I love how a cake dresses up a party! Because it is so often the focal point, we wanted to compile some of the cutest cakes for a baby shower that we could find. I love these cakes for various reasons: the textures, colors, and overall designs--they just plain make me happy! Enjoy!
I love the "Welcome Baby" banner, textured polka dots, stripes and the frilly carriage. Sarah of Let There Be Cake balances all these elements wonderfully to create a simply adorable baby shower cake. (Plus, aren't the animals cute?!) You can check out her gallery here.
Isn't this cake just darling? It's sort of what I imagine for the quintessential boy baby shower cake. And how can you go wrong with elephants? You can't. Clarissa from Little Sugar Bake Shop has lots of darling creations on her Flickr site. Check out her gallery here. If you are going for a Safari-themed shower, you might want to check out one of our baby shower kits.
Aren't these bow ties just adorable? They make a great theme for a boy's shower but I especially love the texture of the cake and the color palette. While I love the standard blue for boy and pink for a girl, sometimes it is nice to mix in some other equally as wonderful colors. The talented Melody Brandon, co-owner of the Sweet and Saucy Shop makes ridiculously gorgeous cakes. You can follow her Sweet and Saucy Blog for beautiful inspiration and shop at her Sweet and Saucy Supply shop to help make those inspirations a reality!
I am currently obsessed with ruffles and this color is absolutely awesome. Can you believe this cake is homemade? Blogger Jamie created this cake for a friend's shower and promises that it doesn't require too much effort (for the ruffles anyway). Jamie, I am in awe! I love cakes with texture--especially for a little boy's shower--it just feels beautiful. Head over to her blog to check it out! The Danhill Family Blog
Doesn't this cake just seem like a burst of happiness? Bows, ribbon, flowers, pearls and pink! It just makes me giddy! It could also work for a first birthday too. Owner and designer Kelly from A Piece O' Cake has lots of beautiful creations. Check them out here. There is just something about a beautiful cake that elevates the "specialness" of an event. Am I right?
Another adorable cake from Clarissa at Little Sugar Bake Shop! Hot pink, black and white are always in for any girly event. And a baby shower is no exception! I also love how bold and sassy the zebra print with polka dots motif is--it's just so fun... and it reminds me of one of our baby shower kits!
Here is another cake from Melody's Sweet and Saucy Shop. The texture on this cake is ridiculously awesome. I had never seen anything like it before. I just want to reach through the screen and touch it! Plus, who doesn't love pink bows for a little girl's shower?
I absolutely love the delicateness of this cake. The shades of pink and the texture of the roses are simply picture perfect. You can check out how blogger Megan from Wanna Be A Country Cleaver actually made this cake--with a delicious recipe too! Megan, you give me hope that one day I can make something this pretty!
We hope you enjoyed our roundup of awesome baby shower cakes! Just one more thing though--we can't talk about amazing cakes without giving a shout out to our friends/family across the pond (in England) - Gadd's Special Cakes. If you are one of our readers from England, check them out--their work is amazing!
Here at PartyChic, we try to discuss all the topics you might need when planning a party - particularly a party as involved as a bridal shower! Since showers often include a guest list that can be mostly strangers, it's important to try to foster conversation. One way to do this is to incorporate bridal shower games. I know, I can hear the collective groans now. People seem to either love them or hate them, but that is exactly why finding decent shower games and activities can take a fair amount of time to research (since we want to get it just right). Over the next few weeks, we will be unveiling a section on our site for baby shower and bridal shower games, as well as activities and craft ideas for non-game lovers. Hopefully it will save you time and give you some fun options!
Today, we've featured a lovely idea centered around recipe cards. Providing a beautiful recipe card with the invitation and asking guests to share their favorite recipe with the bride is a great keepsake. You can use an index card, or purchase these print-and-cut cards from our shop. Not only is this a sentimental and practical momento for the bride, but if you want to spark conversation, you can ask guests at the shower to share what recipe they brought and why it is special to them. Is the recipe super easy? Was it passed down from their grandmother? Is it always an absolute crowd pleaser? Perhaps it was one they found online because they don't cook! It's a great way to gain a little more insight into the people that are special to the bride.
