Yes, yes, we know….pink for girls, blue for boys.  {yaawwwn}.

In the wedding industry there is a saying that “Brides get married in packs”, which is really pretty true.  You know how it goes, one friend gets the bling and everyone else starts jumping on board.  The pressure is on!  Then, after a while, the majority of the group gets hitched, and then there are no more nuptial-related events to attend, save for the random commitment-phobic bachelor or that ultra-selective career oriented gal pal. 

A couple of years later, the baby train comes to town.  Next thing you know, your weekends are filling up with all the “oohs” and “awwws” of all things teeny-tiny.  And of course you are just thrilled for your friends, who are all trading war stories about sleepless nights and advising each other on the ins and outs of “what to expect when you’re expecting”.  But lets just be really honest here for a second…how many pink baby booties and blue choo-choo train themed gatherings can one person swallow??

Here’s my beef:  Who says a baby shower can’t be chic?  Who says it can’t be a hip, beautiful, stylish affair thrown as a celebration for your hip, beautiful, stylish friend?  Who says a baby shower is the perfect time to expose all your intelligent and downright cool girlfriends to the same mind numbing (and lets face it, boring) games and decor our moms used at THEIR baby showers 30+ years ago?! 

I say, a baby shower is a great excuse to have an amazing party with your nearest and dearest, with delicious food, beautiful decor, great music, no insulting “games” and maybe even some cocktails (mocktails for the Mama, of course!).

Here are some photos from a segment I recently designed on Fox & Friends in NYC (please note that while it is clearly a baby shower, there isnt a pink bootie in sight!):

 

The 411:   

Color Scheme:  Orange, Aqua, Bright Yellow, Black & White

Inspiration:  Rubber Duckies

Fabrics:  Turquoise high pile fur, orange shiny shantung silk, yellow brushed cotton, sequined aqua mermaid shimmer fabric, black & white polka dot ribbon

Recycling what you already have:  colored Christmas ornaments in vases as centerpieces, vases/containers in coordinating colors, food colored water in bowls (use your own home decor as the color inspiration for the party and integrate one baby item into the scheme, so you can utilize items from your own home/collections to cut back on decor expenses).

Use gifts for the mom-to-be as part of the decor; I used diaper cloths as napkins, lined rectangular vases with Pampers and filled them with tall lollipop flowers for guest favors, floated rubber duckies in water glasses and centerpieces, used larger ducks as serving pieces (all of which can be given to the Mom at the end of the party).

Offer activities as available only to those interested in participating.  I set up a onesie/bib/burp cloth creation station with all the supplies available, including premade iron-on sheets of cute graphics that guests could cut out freehand or by tracing cookie cutters and then pressing for 30 seconds. 

I would absolutely ask a few friends to contribute some great food and offer blue and orange cocktails in martini glasses already rimmed in colored sugars (no one can turn down a pretty beverage!) and make sure the IPOD was loaded with about 50 fun and funky tunes. 

Now THAT’S what I call a baby shower (Mix Mingle Glow style, of course!).

Tags: baby shower, baby shower decor, baby shower decorations, baby shower food, baby shower games, baby shower ideas, cool shower themes, fox & friends

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 at 11:39 am and is filed under YOU can do it!, decor, events, inspiration & ideas, life as an event planner, showers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.