Hey party peeps!
Most of you know that I am the Party Features Editor over on PlushLittleBaby.com and I am excited to share with you some of my Girlfriend TIPS from my recent blog post on Plush featuring my “Bunny Baby” Shower Sweets Bar! If you missed it, you can see the full post here.
This one was so fun to design as it was my chance to get really girly which I just LOVED! I also was able to showcase one of my signature design collections: “Modern Baby Girl!” as well as some of my favorite nursery decor items from Pottery Barn Kids!
Planning a Sweets Bar is so much fun! For one thing, it gives me a chance to work with some of THE MOST TALENTED dessert designers out there! Shout out to The Marshmallow Studio, The Gourmet POP, Lynlee’s Petite Cakes and KupcakeSpot! They make me look like a ROCK STAR every time and I just adore them all. It also helps that their desserts actually taste as good as they look! I am a stickler for that!
GIRLFRIEND TIP #1: TASTE EVERYTHING!
Don’t forget that the STAR OF THE SHOW on a Sweets Bar are the SWEETS! Beautiful desserts that taste gross just isn’t worth it! Fondant is GORGEOUS but tastes…let’s just say….not too good 🙂 But it is undeniably a gorgeous addition to desserts–works of art really–especially if you have the chance to work with really talented fondant creators such as Lynlee from Lynlee’s Petite Cakes. Her toppers just amaze me every time so I use them, as works of art, to embellish dessert items. I rarely have fondant cakes for example. They look gorgeous but don’t taste good in my opinion.
Make sure you TASTE EVERYTHING! The last thing you want is for the client to taste something on the bar that tastes bad! You must be able to vouch for all the items on the bar! Ask vendors for a sample or tasting before committing to purchasing dozens of something.
GIRLFRIEND TIP#2: USE NURSERY DECOR IN YOUR BABY SHOWER SWEETS BAR DESIGN
I absolutely love using items found in nursery decor when designing for baby showers. It just gives the event a cozy, soft feel and brings in baby elements in an unexpected way. On this Sweets Bar, I used a girly white and polka dot curtain panel from Pottery Barn Kids as the table’s backdrop. I use this curtains ALL THE TIME! They already have rod pockets on them and make it super easy to slide onto a backdrop holder and not to mention they come in so many different patterns and textures!
One of my other favorite nursery decor items to use in baby shower design is the crib bumper. I have been using crib bumpers as table wraps for a while now and I always get the same reaction: “IS THAT A CRIB BUMPER!” YES! That’s what you want…Your guests will think you are so clever and you have a cute addition to your display table. I call mine, the “Baby Bumper Table”. I would caution against using crib bumpers to wrap seated tables. They hang down too low for people to comfortably put their legs under the table and they are secured with double-sided tape or pins and don’t want an embarrassing moment to happen if they fall off.
GIRLFRIEND TIP #3: USE SHEETS AS TABLE LINEN
There are so many colors and patterns available for sheets that just aren’t available in a traditional tablecloth without it costing a fortune. Flat sheets will fit a 6′ standard table with a enough of a drop (the amount of fabric that overhangs each side of the table) to be used on a seated table. If you want to use it on a display table (which is a table that will be pushed against the wall and only seen from the front and sides) you just have to pull it down long on the front side. The back will be super short…but who cares…only the wall will see it 🙂
So, I usually scour my favorite stores in search of awesome sheet sets to use when they’re on sale and stock up. I can even cut up the extra items that come in the sheet sets like the pillowcase and use them as napkins. I’ve even used the fitted sheets to cover a small round table which gives it a poufy look at the bottom which I LOVE!
GIRLFRIEND TIP #4: USE STUFFED ANIMALS TO ADD SOFTNESS AND WHIMSEY!
This is my FAVORITE part of baby shower design! In fact, it’s become a part of my signature style when designing baby showers. Soft, furry adorable stuffed animals just remind me of soft, cozy baby blankets! Here I came across this HUGE girly bunny rabbit in Toys R Us and HAD TO HAVE IT! It was the inspiration for the whole sweets bar design! I also used a cute and cuddly pink bunny from Pottery Barn Kids that was just too cute with it’s long ears!
Have a baby shower coming up or have you been asked to host one and have no idea what to do? Try these ideas…they are super easy! I’ve created this Pinterest board with all the items used here to make it SUPER EASY! Click over and purchase what you need!
AND…for more Girlfriend Tips, CLICK HERE to follow me on Facebook!
What nursery decor have you used in your baby shower design? Comment below.
Looking for the bunny in the photo with the marshmallows and lollipop. Do you know where I can find it? It is the bunny we bought for my daughter’s baby shower. She is 2 years old now and lost it yesterday. Desparetely looking for an identical replacement! Thank you
Hi Amy! I still have that bunny wrapped in plastic. Email me 🙂