You can buy these cards here. Thanks for stopping by!
One of the most challenging things about party planning is getting the food just right...and maintaining your sanity. Here in the south (Louisville, KY) the food is second only to the guest-of-honor. As hostesses, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves for everything to be perfect. It's time to ease up, ladies! If you are pressed for time, consider these strategies when planning your next baby or bridal shower:
1. Deli and Grocery stores
One of our favorite party tips is to rely on your grocery store deli and bakery for your party needs. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised to find out they do much more than sliced ham and cheese. You'll find an amazing array of party trays, dips, desserts, and seasonal goodies. A fantastic bonus is that these professionals know all about allergies, wine pairings, serving sizes, and seasonal menus. Delis often use fresh, local ingredients as well. This will save you tons of time in grocery shopping, food prep and cleanup.
2. Restaurants
Many restaurants, from fast food to sit-down offer some form of catering or large party to-go options. If the guest of honor loves BBQ from the local place down the street, why not pick up a pan of pulled pork and offer mini sammies at the party? This person will be touched that not only are you hosting a lovely party for them, but that you went above and beyond to include something that they love on the menu.
3. Cohosts
Divide and conquer! Many times with a bridal or baby shower, there are several people close to the bride-to-be or mom-to-be that would love to be involved. Let them! By delegating that someone handle the cake, or by requesting they bring a few dishes, it will lighten your load and allow others to feel they have contributed. These people can arrive early the day of and offer an extra set of hands if needed. Just be sure to involve them early in the process. It will also be nice for the guest of honor to see how much everyone wanted to help.
And these are just a few tips to help the food preperation go faster. It's your choice whether to make it all yourself, or get some of the items from a store, restaurant or rely on cohosting. Catering is also an option too, but requires a little more research and can sometimes have a larger price tag. (Not always though!)
And remember all of our bridal shower and baby shower kits come with a free menu plan with recipes. Our kits help you save time when decorating so you can focus on your favorite parts for the party planning process. We've also compiled some yummy looking recipes from around the web on our recipes page
For the other areas of hosting a shower, if you need ideas about what types of prizes to give away at a shower, check out our post on: shower prizes.
For shower games, check back regularly! We've recently created this printable baby shower game in hopes of making your party planning process easier!
For more party planning tips and to be the first to know about our promos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter! (For party inspiration, you can follow us onPinteresttoo!)
We are so excited to have a guest blogger today! Our friend Kristen Wandell Frederick writes about wedding planning tips, and we hope to feature her in a series of posts on how to plan and organize for your wedding. Today she is sharing ideas on how to make a memorable welcome bag for your out-of-town wedding guests. (As a recipient of one of these bags, I can attest to just how thoughtful and awesome these touches were.)
When planning for a wedding, there are many things that people will tell you are a necessity.
(“How can we have a wedding without a mashed potato martini bar? What WILL people
think?”)
In a word, these people are wrong. Your wedding should be a reflection of you and your future
spouse, meaning your preferences and tastes are the ones that ultimately matter. If you want to
have a mashed potato bar, have a mashed potato bar because you think it’s something you’d like
to provide to your guests, not because someone told you it’s a “must-have.”
In that same vein, providing welcome bags for the guests who check into your chosen hotel are
not a necessity. On the range of priorities, this one falls under the “nice-to-haves” list. A lot of
things are going to be competing for your attention in the weeks leading up to your wedding. It’s
a good idea to think ahead of time about what you want to focus on during those crunch-time
weeks.
For me and my now-husband, it was important to us that our guests feel welcomed and
appreciated. Most were traveling the kind of distances that necessitated a plane ticket and
we wanted to thank them immediately upon arrival at the hotel for making the trip to help us
celebrate our wedding in Washington, DC.
That’s where the welcome bags came into play. The following are my tips for creating a fun and
functional welcome bag for your guests…but remember—there’s not a wrong way to do this
(despite what others may say)!
Tip #1: Keep it Simple…
Remember, you will be assembling these bags a couple of weeks before your wedding. Don’t put
undue pressure on yourself! By keeping the “ingredients” simple, you can accomplish your goal
of welcoming everyone AND not tearing your hair out in frustration.
