Cupcakes for a bride-to-be

Not every celebration wants a cake. For a bridal shower, cupcakes often make more sense — people are standing up, moving around, talking. Nobody wants to be handed a plate and a fork.

Two colors, one swirl

These were piped in the couple's colors: deep teal and burnt orange, with cream. The swirl puts two colors in the same bag so each one comes out slightly different, with a small pale blue star tucked in beside it.

Four dozen of them, in two batches. Lined up on the table they read as a pattern rather than as individual cupcakes, which is what you want when they're the centerpiece.

What's inside

Chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, both with vanilla buttercream frosting.

Doing half and half is worth it for a crowd. There's always someone who only wants chocolate and someone who won't touch it, and this way nobody has to be polite about it.

Congratulations

Wishing the happy couple a lifetime filled with love, laughter, and happily ever after.