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The baby showers are over and September is here! I wanted to share a re-cap about how they went and what I loved about each one.
Because I have family in very different parts of Michigan, I decided to have two baby showers. One in Hudsonville, MI (where much of my family lives) and one in Port Huron (where my husband’s family, our friends, and myself live).
I want to give a special shout out to my mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-laws (Ashley and Meagan) who really went above and beyond in planning these showers. I didn’t know precisely what to expect with each one. However, both were incredibly special and will forever be treasured memories in my heart.
The Hudsonville Shower:
The Venue:My first baby shower took place in Hudsonville. Although my mother and sister in law did most of the planning, I chose the theme (baby in bloom) and location (317 coffee). The idea was vintage table-cloths, lots of flowers, and enough caffeine to keep everyone awake while I opened gifts. Below you will find a few of the reasons I chose this coffee shop to host my baby shower.
1. The atmosphere: 317 coffee is quaint and cozy with tons of seating and little corners to converse. They have comfortable couches and chairs, two church pews, and multiple tables to accommodate groups without feeling over-crowded. Their décor features modern lighting with tastefully placed plants, lamps, and signs.
2. They are Christian owned: The coffee shop name was inspired by Ephesians 3:17 (being rooted and grounded in love) and is evidenced by their church-inspired décor and their support for various ministries and missionaries. You can learn more about their story here.
3. Their coffee is REALLY good: I’ll admit it. I booked this venue without ever trying their coffee. The reviews were good and people I knew gave positive referrals. However, I (a self-proclaimed coffee “snob”) did not anticipate how much I would love their coffee. I had a latte at my shower, and it was perfectly creamy with great-tasting (and strong) espresso added in.
4. Transparent pricing and responsive staff: The 317 website offers great information regarding event offerings, booking, drink packages, and associated costs. For example, I was able to choose between a 2 or 3 hour event block with clear setup and cleanup times. The pricing was clearly listed and staff was very responsive to emails. They offered me various drink packages to choose from, which were also listed on their website. I opted to serve my guests lavender lemonade, hot coffee, and an keep an “open bar” so guests could choose one drink off the menu for free. This meant a barista was present at the shower to take and make orders. It was fantastic!
Decorations:
For the shower decorations, my mother went to a farmers market and bought SO MANY flowers. Each table had at least one vase with sunflowers, coneflowers, black-eyed susan…etc.. She also thrifted floral table cloths and bought a sign (pictured below) to go with the theme. For cutlery, I bought a 96-piece china set at Habitat for Humanity for $25. We used the teacups to make charcuterie snacks and used regular paper plates for the other food and deserts. All these decorations created a cheerful vibe on a budget.
Food and Drink:
As I mentioned earlier, the drinks were provided by the venue itself utilizing one of their offered packages. Guests could order their own drink or have limitless hot coffee, lavender lemonade, and water. The food was provided by my mother and sister-in-law. As pictured, we created charcuterie cups using thrifted china. There was also cake, veggie pizza, fresh fruit, and veggies with dip.
The Port Huron Shower:
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The Venue:
The venue for the Port Huron shower was my mother-in-law’s backyard. She has an incredible garden, a huge backyard, and the best taste for decoration. It was the perfect spot for the date! The sun was shining with a light breeze. The temperature was in the high 70s’, and there was a large tent for shade. I always joke that I want to be my mother-in-law when I grow up and decorate my house and yard just like her. Her house has flowers upon flowers, two shady trees, a swing set for kiddos to play on, and a large pole bar with a hanging bench. There was also a magnolia covered patio to offer additional seating and shade.
Decorations:
My mother in law and sister in law went ALL OUT with decorations. I was stunned with how cute it looked! The theme was ‘Baby in Bloom’ once more. There were wildflowers at each table, vintage cutlery lent to us by a dear neighbor, and beautiful table settings.
My mother and sister in law used white table cloths with green runners. Each table setting of vintage china also included a packet of wildflower seeds for the guests to take home. There were banners and paper mache’ flowers hanging all around the tent, making for a very bright and cheery look.
My favorite decoration/activity was the flower bar! My mother in law hired a local flower farmer/florist to set up a “make your own bouquet station”. I loved this touch and it felt sweet to send friends/family home with beautiful flowers and seeds. The flower farmer/florist she used is called Alonna’s Blooms. You can also find her on instagram here. She was professional, timely, and really delivered! She even takes the flower bar down for you once the event is over.
Food and Drink:
The food at my Port Huron shower was also provided by my mother-in-law and sister-in-law (for real, I have the best in-laws in the world). There were croissants and chicken salad, kale & veggie salad, fresh fruit, charcuterie cups, mixed nuts, and home-made cheesecake! I must mention the cheesecake was made by a woman most of us refer to as “auntie Beth” and she is my the next door neighbor to my mother and father in law. She is known to be a talented and very generous baker (I speak from experience tasting her creations).
Final Words:
I just want to give a huge thanks firstly to my family who threw me these showers. Their generosity and selflessness in planning and organizing these showers blew me away. This little baby will be so blessed to have all of you as grandmothers and aunties. Secondly, huge thank you to my friend Emily who drove all the way from Port Huron to Hudsonville to help set up and take down décor. You kept me sane on a very chaotic day; I am so grateful for your taste and organization! I am blown away by your generosity, selflessness, and thoughtfulness all the time. You inspire me to be a more generous and thoughtful friend in return! Also, huge thanks to my friend Opal who FLEW FROM UTAH to celebrate this little baby! It was amazing to spend time with you and I cannot wait to meet YOUR little one on the way too! Having you visit was one of the highlights of my year! I missed you so much. Thank you to Auntie Beth who lent us her china, baked us cheesecake, and bought us a baby monitor! Thank you to my husband, Jim, who helped load and unload gifts. Thank you 317 Coffee and Alonna’s Blooms for providing great spaces and services for these showers. I honestly feel like “thank you” isn’t enough for these people! And of course, I have to say that I am thankful to God most of all for opening my womb and allowing me to carry this little baby. Jim and I eagerly pray and wait for their arrival, which is hopefully next month!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
