Christine's Baby Shower

Here are some photos from Christine's Baby Shower! We are starting with dessert, just because we can.

Christine knew she wanted Sprinkles cupcakes and chose red velvet and dark chocolate. We adorned them in Lu Lu black and white damask Bella Cupcake Couture wrappers.

The mommy-to-be also knew she wanted a modest candy station for guests to make their own favors. There were only 16 guests so we offered a selection of licorice, chocolates, taffy and jelly beans. Enough, but not over-the-top.

Pink candy was not difficult to find in October, thanks to Breast Cancer Awareness month!

Favor labels were custom made for the occasion by Sarah + Abraham and were also used on the cookie favors used for guests' place settings.

A pink and black damask table full of sweets.

When seated, guests were treated to onesie-shaped sugar cookies with pink royal icing. Each favor contained one large onesie, one mini-onesie, and one mini-heart shaped cookie. The large onesie cookies had a black polka dot design and the "F" on the mini-onesie stood for the guest of honor's last name.

Centerpieces were clusters of pink gerbera daisies in white vases surrounded by damask votive holders. (We'll show you the secret behind those DIY votive holders next week!)

We always go into an event knowing things may not exactly happen "according to plan" and this baby shower was no exception. Although when we finalized details for the party with Christine, her mother (who was the gracious hostess of this event) had other ideas about how the tables should be arranged. Instead of using two long rectangular tables situated beneath a canopy for guest seating, she wanted to use these three round tables (shown above) and use the rectangular tables and canopy for the buffet line for the food.

We made it happen-- even if it meant plastic table cloths on the round tables. Sometimes you just have to go with it!

Regardless of logistics, Christine had a beautiful baby shower that was made even more special by the attendance of her family and friends. The party lasted well into the evening and we are pretty sure not a single Sprinkles cupcake was left over.

Feature Friday: Bella Cupcake Couture

I bet you didn't know there was a way to improve even the most delicious cupcake! Carrie Middlemiss did though. When Carrie discovered that because of the economic downturn she, like many others, was going to be without a job she took those lemons and not only made lemonade, but made lemon frosted cupcakes in gorgeous decorative wrappers.

Bella Cupcake Couture launched earlier this year and has already been a huge success. Carrie is a fan of all things cupcake related and has created elegant cupcake wrappers in three styles and six color combinations. The wrappers are the perfect finishing touch for absolutely any occasion!

We used Bella Cupcake Couture wrappers for Heidi's baby shower and they were a hit. The moment dessert was served people were more focused on the elegant presentation than they were on the Sprinkles cupcakes inside. Check out the Bella Cupcake Couture blog for fabulous cupcake-related features and become a follower (we are!)

Heidi's Baby Shower

It's a girl! Today's celebration was in honor of a mom-to-be who has a 3 year-old little boy. In preparation for welcoming Heidi's new baby girl into the world, she wanted the baby shower to look like "the room barfed pink" (her exact words.) We kept with the pink theme and added a few simple, fun, and classy elements.The location was The Peasant and the Pear in Danville, California, where the staff could not have been more accommodating. The restaurant manager oversaw preparation for the event and did not hesitate to offer the services of two hostesses in helping transform the space.

Decorative elements included light pink and dark pink pom poms created using this Martha Stewart tutorial. Medium and large pom poms were strung by the ceiling above the guest and buffet tables, while small pom poms were used as napkin rings at each place setting. Pink ribbons cascaded down the center of the tables and were highlighted by pink votive candles in front of each guest. By the end of the shower, guests had tied the small pom poms around their wrists, wore them in their hair, or strung them through button holes on their jackets. It added a bit if whimsey and playfulness to the affair.

The mom-to-be at this baby shower requested no games, so to personalize it and offer something to entertain guests, we hung black and white prints along the back wall of the space, mounted on pink polka dot and stripe paper. The photographs represented the mom-to-be as well as her mother and grandmother (both of whom attended the shower) as babies and several of the mom-to-be with her own mother.

Guests helped themselves to a candy station to make their own favors. Cellophane bags were provided along with gift tags to tie the bags off, thanking guests for joining us in celebrating Heidi's "Little Sweetie."After a decadent appetizer buffet, dessert included coconut and strawberry Sprinkles Cupcakes. You may have thought a cupcake from Sprinkles couldn't be improved upon... unless it is adorned with a gorgeous cupcake wrapper from Bella Cupcake Couture. If you are a fan of cupcakes, you need to follow the Bella Cupcake Couture Blog. More to come on that incredible company.

Heidi was a radiant expectant mother and we wish her the best of luck with her new little girl. Thank you for letting us share your baby shower Heidi!