(photo courtesy of Joanne)

Last weekend I helped throw a bridal shower for one of my very dearest friends, Chelsea. Chelsea and I met while in grad school and became very close on our carpools to and from class. She is one of the hardest working, most beautiful people I know and I am so honored to be part of her upcoming wedding in Maui this July.

Because the wedding will be in Hawaii and because Chelsea adores brunch, her sister (Lela) and I came up with a Hawaiian brunch theme. We threw the shower at the clubhouse where Chelsea lives and we had about 20 guests attend on a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon.

The menu included:

• Mini Crab and Asiago quiche
• Mini Asparagus and Gruyere quiche
• Bacon
• Herbed Breakfast Potatoes
• Assorted breads from Great Harvest
• Tropical Fruit Salad
• Mini Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits
• Hawaiian Sunrise Granola
• Passion Fruit Cream Puffs
• Pineapple Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
• The Chelsea Cocktail (sparkling wine, Chambord, pineapple juice, mango passion fruit juice)
• Coffee, tea, and juice

Favors: Macadamia Nut Shortbread, Pineapple Strawberry Jame

The spread (photo courtesy of Joanne)

I made menu cards to go with cardstock and Martha Stewart stickers (photo courtesy of Joanne).

Linda’s beautiful fruit salad (photo courtesy of Joanne).

I borrowed mini parfait glasses from my friend, Jess, for the yogurt. I love the look of individual servings with these cute cups (photo courtesy of Joanne).

Aunt Khaki gave me the idea of using freeze-dried passion fruit powder to add a Hawaiian punch to the cream puffs . This was probably my favorite menu item (photo courtesy of Joanne).

Robert helped me make a homemade cupcake tower (idea from Annie’s Eats). The orange royal icing flowers were from my friend Jess’s previous cake endeavor and made a great cupcake garnish (photo courtesy of Joanne).

The gorgeous bride-to-be and her namesake cocktail. Seriously, she is supermodel beautiful.

Favors include macadamia nut shortbread and homemade pineapple-strawberry jam (photos courtesy of Joanne).

Joanne made this pretty floral centerpiece- it looked just like a real cake!

Game leader and sister extraordinaire, Lela.

(photo courtesy of Joanne)

Colin (son of Chelsea’s coworker) is the cutest, most well-mannered three year old I have ever met. What a charmer! How could you say no to that face?

Congratulations, Chelsea! We love you. You will be a stunning Hawaiian bride (photo courtesy of Joanne).