Start by creating a list of items you’d like to include (you don’t have to specify brand names).
For example:
2 salty snacks
2 sweet treats
1 gum or mint pack
2 bottles of water
1 map of area
Now when you hit up the store, you know exactly where to focus your energies.
A few other things to keep in mind: try to include items that can be taken back on a plane and
make sure nothing will spoil if it has to sit there for longer than a week. I once went to a wedding
where the welcome bags included cans of the popular local soup. While this was very exciting,
I realized I couldn’t take it back on the plane in my carry-on—sadly I had to leave that amazing
soup with one of my local friends to prevent it from getting confiscated by the TSA. (If most of
your guests are driving, this will not be a problem, so know your “audience”!)
I have another friend who recently got married and decided to bake hundreds of cookies for the
welcome bags with her mom the day before the wedding. I was literally sweating just thinking
about that kind of pressure! But for my friend, it was the perfect way to relax before her big
day. I guess I could have made cookies and stuck them in the freezer ahead of time, but for me,
homemade cookies weren’t a priority.
Make it easy on yourself—know your capabilities and time constraints before you decide what
goes in the welcome bags.
Tip #2: …But Personalize!
Personalizing your bags can be as simple as adding a note thanking your guests for making the
trip to your wedding. It doesn’t have to be long, just heartfelt.
For my wedding, many of our guests were traveling to Washington, DC for the first time—or
the first time as an adult. Since the hotel was only two blocks away from the U.S. Capitol, it was
important that we add information about how to take a tour of the Capitol.
Additionally, with so many guests from out of town, I wanted to cut down on the number of
calls and texts we would receive from guests wanting to know where they could find a good place
to eat. So I created a Google Map that showed our 20 favorite places to get a bite to eat within
walking distance of the hotel, and then broke it down into three lists: Fast-Casual Fare, Sit-
Down Dining and Local Watering Holes. With each option, I included the restaurant’s address,
hours of operation, and a one-sentence description. At the end, my future husband and I added
our favorite dishes to give our guests an idea of what kind of food the place served. This went
over like gangbusters! I later heard how some of our guests even went into the restaurants and
ordered the Kristen or Bobby special (to the utter confusion of the wait-staff!). This was a way
for us to connect with our guests without being physically there with them.
Other ways you can personalize include decorating the bag itself. We had a wedding logo (yes,
that’s a “thing”) that I had made into stamps and I personally stamped the front and back of all
85 welcome bags. The downside to my method: the stamps were expensive ($15-20 each), left
me with ink-stained hands and took time to dry.
Can I suggest something much simpler and less expensive? Download these free and gorgeous
Party Chic Printables, cut them out and use double-sided tape to stick them to the front of the
Adding your colors can be simply achieved by using a ribbon—in one of your wedding colors—
to tie the welcome bag handles together. And if you punch a hole in the top of your thank you
note, you can thread the note through the ribbon and thereby attach it to your bag! (Savings Tip:
A great resource is to download the Michaels store app to your smartphone, which allows you to
open and use coupons directly from your phone. I used many of these coupons when buying the
ribbon and welcome bags!)
If you can print the thank you notes on colored paper or the text in color, certainly do so in your
specific wedding colors (or add colored artwork or your logo at the top).
Again, it doesn’t have to be elaborate, but a pop of color that connects to your wedding is always
a nice touch.
Tip #4: Buy in Bulk
First, figure out approximately how many bags you will need (one per hotel room is the standard
number, plus a few extra in case there are any last-minute reservations). Second, crunch the
numbers and determine the ballpark figure of how many of each item you’ll need from your list
of welcome bag “ingredients.”
With 130-ish guests staying at the hotel, my future husband and I knew we had to budget and
plan for the welcome bags. Thankfully my maid of honor had a Costco membership and is one
of the most organized people I know! She was also really good at forcing me to make quick
decisions. You have limited time, so don’t blow it agonizing over including Milky Way or
Snickers bars.
Find the best value for your money, choose a brand you think most people will enjoy, and move
on. No one is going to judge you on your selection—and if they do, it doesn’t matter because
you’ll be too busy walking down the aisle on your way to marrying the love of your life to care!
