Odds Are Your Guests Will Simply Adore This Day-at-the-Derby Bridal Shower

Updated on September 20, 2018

Make Your Pick

A bridal shower inspired by the annual "Run for the Roses" demands a table decorated in vases full of the vivid bloom. Trim the stems and arrange them in Derby souvenir glasses and julep cups for a touch that is both festive and unfussy.

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Winning Combination

claire-thomas-bridal-shower-derby-table-setting-top-0814.jpg — Courtesy of Claire Thomas

Gold and brass accents add a sporty touch to the celebration. Julep cups sit ready for the fresh mint and bourbon arranged on a vintage Kentucky Derby platter nearby.

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Drink of Champions

claire-thomas-bridal-shower-derby-mint-julep-ingredients-0814.jpg — Courtesy of Claire Thomas

An intricate decanter holds ounces upon ounces of bourbon. Thomas mixed the base for her Make-Ahead Rosewater Mint Juleps the day before the shower and stored it overnight in the fridge for easy day-of prep.

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Insider Info

claire-thomas-bridal-shower-derby-drink-cheers-0814.jpg — Courtesy of Claire Thomas

The tricks to making a sipper this delicious are (lots of) crushed ice and homemade mint simple syrup. Guests will be toasting and cheering, regardless of what happens at the finish line.

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Fried Chicken

Although Thomas is a California native, she knows how to fry up juicy pieces of the Southern bird, thanks to a friend of hers who hails from the Bluegrass State (and inspired Thomas to make her own recipe).

Get the Recipe

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Hello, Birdie!

claire-thomas-bridal-shower-derby-food-fried-chicken-0814.jpg — Courtesy of Claire Thomas

When creating her Traditional Buttermilk Fried Chicken recipe, Thomas knew it would quickly ruin if cooked entirely in a frying pan. Instead, she bakes the chicken after frying it for eight to ten minutes on the stovetop. "This step ensures that the meat is going to be succulent and awesome, but also that it's going to be cooked through perfectly and have a really crispy exterior," she says.

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Sharing the Limelight

claire-thomas-bridal-shower-derby-food-hopping-john-salad-close-0814.jpg — Courtesy of Claire Thomas

In the South, sides receive as much TLC as the main event, and Thomas's Hoppin' John Salad, made especially for the shower, is no exception. Cajun seasoning and a bay leaf kick up a blend heavy on bacon, black-eyed peas, and mustard greens.

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Southern Charm

claire-thomas-bridal-shower-derby-food-gazpacho-0814.jpg — Courtesy of Claire Thomas

Thomas made a second cupped crowd-pleaser for the shower. Her Succotash Gazpacho Shots are a refreshing way to pair veggies with fried chicken, rather than turning to standbys, such as coleslaw, potato salad, and green bean casserole.

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Sure-Bet Souvenir

Part (okay, most!) of the allure of celebrating a party with a horse-race theme is the excuse to don a hat. After guests enjoy a plateful of soul food and a glass (or two) of mint juleps, they can craft their very own.

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