Cathi Hatch: Bridal Shower for Kendra

Bride Kendra with Penny's beautiful gift.

This morning, I co-hosted along with Pat Wallace and Detra Segar a bridal shower for Kendra Visser, bride-to-be of Ryan Richmond. It was a bridal shower brunch at Pat's beautiful loft space in downtown Seattle. The very high ceilings and big arched windows with a view of the Union train station clock tower set off Pat's fascinating and eclectic art collection perfectly.

With her long blonde hair and warm smile, Kendra will be a beautiful bride! It was fun to meet her sisters-in-law, Julie Visser and Sarah Visser, along with her mom, Susan Visser and good friend, Roxanne Helling and gather together with several of mother-in-law-to-be, Toni Hoffman's friends including Trudi Syferd, Patti Payne, Terri Olson Miller, Cynthia Stroum, Penny Thackery and Diane Kuenster.

Patti Payne and Trudi Syferd

Diane and I arrived early to bring the wine and sparkling water and helped with place cards and seating. Detra had already delivered the beautiful floral arrangements and Fran's party favors. Pat had taken on the major hosting responsibility since it was at her home and had already set the tables with her exquisite china, crystal and silver including one of my favorite Herend china patterns, Queen Victoria. Pat also prepared all the food which included a delicious curried chicken salad with grapes, apples and strawberries and petite croissants and cinnamon rolls. Dessert was a beautiful yellow cupcake with pale orange sugared frosting.

Toni Hoffman, Julie, Susan & Kendra Visser

Sarah Visser, Roxanne Helling

After brunch, Kendra opened her gifts which included kitchen appliances, baking and cooking utensils, exquisite silver picture frames, towels, china, linens, a beautiful Chihuly limited edition Pendleton blanket, and a silver bracelet with a small Ferris wheel charm from her mom, Susan to remind her of her engagement. (Ryan asked Kendra to marry him on the Ferris wheel.) One of the favorite gifts that we all admired was a scrapbook that Roxanne had made which included special themed decorated pages just waiting to have the photos added for all the special

Detra Segar, Diane Kuenster, Penny Thackery

events leading up to and through the wedding.

As the gifts were being opened, it was quite a production with Toni making a bouquet out of the bows, Roxanne tying the long ribbons into bows for the bouquet, Susan in charge of organizing the cards and wrapping paper and Julie taking notes of whom had given each gift. Kendra took the time to totally open each gift and admire it before moving on to the next gift which was fun to watch.

Pat had asked each of us to share a recipe in advance and prepared a recipe book for Kendra and each of the guests to take home with them. We all laughed together, especially at Penny's disclaimer that she doesn't cook as a cautionary warning accompanying her recipe, and though she couldn't be there, Suzy Krabbe's recipe for pita chips. Terri's was another favorite since it was a taco soup that you make in a crock pot. They all definitely sound worth trying!