And make sure to bring a friend (or two) to help you carry everything and load the car. Palettes
of bottled water are really heavy!
Tip #5: Think Through the Logistics
Questions to ponder before beginning:
--When and where will I purchase the welcome bag “ingredients”?
--Where will I assemble the bags?
--How will I transport them to the hotel?
--Does the hotel charge a fee to hand the bags out to guests?
--Will the hotel allow them to be handed out to guests when they check in, or do they require
them to be delivered by a bellman?
Asking and answering these logistical questions before starting the welcome bag process will
help you figure out the best way to organize and execute this endeavor.
As I found out, creating amazing welcome bags can require a lot more planning and sweat equity
than you might think. The more you know up front, the better (and less stressed!) you’ll be.
Kristen is a recent bride living in Washington, DC with her new husband Bobby.
For more free printables and to be the first to know about PartyChic promotions, be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter orPinterest!And, to make life easier for the person throwing you a
bridal shower, check out our bridal shower kits.
Here at the PartyChic blog, we like to talk a little about every aspect of parties, showers and entertaining and hopefully be your "party muse." Last week we wrote about a few good ideas for shower prizes and this week we are excited to announce that we are now rolling out printable baby shower games! We hope this is just one more way to make the party planning process easier. We'll also be creating printable bridal shower games in the near future, so stay tuned!
We'll be sure to post more as we create them and let you know on our Facebookand Twitter accounts. From time to time, we'll be releasing free printables too, from gift tags to invites to games, so be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to stay in the loop! (For party inspiration, you can follow us onPinteresttoo!)
You really don't have to go over-the-top on baby or bridal shower prizes. If you are playing games, remember, they are meant as an icebreaker and to get people comfortable around one another. The prize is really an added bonus. Here are some ideas for crowd-pleasing gifts. Try to gauge what your guests will like in addition to what's in your budget and go from there!
1. Gift cards
Who doesn't love a free meal or special item? A gift card to Target, Panera, or (if guests are all local) even a mani/pedi will be the hit of the party. If you are on a budget, a few $5 gift cards to Starbucks will help spread out the winning.
2. Scarves
I attended a shower once where a prize was a beautiful silk scarf and all the ladies "oohed" and "ahhed" over it. With a scarf being so versatile, is it any wonder? They can be worn traditionally around the neck, used as a stylish head cover, tied to a purse for some flair, or even used as a belt.
3. Candles
Finding a candle in a welcoming scent adds warmth to any home. But some people just don't feel comfortable burning candles, so finding one with a welcoming scent and in a beautiful container is a home run. Even if the person doesn't care for candles, adding a lovely accent to their home will surely be a win.
4. Lotion
Although a more personal option since some have particular scents, lotion is always handy. You could do a variety pack of travel sizes so if one of the scents is not the person's taste, they can have multiple options, or use it up quickly.
5. Artisan products
Unique, hand crafted items like coasters, picture frames, a small pottery vase, or jewelry from a local artist or charity are sure to engage conversation. And, the recipient will be happy to have something that is unique and supports a local business or a good cause. If you don't have access to those types of products, or are looking for something specific, try Etsy.com
We know there is a lot to think about when planning a shower, visit our site for bridal shower, baby shower and party kits to help you get started!
For party tips, recipes, inspiration and to be the first to find out about great freebies and promos on our products, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
It seems like two of the most popular times to get engaged are during the holidays, or even just recently on Valentine's Day (in fact, the stretch of time between the two is when both Shannon and I got engaged to our spouses--ah memories). So, to get you inspired for those fun bridal showers and bachelorette parties you may be attending soon, we've come up with a little party inspiration and a pomegranate martini!
Cupcake toppers are so fun for parties--they add a special touch (and are included in all of our party kits).
We also have printable bachelorette and bridal shower invitations, sold individually or with our kits.
All of our kits come with food tent cards (as seen above) or for smaller gatherings, they can be used as place cards too.
This drink was inspired by a weekend trip to Lexington to visit my longtime friends. We had an old-fashioned girls' night where we watched girly movies (Pitch Perfect), and my friend Janet made us a delicious pomegranate martini. This is my attempt at recreating it. It was a super fun night, and I can't wait for another. In the meantime, enjoy responsibly!
