I don’t know about you, readers, but it seems like all of my friends are either new mommies or on the verge of giving birth. Last winter was very a productive one in our little circle -- and I think I will finish out the year having hosted three baby showers and one bridal shower. All for “older” women.
When I say older, I don’t mean necessarily 40-something, or third and fourth-time moms. I just mean that we are all out of college and successful in our fields -- with nice, established homes, lives and marriages. And I found that the showers for these established women are different from the girly, cutesy showers we held back in college or immediately after. You know the kind: cheap punch (sometimes spiked), a grocery store cake, butter mints, canned nuts, a few rolls of crepe paper strewn about the room and a balloon or two.
The showers I have hosted or attended in the last few years have been elegant and adult: appetizers or a buffet of finger foods, champagne or wine along with a nice creamy, frothy punch, gorgeous cakes that were works of art, nicer decorations and keepsake party favors. You can easily throw together an elegant ‘do of your own. For example, at a bridal shower I recently hosted for women only, we ate mini quiches (get them at Costco or Sam’s), shrimp puffs, a cream-cheese shrimp dip with bell-shaped crackers and a beautiful and delicious mocha-white chocolate layer cake that was decorated with white chocolate wedding bells. I did very little decorating. Instead I went to my nearby dollar-type store and purchased a dozen white tapers and several other sizes of unscented white candles. I scattered them in various holders around the room and tied a bit of white tulle in a bow around each one. For my centerpiece, I pooled a length of tulle in the center of my table, arranged some of the taper candles randomly in it and used the cake, on a glass pedestal, as the focal point. It was very easy and took very little artistic ability. Which is good, because I really have none!
A recent baby shower for a mother-to-be of a little boy was a couple’s shower. So I had to keep the frou-frou to a minimum. We decorated with lime green and cobalt blue candles and used plain, cobalt blue paper plates, cups and napkins. Other decorations included the use of receiving blankets for tablecloths on the food and gift tables. We also completely covered the ceiling with lime green and cobalt blue balloons. Food included a variety of hot appetizers, dips, quiches and a gorgeous strawberry shortcake layer cake. No centerpiece this time because we had so much food. The drinks included a yummy lime punch, beer, wine and a sweet tea brewed with a tablespoon of cinnamon. Keepsake party favors for this shower were coordinating tea light candles wrapped in cellophane and tied with matching ribbon. Each had a mini pacifier tied to it as well. People really liked them. The whole evening was a hit, and the guys didn’t feel overwhelmed by the “girl stuff.”
When I say older, I don’t mean necessarily 40-something, or third and fourth-time moms. I just mean that we are all out of college and successful in our fields -- with nice, established homes, lives and marriages. And I found that the showers for these established women are different from the girly, cutesy showers we held back in college or immediately after. You know the kind: cheap punch (sometimes spiked), a grocery store cake, butter mints, canned nuts, a few rolls of crepe paper strewn about the room and a balloon or two.
The showers I have hosted or attended in the last few years have been elegant and adult: appetizers or a buffet of finger foods, champagne or wine along with a nice creamy, frothy punch, gorgeous cakes that were works of art, nicer decorations and keepsake party favors. You can easily throw together an elegant ‘do of your own. For example, at a bridal shower I recently hosted for women only, we ate mini quiches (get them at Costco or Sam’s), shrimp puffs, a cream-cheese shrimp dip with bell-shaped crackers and a beautiful and delicious mocha-white chocolate layer cake that was decorated with white chocolate wedding bells. I did very little decorating. Instead I went to my nearby dollar-type store and purchased a dozen white tapers and several other sizes of unscented white candles. I scattered them in various holders around the room and tied a bit of white tulle in a bow around each one. For my centerpiece, I pooled a length of tulle in the center of my table, arranged some of the taper candles randomly in it and used the cake, on a glass pedestal, as the focal point. It was very easy and took very little artistic ability. Which is good, because I really have none!
A recent baby shower for a mother-to-be of a little boy was a couple’s shower. So I had to keep the frou-frou to a minimum. We decorated with lime green and cobalt blue candles and used plain, cobalt blue paper plates, cups and napkins. Other decorations included the use of receiving blankets for tablecloths on the food and gift tables. We also completely covered the ceiling with lime green and cobalt blue balloons. Food included a variety of hot appetizers, dips, quiches and a gorgeous strawberry shortcake layer cake. No centerpiece this time because we had so much food. The drinks included a yummy lime punch, beer, wine and a sweet tea brewed with a tablespoon of cinnamon. Keepsake party favors for this shower were coordinating tea light candles wrapped in cellophane and tied with matching ribbon. Each had a mini pacifier tied to it as well. People really liked them. The whole evening was a hit, and the guys didn’t feel overwhelmed by the “girl stuff.”
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