MODERN RUSTIC BABY SHOWER {GENDER NEUTRAL}

Baby showers have evolved just like weddings have - with the help of pinterst there's so many ideas and inspiration at our finger tips!  My sister-in-law Christine and I had the pleasure of planning and hosting our new sister-in-law Monica's beautiful baby shower this month .  We skipped the smushed melted chocolate bar diapers and awkward games and went with a theme along the lines of their wedding.  Modern.... rustic.... clean.... glamourous.  We had so much fun brainstorming ideas, ordering, crafting, baking, decorating and hosting - a true pleasure as we count down the final weeks before we get to meet our newest lil niece or nephew!!

Instead of a Facebook invite, we wanted to make things a little more personal.  We ordered a stationary line from Etsy (in golds and creams).  The line included everything from personalized mail-out invites - you bet the snail mail type, stationary for gift tables, food tables, drink tables and more.  Ordering printables like this was cost-effective but also allowed us to personalize with specific names, dates and times.  Just an extra touch of 'special'!

The day of - Christine and I turned into "Party Decorating Mama's"!  Rustic burlap table runners, tissue poofs (in gold and whites), a Onsie Wall with pinned white onesies, white roses and cream tulips, gold signage and stationary, a beautiful burlap flag banner with the word "Baby",  and a cream rose wrist corsage to make the Mommy-to-be feel even more special and pampered!  The food was planned to match the decor too (is there such a thing as over the top?) - white chocolate covered cake pops with gold bows, and vanilla cupcakes with jaw-dropping fondant orchids (designed and made by my friend Jolene).

To help with some fun memories we set up some stations to keep guests involved and allow the mommy some amazing keepsakes!  A "predictions" station where guests could predict gender, weight, name and delivery date of the new baby seemed like a must.  We also included a "wishes for baby" station - an amazing opportunity for guest to let baby know their hopes as he/she grows up (what a great keepsake).  Just for fun we had a "diaper" station - giving guests a creative way to write a note (funny or sincere) on a diaper to make those late night diaper changes a little more enjoyable for the new parents!  And in the mailed out invites, we asked guests to include a signed book instead of a card - a great way to start a library.   

The afternoon was filled with friends, family and a stunning mommy-to-be!  Food, drinks, and swooning over the cutest baby bump.  As I sat and watched Monica - it was hard to not let emotion take over (and begin the ugly cry).  I recognized how beautiful pregnancy is, how awesomely life-changing it will be for this new lil family.  How such a beautiful little life is being created and how in a few short weeks this beautiful baby will be so overwhelming loved, un-conditionally, raw, and by so many people.  A true blessing - and truly a blessing to celebrate!