Pomegranate Martini
2 1/2 oz Pomegranate juice, chilled (we used Pom)
1 oz vodka
1/2 oz orange curaco
1/2 oz grenadine
4 ice cubes
Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake for a few seconds. Pour into a martini glass, garnish with lemon, orange or lime, if desired. Serve.
I love pretty much any cheese. And cheese in some form or fashion is a staple at most parties. However, I've always been pretty intimidated by fancy cheese. I don't really know why... in theory, you don't really have to make anything with fancy cheese, it is usually delicious as is. I recently put together a little appetizer of just a basic brie, crackers and strawberries and it was so good! I kept trying to add more ingredients like honey or pecans, which were very tasty, but at the end of the day, I settled on the simplest selection.
And the best part? It is so incredibly easy. Open a box of crackers, wash off some strawberries and you're halfway there. (Feel free to use other berries as well, if desired.) Next, buy a round of brie. Get the good stuff. I'd go to a quality grocery store and ask their advice. (Here are some guidelines as to what to look for in a brie). Bake a whole wheel for about 8 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees. You'll want it to be soft and slightly gooey, but not bubbly like cheese lava. In my opinion, this cheese is so much better when heated.
Okay, now I remember why fancy cheese intimidates me. I didn't know whether to bake the whole brie with the rind and then eat the rind as well, or cut it off and bake. So, after much internet research the overarching theme is yes, you should leave it on and eat the rind of brie. Some people don't like it, but many people do, and overall it is part of the whole brie experience. I personally enjoyed it. Party goers can cut a wedge from the wheel and once it is on their plate, if they prefer not to eat the rind, that is fine.
This appetizer would be perfect for a cocktail party, bridal shower or bachelorette party. And, it's truly not as expensive as you might think, especially when compared to an appetizer with a laundry list of ingredients. Sometimes the simplest things are the best!
Every year in February I start itching to take a vacation. I used to think that it was due to cold temperatures, but lately I've realized it is due to the lack of sunshine. Getting out and taking a walk in the brisk air definitely helps, but when the sky is gray here in Kentucky, it starts to wear on you. But today it is sunny, so for that reason alone, we will celebrate... and dream of warmer (and sunnier) places. After all, spring is right around the corner!
So when you can't take a vacation right away, you can make a mock vacation. Or at least have a frilly drink and turn on some good tunes.
This is a great concoction that is easy and doesn't require a blender. It's like a piña colada on the rocks. This would be perfect in a pitcher at a luau or pool party, or even at a bridal shower or bachelorette party. And if you haven't noticed a theme on this blog, it is only two ingredients, so it is really easy to put together. No noise from the blender and quick refills for your guests (and yourself!).
Piña Colada Party Punch
Ingredients:
1 46 oz bottle of V8 Splash Smoothie Tropical Colada
1 750ML bottle of coconut rum
Directions:
Combine 5 cups V8 Splash Smoothie Tropical Colada and 2 1/4 cups coconut rum (if you don't want to be able to taste the rum, use 1 2/3 cups instead) into a pitcher and stir. Served chilled or over ice. (Serves about 10)
Piña Colada Punch (Individual)
4 1/2 oz. V8 Splash Smoothie Tropical Colada juice
2 oz. coconut rum (if you don't want to taste the rum use 1 1/2 oz.)
Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice and pour into a short glass, or simply mix together in a glass and serve chilled. (Serves 1)
Enjoy responsibly!
Disclaimer: Just FYI, we were not paid for this post. But we'll be sure to let our readers know if we ever endorse something for money!
Ever found that perfect recipe, put half the ingredients in the bowl, and then realized you didn’t have that one ridiculous ingredient?! Yeah, we've all been there so we thought we'd offer a helping hand. The following ingredients are the ones that are often used in recipes, but the very same that we rarely keep on hand (or completely forgot to pick up at the grocery--even though it was on the list!) I hope these substitutes save you a little bit of time and a little bit of your sanity! If you like, you can download the printer-friendly version below and hang it inside your pantry or on your fridge. Happy Tuesday!
