I still can’t stop thinking about how special our baby shower was. We kept it small and intimate at our home, inviting our closest friends and family to celebrate with an abundance of food and good conversation. It felt a lot like our wedding—small, familiar faces, and a relaxed, meaningful atmosphere that made the day unforgettable.
I never had a bridal shower or bachelorette party before our wedding—partly because I don’t love being the center of attention and partly due to COVID—but this baby shower was something I wanted and looked forward to. Hosting it at home gave us a deadline to finish many projects around the house, finalize a nursery plan, and complete our baby registry. It was the push we needed to get organized before the baby arrives.
Despite being a bit last-minute by nature, I managed everything in roughly two weeks—ordering decor and essentials and coordinating vendors. It all came together exactly as I imagined.
We hosted a combined guys-and-girls gathering at our house with no traditional baby shower games, lots of food, music, and Bridger’s request to have the Masters on for the men. The guys loved being able to watch golf, and later that night they stayed to watch the UFC fights—so the schedule worked out perfectly.
Decor & Vendors
Even if we had chosen to find out the baby’s gender, I would have kept a neutral palette—neutrals suit my style. I used Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration and shared those images with the balloon garland and backdrop vendor I found through local searches. For plates, silverware, glassware, and a folding table with linens, I opted for rentals based on my sister’s recommendation. Renting was a game changer: delivery the day before and pickup a couple days after made hosting so much easier.
Florals arrived the morning of the shower: two large white bouquets, several bunches of baby’s breath, and scattered white roses throughout the house. My friend Kendall took photos of the day—having a photographer at a baby shower is something I highly recommend. She also took our maternity photos earlier in the pregnancy, which I printed and framed for the shower; that detail made everything feel even more personal.
Balloon garland: Awesome Parties LLC
Backdrop: REAL Creations
I linked the brown dress I wore—comfort was everything that day. It felt effortless and allowed me to enjoy the whole celebration comfortably.
Games
We kept games simple and lighthearted so guests could relax and catch up. Food was the main event, as always.
One favorite was the scratch-off “baby daddy” cards I ordered from Etsy. They were downloadable PDFs that I printed, adding a photo of Bridger to one of the slots and covering each face with scratch-off circles. It made for a silly, interactive moment and we gave a $100 gift card to the winner. I also set up a boy/girl prediction chart and a ballot for guesses on the baby’s birthday, time, weight, length, and eye color. Guests filled out predictions about which traits the baby might inherit from each of us and left advice for this new chapter—those notes became a cherished keepsake that was lovely to read in the following weeks.
Food
Food was a top priority, and we aimed for a light-lunch-and-snacks vibe with plenty of treats. I asked for help—a challenge for me since the party was celebrating my pregnancy—but I’m so glad I did. Friends stepped up beautifully. Claire created an incredible charcuterie board, a true centerpiece filled with my favorite bites. We catered sandwiches from a local spot, and friends prepared my Herby Spring Pasta Salad, which guests loved. With toothpicks, small plates, and a casual grazing setup, everyone snacked and chatted all afternoon.
We offered bliss balls in several flavors and prepared custom goodie bags for guests to take home. The night before, my sister helped fill popcorn bags labeled “When Will She Pop?”—a playful touch that matched the day’s theme.
Sweets
We leaned into the gender-neutral aesthetic for desserts. The sugar cookies from a local baker were simple, beautiful, and some of the best I’ve tasted—they were made with grass-fed butter and pasture-raised eggs on request. Our vanilla maple cake was elegantly simple and accommodated dietary needs (gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free) and arrived the day before, which made the final prep stress-free. I added a small topper to finish it off.
We also had s’mores bars and a few other treats. After the shower, some friends and I sat with forks and cake, chatting through the day—it was one of my favorite moments.
I also included a special Candy Bar Cookie collaboration on the sweets table. Small details like custom matchbooks served as keepsakes for guests and a reminder of the day.
Overall, I’m so happy with how everything turned out. It was a dreamy day filled with laughter, thoughtful details, and the people we love. The memories and little keepsakes from the shower will always remind us of this exciting time as we prepare to welcome our baby.
