The Cutest Centerpiece and Bridal Shower Gifts
As I was planning the bridal shower for my son Michael and his fiancé Ellie, I wanted to create something truly unique that could also be used as bridal shower gifts.
Drawing inspiration from the elegance of a bridal shop, I designed a centerpiece that would steal the show and double as gifts for our guests. This unique wood dress rack, holding bridal gown frosted cookies, was fun to create.
The Cutest Centerpiece and Bridal Shower Gifts: A DIY Wedding Dress Shop
As the wedding season approaches, there’s no better time to celebrate love and creativity than with a beautifully crafted centerpiece and thoughtful bridal shower gifts.
I planned a bridal shower for Michael and Ellie, and if you want to see everything I created for the shower, read my blog post, The Best Bridal Shower Decorations.
And, I created a Wedding Dress shop in the center of the table!
The concept was simple yet whimsical: transform a wooden doll clothing rack into a miniature bridal shop display.
The idea was to hang intricately decorated sugar cookies shaped like wedding gowns on mini hangers, creating a delightful and personalized centerpiece for the bridal shower table. Then, I could use these cookies as bridal shower gifts for my guests. As party favors!
How perfect is that?
Creating the Cookies
To bring this idea to life, I started by baking a batch of sugar cookies using a dress-shaped cookie cutter.
Once cooled, I meticulously decorated each cookie with royal icing, adding intricate lace patterns, delicate embellishments, and even tiny pearls and sprinkles to mimic the details of real wedding gowns.
The key was letting creativity flow, making each cookie a unique masterpiece.
And not stressing over it too much, since I am not an experienced cookie or cake decorator!
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Wrapping and Packaging
After the cookies were decorated to perfection, it was time to package them in a way that would showcase their beauty while also protecting them.
I ordered bags that would fit the cookie dresses and carefully wrapped each cookie in a small cellophane bag, ensuring that the delicate icing remained intact.
Hanging on the Wood Rack
With the cookies beautifully wrapped and ready to go, the final step was to hang them on the wooden doll clothing rack.
Using the mini hangers, I pushed a hole and delicately suspended each cookie from the rack, arranging them to resemble a charming display in a real bridal shop window.
The result was enchanting – a whimsical centerpiece that captured the essence of love and celebration.
The End Result
The highlight of the bridal shower was undoubtedly the small wedding dress shop centerpiece I created. What started as a simple idea blossomed into a stunning display that garnered admiration and smiles from all who attended.
Each guest was delighted to receive their own wrapped wedding gown cookie as a party favor, a sweet reminder of the love and creativity that went into planning the event.
Ultimately, the DIY wedding dress shop centerpiece exceeded my expectations in every way. It was a labor of love that brought joy and laughter to Michael and Ellie’s bridal shower and served as a beautiful symbol of their upcoming union.
From the meticulous decorating of the cookies to the charming presentation on the wooden rack, every detail was crafted with care and thoughtfulness.
It was a reminder that sometimes, the most memorable gifts are those made with love and creativity.
So, as you plan your next celebration, consider adding a personal touch with a DIY centerpiece that will leave a lasting impression on your guests.
Here is the recipe for the cookies and frosting to make these cookies.
What You Need to Make These Cookies!
- Wooden Doll Clothes Rack with Hangers
- Mixing bowl set
- Hand Mixer
- Wedding gown-shaped cookie cutters
- Adjustable rolling pin (this is key so all of your cookies are the same height!)
- Baking Sheet Set
- Silicone pastry mat
- Clear Bags
- Hole Punch
Wedding Dress Shaped Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Ingredients
- Sugar Cookies
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoons milk
- 1 TBL lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Royal Icing
- 5 tbl warm water
- 3 TBL Meringue Powder (with vanilla)
- 4 cups Powdered sugar
Instructions
Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, and sugar; add dry ingredients, and mix until incorporated. With the mixer running, add egg, milk, lemon, and vanilla; mix until incorporated.
Transfer the dough to a work surface. Shape into 2 discs, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with nonstick baking mats or parchment paper; set aside.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes, and transfer to prepared baking sheets, leaving an inch in between. Leftover dough can be rolled and cut once more.
Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minutes; do not allow to brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
To make Royal Icing, beat all ingredients together until icing forms peaks (about 8 minutes with a heavy-duty mixer, 10 - 12 minutes with a hand mixer). Add additional water until the desired thickness.
If you want the icing to outline and fill then use the 10-second rule. The test is done by dragging the tip of a knife across your frosting, about 1" deep. If the surface of the icing smooths over in roughly ten seconds, then it's ready for use.
What's so great about this thicker icing is you can use the same icing for the outline and for the filling in.
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Leave it to you to come up with an excellent idea and decoration to knock out the ballpark. Everything about your ideas were fantastic. You truly are blessed with many talents. Have a great day and God bless.
Thanks so so much Heidi! It was a joy to create this day for them. You’re so sweet, thank you.
Just had to buy the clothes rack! It will be great for baby showers too, just have to find the right cookie cutter. I’ve got my eyes open for a romper! Thank you for the darling idea.
Isn’t it so cute?! I’m so happy this inspired you! Would love to see he finished product ☺️
Leslie all I can say is WOW!!! The wedding gown cookies are so extra fabulous! You are just unbelievable with everything you do!! Your future daughter-in-law is sure lucky to have you in her family. Any girl would be lucky just to know you, let alone have you to help plan a party. I love your blog and all of your ideas. I also love your crab cake recipe.
Thank you so so much! These are such kind words and mean the world to me. I also feel very lucky ☺️
What a wonderful idea.!! Now you have my creative juices flowing. I think I’ll do this as a pink princess party for grand daughters!! ….. Just added the doll clothes rack to my Amazon cart. Thanks Leslie, and blessings!!
Yay! So happy to hear that! It’s such a cute clothes rack.
I have everything ready to go to attempt this for a bridal shower I am hosting Saturday. Kinda nervous! But yours is so cute, I just had to try! Excited. It fits the theme perfectly, once I add a little bow to each hangar. 🙂
Omg yay! I hope it is a wonderful day! I’d love to see pictures, hehe ☺️
If I knew how to send a pic here I would. SUCCESS! Thank you!
I made these for a bridal shower I hosted yesterday. It was a BOW theme – She’s Tying the Knot – so I added bows to hang the dresses and hot glue gunned a white satin bow to each end of the display rack. The guests were loving it. I gave you full credit! 🙂 Thank you for a darling idea.
Omg I love that!! So happy you liked this idea- definitely a favorite of mine! ☺️