Jackie's Baby Shower

Jackie and her family have been wonderful clients since her 2006 wedding at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City, so I jumped at the chance to design a sophisticated and stylish baby shower for her first little one on the way. I had the advantage of already knowing Jackie's style and taste, so we dove right into this project with ideas for vibrant colors and whimsical touches. The Empire Hotel was the perfect venue for this afternoon party as we could take advantage of the contemporary finishings and natural light in the perfectly petite ballroom.



When guests arrived, they found their table assignments on colorful clotheslines strung across white fabric.



Delicious "mocktails" were available for the mom-to-be and her friends during cocktail hour.



Centerpieces were comprised of green hydrangea and cymbidium orchids and accented with white branches adorned with aqua-jeweled dendrobium orchids for a little whimsy. A white square vase was wrapped with layered ribbons to further customize the look.



At each place setting, guests found a cute cookie in shapes of baby blocks, bears or booties wrapped with personalized ribbon. Coordinating menus tucked into the napkin completed the tabletop.



I love creating a "gift lounge" for showers so that all of the guests can see the gift-opening activities without leaving their seats or craning their necks. Three chairs for the guest of honor and her two helpers were set on a platform in the front of the room.



This cute cake was a "wow" to look at and to enjoy... a perfectly sweet finish to an amazing afternoon.

All photos by Gustavo Campos