beggars indeed. It’s amazed me how much time and thought clothes shopping can actually require! I’ve had some success with eShakti, picking from button-down styles and customizing for good sleeve and skirt lengths, and combining sales with coupon codes. A halftank is my lifesaver for modesty, both for nursing-friendly lower necklines themselves and for effortlessly, discreetly (I can’t personally stand even the idea of a separate cover) covering all cleavage during the nursing itself. But I also finally got a fancy, A-line, high-waisted/tummy-skimming, long occasion skirt that I can just tuck a nice stretchy top into and wear to the next wedding. It’s super-comfy and actually looks more formal than my dresses.
octoberrose says
Seeing as I shall be attending a wedding while nursing a four month old at four months postpartum in a little more than a month … I shall have to take a look at those dresses!! Many thanks for the links!
Victoria says
Beautiful flowers! Makes me feel bad my peonies got powdery mildew that I haven’t addressed (suggestions welcome).
I didn’t realize the Bay Bridge is considered the scariest in America! I grew up down the street from it, and my parents still live there. I think I have what I would call a healthy respect for it. I’m not afraid to drive over most of the time, but if it gets windy or is pouring rain I go another way. My brother-in-law’s sister got into a terrible, head-on collision on it seven months ago, so we avoided it for a while after that. Please say a prayer for her. Yeah…. I guess it is kinda scary come to think of it..
Chris S says
Watched the bridge video – definitely less than comfortable. I’m not good with bridges over water, so check out the Confederation Bridge that connects Prince Edward Island with the mainland in Canada – imagine how I felt about that one. And when I thought that looking down at the GPS screen would distract me . . . that was worse – literally a road through a blue ocean. There and back – I survived.
Chris S in Canada
Karen says
Thanks for the links to the dresses. I’m co-hosting a baby shower in two days and just realized I forgot to buy a dress. Just ordered the dress you wore. Hoping one of the two sizes I ordered will work. Finding a dress you can nurse a baby in isn’t an easy task.
Heather says
Rosie you are such an artist! I love being your creative talents being put toward acts of love for your friends and family. So glad I’m not the only nursing mom short on cash desperately looking for something to wear! Ha!
Benita says
The scariest bridge link cracks me up! I grew up crossing that bridge quite often and was driving myself over it by the age of 17. Just drove over it last night actually in a wind and rain storm to bring our oldest daughter home from her summer intensive at the School of the Washington Ballet. The east bound span is older and has no shoulder or extra room at all. I admit it does make it a bit nerve wracking, but I guess it is all a matter of perspective. If you have to drive over it often, or want to in order to get to the beach, well, you just do it. I never thought about it much until recently with the hype it is getting from this article and others. Most locals have never thought of it as scary. I guess I thought all bridges were like that until I started travelling as I got older. The views of the bay are spectacular. You really must try it sometime.
Kristina Cyr says
My Mom, Grace Joyce (remember her?) would be MEGA impressed with the flowers! Beautiful job!
Leila says
Grace is the role model here, so thanks for this compliment on Rosie’s behalf!! That’s high praise!!