1. Harper’s BAZAARINTERIORS|119
ENTERTAIN
PHOTOGRAPHBYDEMETAZIZ
Make sure you have plenty of cushions and
soft seating available for your guests, as it is
likely that if you are hosting a baby shower,
many of your guests will be in the family way;
including expectant and new mothers.
When it comes to food and refreshments,
spoil yourself by asking a chef or caterer to
come to your house and prepare some mini
bites and cakes. Install a tea bar that can even
serve milky cocktails to be poured into old
fashioned milk bottles.
knows a little something
about parties. This edition,
she echews the baby blues
with some cute party tricks
to get the shower started
L’ART
DE
VIVREMARINA DE
COATGOUREDEN
Of course, you mustn’t forget the
entertainment. Keep adult guests amused
with a solo singer requested to play modern
versions of lullabies and covers of pop songs.
Perhaps include some games; doughnut
teething rings on a line which have to be
nibbled off without using hands always
creates hilarity, or baby charades using songs,
films or books with ‘baby’ in the title. For
younger guests, you can’t beat a petting zoo.
As for the gifts, set up a gift registry at your
favourite baby boutique. Don’t be afraid to
include gift suggestions with your invitation
to ensure you get a range of sizes for babywear
so that you don’t get a glut of newborn
onesies, but clothes suitable throughout their
first year. Guests will not think it rude, but
rather helpful as it will focus their search and
you can personalise what you ask for according
to your friend’s and family member’s personal
style. Just be sure to include one of Dior’s chic
dummies from childrensalon.com. ■
contact marina@quintessentiallyevents.com
A
s we enter a new year, and following
festivities based around – you guessed it
– a babe in arms - it seems only fitting
that here at Quintessentially Events HQ, we
have babies on the brain. Nothing epitomises a
fresh start, purity and happiness quite like the
arrival of a little bundle of joy. You only need to
take a look at the world of celebrity to see that
babies are that most alchemical of things: from
the sweet new monarch - Britain’s Prince
George to A-list royalty North West; even
Carine Roitfeld is happily admitting that her
world revolves around her tiny grandaughter
Romy. Simply everyone is gaga about babies.
Including myself, proud mother of a recently
walking one-year-old.
So, how do you create a stylish baby shower
soiree? Firstly, this is no time to swerve dreamy
prettiness or playful entertainment. Baby
showers should be all about cute but tasteful
decoration. Think gold paper bunting and
cut-out letters. Ask your florist to create 3D
letters that spell out ‘Welcome Little Babe’ (a
traditional greeting of little ones), or white
storks sculpted from creamy flowers such as
ranunculus, narcissi and fluffy hydrangeas.
Set your food table with clashing printed
linens in pink, buttercup yellow, white and
sky blue. I use vintage children’s toys, like
Little prams or cuddly animals as table
accessories. Some can even be used as serving
dishes – imagine a Noah’s ark laden with
edible animals, a cake carousel, or a train set
weaving through the dishes to create a sense
of fun. A favourite is to add milkware vases
scattered about your home, filled with little
posies.
Invest in
the details
with these
beautiful laser
cut printed
invitations from
cutture.com