Showered With Love

Other Wife is brilliant!  She really is.  She is loving and caring and just straight up genius.  She also has fantastic ideas for so many things.  Let me tell you about my Bridal Shower.

When Other Wife first asked me if she could throw me a shower, I said no.  Hubs and I have three, count them, three households worth of stuff crammed into a house, garage and storage unit.  We don't need more stuff, and I know that the purpose of the shower is to shower the bride with gifts that she can use to begin her new life as a married woman.

Given our non-traditional lives, we have been living as a married couple for many months leading up to the wedding.  Given that each of us had our own household before we met, and I inherited my father's belongings when he passed, we have enough stuff to fill three houses:  Three sets of pots and pans, two sets of dishes, four bedroom sets, and the list goes on and on.

So, Other Wife asked if I would compromise and let her throw me a "gift card shower" which would enable her to have folks give us gift cards that we could use to either go out to dinner together or to purchase supplies to build our new home.  I reluctantly agreed.  She worked so hard, and made these beautiful invitations, partially by hand!

I don't want to sound ungrateful because that is not the case.  What you have to understand that my family had already gone through the whole wedding/shower thing and I was not comfortable putting them in a position where they felt obligated to give me more gifts.  They've already done enough and travelling to NC for the wedding itself is asking a lot.  They've already given enough.

However, Other Wife made a compelling argument that this was new to all of the people in NC that I had met and that I should let her.  So, I said yes and she asked me for a list of who I wanted to invite.  I gave her a small list.  I don't know that many people here in NC and to be honest, I am not comfortable asking people to come to an event and bring me gifts.  I'm uncomfortable just typing about it.

I am also uncomfortable being the center of attention.  So, I'm not going to lie to you.  I was pleased when most people didn't get the invitation, and when the only people available to come was a very small group.  I prefer small, intimate gatherings to large parties so, the shower became everything I could have wished for.

Other Wife booked us reservations at The Boro in Swansboro.  This is one of Hubs and my favorite places to have date night because they have FABULOUS gluten free options on the menu.  We've had double dates nights there with Other Wife and Other Husband and loved every bite.  They did not disappoint today either.

We ordered and shared the Chimichurri Shrimp, the Jalapeno Chorizo Warmers, and the Wicked Cauliflower and Cheese (minus the toasted breadcrumbs).  For my entree, I selected one of my favorites:  the Bacon Sea Scallops, which consist of Pan Seared Scallops, Blue Cheese Risotto, Pork Belly, and Onions sauteed in a Balsamic Red Wine Reduction.  With every bite, you die and go to heaven.  It is that good!

Now, let me explain why Other Wife is so loving and caring and also a genius.  She ordered the shower cake from Mrs. V!  Her thought process was that it would allow Mrs. V. to practice making gluten free cake for the wedding.  It would allow me to finally taste Mrs. V's cake, and it would allow me to test whether Mrs. V really understood GF.

I would be able to eat the cake and go home if I had any adverse gluten reaction.  So it was a trial run for the wedding, so that I could feel comfortable on my wedding day, with eating cake!  BRILLIANT!  It also allowed me to see just what a fabulous job Mrs. V did on the decorations.  See for yourself!

Now, one other thing I want to point out here.  My darling Other Wife beat herself up immensely about not being able to get more people to come.  In the end, there were a few folks who never got the invitation, one who already had prior family commitments, one who had an unexpected illness hit her family, and our other Other Wife, who's daughter broke her arm that morning.  The shower was Other Wife, my mom and me... and I loved every minute!

So, Laurie, if you're reading this.  You are the most thoughtful, loving, caring woman.  You are inspirationally creative.  Remember that in life it is quality, not quantity that matters, so I hope you can see how happy you made me and how you brought peace to my heart about the wedding cake.  I am honored to have you stand up with me on the big day and I am so thankful that you are in my life.  I love you to bits!