High End Baby Shower Without the High End Price Tag

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Hosting a fabulous baby shower does not have to cost you an arm, leg, and firstborn child. Its as simple as keeping it small with high end elements. 

~ Before you do anything else... Decide how much you want to spend  on the total event.

Your party budget is your road map to avoid overspending. 

~ Give yourself at least 3 months to plan so you aren't rushed into impulse buys.

~ Keep the guest list small. This will allow you to have enough spending money for finer food, invitations, decorations,  and favors. 

~ Choose a location that matches your budget, your style, and your estimated guest count. 

You don't want a large venue to look empty with a small group... and you don't want to cram a lot of people into a tiny space either.

~ Don't serve a full meal. You can serve hot + cold hors d'oeuvres, a signature drink with a cute name, and a beautiful cake (or cupcakes). 

The high-end look comes from your display. Finger sandwiches on a tiered stand will look more upscale than serving them on a dinner plate. 

(Another classic baby shower option - Afternoon Tea)

~ Plastic table covers, paper plates, and paper cups are an absolute no no. They actually take away from the expensive look you are trying to create.

~ Send printed invitations - not handwritten. 

Visit our partner for Unique Baby Shower Invitations

~ Decorate with floral arrangements. A few arrangements throughout the party space will add a touch of elegance.

~ Hire a live musician. You can pay a college music major a small fee to play an instrument during the party.

And in this corner...

Recently, a past client came to me for help because she was unable to get in touch with one of the professionals who worked on her wedding and still had outstanding deliverables. She said her calls were not being returned and she was getting no reply to her emails. She finally sent a message to the professional's personal Facebook inbox. Guess what... he responded!

Happy ending? Not so much.

When the professional responded on Facebook, he said he would deliver the final product within a vague, but short time frame. When that time came and went, the newlywed client became more frustrated. She felt like she had been bamboozled and that her business wasn't important to him.

This is where I come in. Our new bride asked me to get in touch with this professional on her behalf because she didn't think she was getting anywhere with him on her own. Before contacting him, I reviewed their contract to determine the agreed upon timeline for delivering the final product. According to the contract, the product was to be delivered within 6 1/2 months or the professional would contact the client to discuss any delays. OK... not a huge problem. We were just a few days over 7 months since the wedding, so I asked the professional to contact the client to give her update.

I got a response within a couple of hours. Unfortunately, it wasn't what I expected. I was basically told to mind my business. Once I was removed from the line of communication, everything seemed to go downhill. Tempers boiled and the emails between the client and the professional became more and more heated. Ultimately, the client gave the professional 2 weeks to deliver. Equally aggravated, the professional blasted the client for being unappreciative of his craft and having unreasonable expectations. Ultimately, he told her he would send her video within a few days just so he would never have to speak to her again.

Having an impartial mediator such as a wedding planner, to deal with sticky situations like these, is like an insurance policy for your sanity. Just as you don't want to have to address craziness on your wedding day, you shouldn't have to stress about your wedding months after it is over. Wedding professionals should also appreciate this service because they don't have to worry about emotions getting in the way. Wedding professionals who work well with wedding planners also run a lower risk of getting a negative review from brides. Lastly, wedding professionals who work well with wedding planners also have a higher chance of being recommended in the future.

Please note that this scenario would have gone in a different direction if my client had hired this wedding professional based on my recommendation.

DC Cupcakes Season Finale TONIGHT

Photo Courtesy of TLC



I realize the notice is a little short. Hopefully, you can set your DVR from your iPhone.

The season finale of DC Cupcakes will be airing tonight, Friday, April 8th at 10/9c on TLC and the final bridal-packed episodes are sure to put anyone in the wedding spirit!

Watch as Andres manages a special bachelorette cupcake order. Then Mommy and Sophie create a giant engagement ring made out of cupcakes, all while planning a surprise engagement party for Katherine! These episodes will have everyone feeling wedding fever!


ABOUT GEORGETOWN CUPCAKE

Sophie and Katherine risked their life savings and traded high-powered careers in fashion and finance to pursue their passion for baking and their lifelong dream of opening a bakery. Armed with their grandmother's recipes and strong family support, the sisters opened Georgetown Cupcake on Valentine's Day 2008. To their surprise, the shop became an overnight sensation and now sells more than 5,000 cupcakes a day. After a great first season of their hit reality show, DC Cupcakes, the girls are back for another round! Be sure to watch the next two episodes, Tattoo Twosome and Katherine’s Surprise TONIGHT on TLC at 10/9cPM.

Fabulous Baby Showers

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If you are planning a baby shower and seem to be having trouble getting started or motivated, read these past posts:

Baby Shower Etiquette
How to Have a Platinum Baby Shower

One essential tip: If you decide to host a baby shower in your home, please be sure you have enough space for the number of guests you are inviting. You want to be sure everyone can move around without tripping over one another. You also want the mother-to-be to be able to spend some time with each person so no one feels their presence is unappreciated.