Cocktail Baby Shower

Before the year ends, here's a Cocktail Baby Shower I had the pleasure to design and host for my friend Ginger, the same mom-to-be of the Plum Party I had featured earlier this year. The tendency could be to merely serve finger foods and cocktails, but my goal for the event was to stretch beyond that and come up with a creative balance of sophistication and fun. The invitations cleverly incorporate the iconic martini glass into the event logo, cleanly framed against one of her favorite patterns. Invited guests find all the event details inside, a map, QR codes that conveniently link directly to gift registries, and an insert card with instructions for a "B.Y.O.B." game (Bring Your Own Baby photo!), all nicely packaged in printed envelopes with coordinating navy liners.


A sleek, contemporary clubhouse was the perfect venue for the event. Coordinating patterns, accents of homemade fabric bow ties, and a color palette of bold navy and azure complimented her preppy-chic style. The dessert table featured Japanese roll cake, cream puffs, macaron cookies with chocolate ganache, cake pops, and chocolate and blue velvet cupcakes. As a playful twist, I created several baby rattle shakers to house an assortment of sprinkles so guests could top their cupcakes with sprinkles of their choice.  At the bar, the self-serve drink station encouraged guests to fill glass bottles with their favorite "formulas." Traditional mimosas were served alongside an assortment of mocktails, with the option to add a splash of liquor for those who want to "feel a lil kick." The B.Y.O.B. game display used root beer cases and numbered clothespins ready for guests to hang the photos in random order when they arrived. And of course, a tip jar collected advice and special messages for mom-to-be. Overall it was a great event, "pouring with love" and made to fit mom's personal style, and all the fun continued out the door when guests left with miniature shakers filled with their own mix of cocktail flavored jellybeans. Cheers and congratulations Ginger!


Credits: Cupcakes, Cream Puffs, Cookies & Cake Pops: Baking in Faith

Introducing the Plum Party

We're all familiar with the traditional baby shower thrown during the last month or so before a baby's due date, but far before the baby's arrival there's a milestone not typically celebrated, yet moms-to-be eagerly await - that triumph is reaching the 2nd trimester! It's surpassing 12 weeks of pregnancy that the risk of miscarriage is significantly lower, so it's also when expecting moms often feel most confident to officially announce the news to their friends and family. I was fortunate to receive news early enough that my friend was expecting. As many first time moms can relate, week-by-week, she anticipated to read about all the details of her baby's development and its size in comparison to a food. At 12 weeks, the fetus is said to be about the size of a plum, so I was inspired to host a small gathering for her and deem the event a "Plum Party." It was an intimate brunch serving mom-to-be's cravings, from homemade belgian waffles, scones, grilled cheese sandwiches, to assorted plum tarts and mini cupcakes (in various shades of purples, of course). What a fun way to share the news and celebrate!

How sweet it is to kiss 1st trimester goodbye!