I have really taken to throwing themed parties for my girlfriends. I love gathering all the fun and beautiful elements and throwing them together to make something really special for someone really special to me. This time, I didn’t do it alone. My friend Sarah and I threw this baby shower together.
Stephanie has been my friend for about 5 years now. We met when she started singing on the music team at our church and then got closer while we were in a small group together. I helped plan her engagement, was the matron of honor at her wedding, had the privilege of throwing this baby shower for her and I even got to drive her to hospital when she went into labor.
There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for the woman. She has been an awesome friend and has let me talk her ear off lots of time. She keeps the things I say to her private, is super compassionate and is just one of my all-time favorite people. It only made sense that I would honor her and baby Lily June with a baby shower.
Sarah, designed the invitations and they were amazing! They fit Stephanie’s personality perfectly- floral, sweet and pretty!
The menu consisted of everything gluten free. We made mini-chicken salad sandwiches for everyone and Stephanie’s sandwiches were made with gluten free bread in a gluten free environment. We made veggie trays with raw cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, celery, grape tomatoes and mini peppers with ranch dressing and roasted red pepper hummus for dipping. We made fruit trays with cantaloupe, grapes, watermelon and kiwi. (NO strawberries at this party- due to allergies) There was also an awesome red potato salad and since it was a brunch we also made gluten free blueberry and chocolate chip pancake bites and a breakfast casserole.
The drink station consisted of sweet tea, unsweetened tea, citrus water and this AMAZING punch that Sarah makes (it’s her grandma’s recipe). That seemed to be everyone’s favorite.
Instead of cake, we did cupcakes! I love me some cupcakes and they were so much easier to handle as well. These are vanilla gluten free cupcakes with blackberry buttercream frosting. Oh that frosting, was amazing too. Totally worth the time I spent making it.
Everyone got a mason jar to drink out of with an acrylic straw. That was their take-home thank you gift and their cup for the afternoon. We used the Pioneer Woman drink lids and straws because they were so pretty and very economical. Sarah also designed the thank you tags. She is pretty amazing with graphics, in case you haven’t noticed yet.
The decor was so pretty! We used green and blue gingham table clothes that Sarah purchased online from Linen Tablecloth. They were a great price and the quality was awesome! Each table had a mason jar filled with baby roses and hydrangeas.
Sarah created a guest book picture that gave the guests the opportunity to use their fingerprints as flower petals/leaves to sign in. Lily has this cute little picture up in her nursery. We also got some pictures of mommy and daddy as babies and their maternity photo session printed up. P.S. Sarah also did their photo session (I told you she’s awesome!)
One of my favorite things to make for showers (baby, bridal and lingerie) is corsages and sashes. I went with corsages this time for mommy and both grandmas. I love they way they turned out!
Stephanie had a great turn out at her shower. Family and friends
came and had fun, played games and ate great food!
I’m including some of the links to some of the food items we made for this shower. It was a pain to find really good gluten free recipes so I thought I’d share just in case you are in the same boat as we were.
Gluten-Free Mini Pancake Bites
Blackberry Buttercream Frosting
Gluten Free Breakfast Casserole
Also, these two guys…Sarah and I are pretty lucky to be married to them. They both stayed up late with us the night before this shower to finish up baking, chopping, prepping and cooking for the shower. The next morning, they woke up super early with us both and helped us get the party hall ready. Without them, I think Sarah and I would have not had very pleasant attitudes for the party. They helped make the chicken salad sandwiches and staged the cupcakes. They were wonderful!
Our husbands are the best!
P.S. Lily June was born on July 27th. She is absolutely adorable!
~Mrs Galvan~
What a fun party!! I love that such care was taken for the gluten-free folks to eat safely and all the food looks soooo yummy! So glad you liked the blackberry frosting too!