Today’s Real Party feature comes from Jaclyne of Heavenly Blooms and features loads of thoughtful & charming elements like handmade invitations, sparkling pink drinks, mini Georgia Peach Pies, a traditional Southern “Charm Cake” and an elaborate “Beauty Bar” for guests to enjoy. Read on for all the details, as told by Jaclyne…

“When my best friend was pregnant with her first little girl, Kate, I knew I HAD to throw a baby shower… throwing parties and details are just part of my nature! However, this was her second baby, and having thrown quite a large shower for her first baby I wanted something a little more intimate and focused on the Mommy.

I didn’t want to do a “traditional” baby inspired shower, so I came up with a Southern theme instead. My inspiration was customized to a few of the guest of honor’s favorite things, such as the movie Steel Magnolias, southern food, the color pink and being pampered. The baby shower was held on a hot, humid August day so even the temperature coordinated with our “Pretty in Pink with Southern Charm” theme!

Invitations

I searched high and low for different invitation ideas to fit our theme. At the time, all of the baby shower invitations I found were too “baby” and the other designs weren’t original enough, so I created my own. I discovered this great store, Paper Source, where I purchased chartreuse petal envelopes and the light pink toile paper that I glued to the entire outside of the petal envelope. (I used an exacto knife to cut the petal envelope from the paper.)

For the inside of the invitation, I layered a piece of hot pink card stock under a vellum sheet printed with all of the party details, then added a piece of hot pink gingham ribbon and fabric flowers to the side of the vellum. Two small hole punches in the “side petals”, weaved with a piece of ribbon, kept the petal envelope closed. The final touch was small silver baby bottle charm.

Decor & Tabletop

Similar to Shelby in Steel Magnolias, our colors were blush and bashful. The guest tables were dressed with light pink linens and custom made apple green overlays with white polka dots. Each table featured a floral arrangements of pink roses, green apples, baby roses and hydrangea.

We had two designs, the first was a white wired baby carriage and the other was a pave styled arrangement in a vintage silver urn. Each place setting was set with a custom designed menu, which also served as a fan, pink frosted “K” sugar cookies and mason jars.

The garden gazebo was decorated with clusters of flowers hanging in cones and crystal chandeliers accented with pink feather boas and flowers. We added pink feather boas to the arch entrance of the courtyard, a fun way to greet guests!

Drinks

Before brunch was served, guests mingled in the outside courtyard and enjoyed refreshing beverages such as traditional Southern sweet tea, mint julep punch, and a custom mocktail – “Miss Kate’s Sweet Pretty in Pinktini” – as well as sparkling pink lemonade. They also snacked on an assortment of mini pies such as Sweet Potato, Georgia Peach, and Pecan.

The Menu

Brunch was filled with delicious Southern favorites: Farm Fresh Eggs with all the Fixins, Banana Pecan Pancakes served with maple syrup and whipped butter, Country Fried Chicken Pieces, Mama’s Macaroni & Cheese, The Lady’s Mini Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Plantation Barbecue Chicken Salad, Country Club Slaw and cornbread.

The presentation of the food was very important to me. We served Southern comfort food with a twist. All of the food were served in baby portions. For instance, instead of serving the macaroni & cheese from one large dish, we had individual ramekins of macaroni & cheese. The fried chicken pieces were served in mini silver mint juleps. We also had mini pulled pork sandwiches and an onsite chef who prepared the farm fresh eggs with all the fixins’ and made the mini banana pecan pancakes.

Another special surprise for the guest of honor was the cake. (pictured at top) She loved the movie Because I Said So, and adored the cakes featured throughout the movie. Her favorite cake was Diane Keaton’s character’s birthday cake…thus the inspiration for the baby shower cake! I was able to find the same bakery who created all of the cakes for the movie and had them create the baby shower cake. The bottom tier was a delicious red velvet and the top tier was a marble cake with caramel mousse filling. Yummy!

Activities

After brunch, guests were invited inside of the flower shop which was transformed into Miss Kate’s Beauty Spot. Before brunch, guests were asked to sign up for different services such as pedicures, manicures and paraffin hand treatments. We had three “beauticians” on hand to pamper guests for the afternoon.The decor inside the beauty spot included pink feather boas, floral arrangements, hanging straw hats accented with ribbons and flowers and an oversize “K” created with fresh pink carnations.

In between spa services, guests were invited to shop at Miss Kate’s Beauty Bar. The sign read… “We invite y’all to indulge yourself in true southern hospitality and take home some goodies from our Beauty Spot… so that you can maintain your Southern Charm“…

The Beauty Bar’s “goodies” included: mini bottles of pink country apple body lotion, pink nail polish bottles, mini nail files, candy necklaces and bracelets, candles in mini mason jars, raspberry lip balm, taffy, chocolate baby shoes and candy galore!!!

Another Southern tradition incorporated into the day was the Charm Cake. Typically charm cakes are a custom at Bridesmaid’s luncheons, however we chose charms that could later be placed on a bracelet for the baby. A beautiful and touching keepsake for the Mama and baby. Each guest was able to pull a ribbon, the charms were attached to the end and placed in the center of the cake. Once the charms were pulled, they were attached to the card with the meaning and guests were able to sign their name. This was such a big hit at the shower, the charms were all pulled before the photographer had a chance to take a picture!!!

Guests were also invited to sign the guestbook. In lieu of a traditional guestbook, guests were asked to write notes of love and good wishes to the new little Southern Belle and her Mama on fabric squares. The fabric squares were later sewn together to form a keepsake blanket.

Favors

As a parting favor, guests were each given mini mason canning jars filled with pink M&Ms and pink jellybeans. The labels on the jars read “In honor of your presence and in celebration of baby Kate’s upcoming arrival, we have made a donation to the March of Dimes, in support of the foundation’s mission… saving babies together”. The March of Dimes was chosen because it has special meaning and is very dear to the Mommy to be’s heart.”

Thanks for the inspiration, Jaclyne! You definitely demonstrated some true “Southern hospitality” to mom-to-be and all of the party guests!