This baby shower wasn’t for just anyone…this baby shower was for THEE Jennifer Skog…wedding Photographer extraordinaire AND my best friend. She will most likely kill me for saying it like that but it’s fine…I’m her number one fan =) Anyways, there are two reasons this shower needed to be the most amazing shower. And no, it is not because of my amazing baby shower. First, Jen has donated so much of her time and energy to so many of her friends in both life and their industries. She photographs their families, children, pregnant bellies, events, portfolio pieces…you name it…she’s shot it. She’s helped so many of us in capturing special moments in our lives as well as provided so many of us vendors with great images for our businesees. Secondly, Jen had a very hard road to becoming a mother. She was actually pregnant at the same time as I was with Sydney but lost her little one. Though heart wrenching to watch me go one without her, she NEVER showed it, she stood by me through my pregnancy, shot the birth of my daughter, stepped in when I needed support with my colicky baby, listened to all my complaing about having a difficult baby and captured my Sydney Beans growing up these past two years with beauftul photographs that I will cherish forever. So, this shower HAD to be amazing…I’d accept nothing less and Jen deserved it. It was time to celebrate that it was finally her turn.
Jen loves all things vintage so I came up with the concept Vintage Picnic. She then told me that there were quite a few of her friends from the wedding industry that wanted to help and donate their services for the shower. Wow! I was also told that the shower was going to be held at Casa Real since there were too many people to host it at someone’s house. Ok, so this is where I started sweating a bit. After a site visit to Casa, I was croaking a little more. How was I to create and intimate baby shower in a room huge enough to hold weddings in? That’s where PJ of Milk Glass Vintage Rentals came in. I needed stuff to fill up this room and not just any old stuff, BEAUTIFUL vintage finds to support my vintage picnic theme. Her red armoire was pretty much the starting point for my color scheme. I then paired it with some turquoise, brown and cream. Next I had florals on my mind. For some reason I really hadn’t envisioned tons of flowers for this picnic, I needed height for the room, and wanted a sort of outdoorsy, earthy feel. When I met with Nicole of Nicole Ha Designs I told her I wanted primarily succulents (if you read my blog you know I’m a fanatic about them) with pops of red flowers here and there. I completely trusted Nicole to make my vision come to life (I don’t do this with just anyone) and I’ll say, she sure hit the nail on the head! Her manzanita branches were perfect for giving me the height I wanted for the room. I adorned them with hanging balls wrapped with yarn as well grapvine balls. When Nicole arrived that day, she added little ceramic birds that I just loved. Casa’s long wooden tables resembled picnic benches to me so I used them un-clothed and set them in one long row for a dramatic effect and to fill up our room. I found wooden, lacey fans that I sat at each place setting and strung with handmade fabric tassels.
As the guests entered they were welcomed with a sign designed by Susanne of Cards de Luxe. We requested that they sign the guest book for Jen, a vintage photo album I found on Etsy. I wrapped the pen with burlap and stuck a red feather in it to give it an older feel.
We served champagne that could be paired with lavender infused simple syrup. Lavender sprigs garnished the glasses and smelled incredible as the glass tipped back to your nose. Iced Tea, chilled water and old fashioned soda pop bottles were also available and were displayed so nicely atop PJ’s vintage door platform.
The food catered by Casa Real was DELICIOUS. The Menu included Chicken salad sliders, tomato basil & mozzarella and cucumber mint tea sandwiches, spinach frittata, green leaf salad, crudite, strawberries and homemade potato chips. Oh…the potato chips…you could’nt eat just one!
For favors I found wooden berry baskets that we loaded with fresh berries, mini jam jars and scones baked by Jen’s Mom Toni. The jar lids were wrapped with the same fabric from our fan tassles and tied off with barber pole twine.
Our game questionaire was dolled up by Jen’s sister Lindsay of Pretty Me Chic. I found these printable “Merci” tags designed by Amy Moss on her Eat Drink Chic Blog. You should really check it out…so many pretty little things…so inspirational!
For dessert we had an assortment of flavored bundt cakes set on a tower trimmed with crochet lace. Or if extra sugar was preferred, you could grab a chocolate cupcakes with champagne frosting and adorned with candied buttons. I didn’t choose….I sampled both! All baked with love by Jen’s Mom Toni…or as I call her, “my resident baker.”
Jen’s baby dresses were were hung from PJ’s vintage shutters and sat next to her as she opened her presents. We were also extremely lucky to have Fantasy Sound provide all the lighting which created such a dramatic effect and showcased all of our vignettes and details perfectly.
Jen, our guest of honor. I have no idea how we told her apart becuase there were TEN other pregnant girls there!
A special thanks to all of our friends and vendors who donated their specialties and really made this day possible. Maria Chang of PMA for getting us all up and running. A’ Lisa, Lindsay, Bob & Toni Skog…my laborers…I’m sorry I always work you guys to the bone. And Lauren…my Mom, who did a TON of baby sitting my kiddo, freeing up this busy Mama to design and plan away!
EVENT DESIGN | Jennifer Bishop Design
PHOTOGRAPHY | Jennifer Skog & Robert Andrew Jennifer Skog Photography
FLORAL DESIGN | Nicole Ha Nicole Ha Designs
VINTAGE RENTALS | PJ Rude Milk Glass Vintage Rentals
EVENT VENUE | Alyssia Jones Casa Real at Ruby Hill
INVITES AND PAPER DETAILS | Susanne Wong Cards de Luxe
LIGHTING | Kevin Dennis Fantasy Sound