Hello E-Trenders! As you know both Angela and I are going to be Aunts this Spring! We are so excited for our sisters and had a great time planning the showers with our moms and for the moms-to-be!
When my sister Karyn and her husband Stan shared the news with our family we were all over the moon! Could the news of a new little baby in our family get any better? Well the answer is yes...
TWIN GIRLS!
My mom (Judy) and I wanted to create a very special day for Karyn while celebrating with family and friends. We envisioned her day to be intimate and meaningful, a day like no other day, an afternoon showered with love for Karyn and the beautiful girls she will soon meet.
The theme was actually inspired by my EventTrender partner in crime Angela!
We were brainstorming one day (something we both love to do) about shower ideas and she suggested a darling rhyme just for girls!
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice,
And everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of.
Mom and I loved the suggestion and the shower theme was born (thank you Ang). The idea of incorporating sugar (maybe a dreamy sweet table) with a hint of spice infused in the tablescape made my brain crazy with creativity which is sometimes a dangerous thing!
First on the list was the invitation!
An inviation sets a party vibe and creates pre-shower buzz! I called my favorite invitation & event memory-makers over at Something Fabulous. I knew Kimberly and Jennifer (sisters and company co-founders) would create the perfect invitation. I love their vision, ideas and passion! They also crafted menus which had the same feel as the invitations. SF used glimmering high quality paper and added layers which created dimension and interest. They even found a satin chocolate ribbon embossed with the wording "something nice" which was an inventive touch.
They say the "devil is in the details" and Something Fabulous nailed it! Thank you Jennifer and Kimberly xoxoxo!
Next on the list was an inspiration piece, something that builds a foundation for the overall design and shower concept. It took us time to find something that would jump out from the crowd! My mom and I spent hours in craft stores and baby boutiques searching for just the right element (times two - twins) and finally found what we were looking for in a local baby clothing store.
Mom-to-be (Karyn) loves polka-dots and cocoa brown! We thought these sweet little dresses were just adorable! Instead of using typical shower decorations we wanted to add items to the tablescape design that could be upcylced for Karyn to use down the road so why not add dresses as props?
We placed each dress on a pretty pink padded baby hanger and used a jewelry stand purchased at Target to elevate each dress on the sweet table. The sign above was easy to create. Simply find a whimsical graphic online. We found this one on Etsy (see below for details) and took it to a local printer who enlarged the graphic and made a sign for us. The sign can also be recycled to hang on a wall in the twins nursery.
Here are a few of my favorite baby shower Etsy finds!
Check it out E-Trenders...
1 Vintage, Sugar & Spice Stamped Spoons from Olive Spoon Studio
2 Children's Graphic Download (for sign) from Fuzzy Wuzzy Boutique
3 Newborn Twin Onesies from Mumsy Goose
The centerpiece groupings on the table represented the overall theme of the baby shower...
Sugar - we filled a vase with layers of colored pink and white sugar and filled it with whirly pops, rock candy and other sugary treats from The Sweet Spot located in Troy, Michigan (by the way the owner is a twin girl) love it!
Spice- we selected a mason jar and added cinnamon sticks topped with a brown layer of fabric, a spice label and finished it with a ribbon.
Everything Nice - we placed a large bouquet of roses which is Karyn's birthday flower. She shared her June birthday with our beloved Grandmother, Pauline Rizzo who played a huge role in all of our lives. We wanted to honor "Grams" memory with a few subtle touches that would warm our hearts throughout the shower. It amazes me how Grandma Rizzo always seems to send us signs telling us she is with us in spirit. We recieved a few from her on this very memorable day for our family.
My mom selected the favor which was a gift idea she has given to my sister and I throughout the years. A close family friend and fellow E-Trender (Karen Murany) shared this fab find with us...
Handpainted note cards by a very talented artist (Marsha Halleck).
The custom note cards were perfectly placed in a crisp white bag with a painted pink flower and guest name on top which also doubled as a place card for seating arrangements. Our guests enjoyed the personalized touch and attention to detail. These note cards are always a home run for special occasions and gift giving. If you are interested in learning more about this unique favor idea click here for details.
The tables and chairs were dressed with luscious linen rented from Luxe Event Linen.
Yet another shout out to the team over at Luxe Event Linen who offer such a unique variety of linen and personalized guest service. To learn more about Luxe Event Linen products and designer collections check out their website here. Thank you ladies - you are all fantastic to work with and are true industry leaders!
Luxe Event Linen Selections
Fuchsia Rosette Chiavari Chair Caps
Fuchsia Rosette Runners (dessert table and dining table)
Chocolate Satin Napkin
Chocolate Matte Satin Linen (dining table)
E-Trenders - stay tuned for part two of Karyn's Sugar and Spice theme shower! We can't wait to share all the Cafe Via menu details, decadent design elements and sweet-scape ideas by Veronica Owens. Veronica is an ahhhhhh-mazing pastry chef and a fellow Royal Parker. In her spare time Veronica owns and operates a small business called A Sweet Intention. It was so much fun brainstorming with Veronica. She is such a talented baker. Here is a sneak peek of the sugar & spice scape!
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Sue - what a beautiful post...I am overwhelmed reliving my amazing shower! Thank you once again...
Love - Karyn
Posted by: karyn | 02/27/2013 at 11:01 AM
Beautiful!!!
Posted by: Kim | 02/28/2013 at 12:11 AM
Pink and chocolate...you couldn't have chosen a yummier palette for this theme!
Posted by: Bellenza Bistro | 03/04/2013 at 04:01 AM
Love part 2!
Posted by: Kim | 04/12/2013 at 12:39 AM