July 30, 2014
It was an honor and joy to host a shower for my dearest of dear friends, Elizabeth. Sharing hosting duties with lovely Misha, we set out to create a luncheon worthy of mama and her sweet baby girl.
Sad truth: I’m wearing four-inch heels.
The inspiration and starting point for everything was Elizabeth — she’s married to a Frenchy, went to pastry school in Paris and worked for Martha Stewart Magazine (no pressure!). This led to a French bistro vibe for the table, Elizabeth’s favorite color combo of pink and grey with a clean, feminine look aiming for a mix of sophisticated and sweet.
I also wanted to make things look and feel a little different. Elizabeth is one of my best friends and has attended nearly every party and dinner I’ve had at the house. Be it Easter, Thanksgiving or Fourth of July, Elizabeth is usually right next to me, both at the table and in the kitchen.
French soaps wrapped in parchment marked the guests names for seating. Clever Misha wrote on the back, “From Elizabeth’s shower to yours.” After guests sat down we collected the soaps into a basket placed by the front door — the soapy smell wouldn’t dominate the table and as guests left they could grab their favor.
I’d planted Cafe au Lait Dahlias months ago in anticipation of the shower, but they failed to make it. Thankfully, the flower mart had plenty of blooms in dreamy shades of pink and grey.
Rose Story Farm roses, Cafe au Lait Dahlias, Dusty Miller, Queen Anne’s Lace and a bit of white lavender.
My mom graciously sent up a collection of pewter coups and bowls from her collection. I filled them with Spanish moss and succulents, like this Lola here.
Next up, I’ll share a peek at the menu and food — you’ll see what happens when obsessive foodies let those fanatical flags fly. Cheers to Elizabeth and baby!
