Real Baby Shower: French Theme

Wouldn't the countryside of France make a magical backdrop for a rustic chic baby shower? Think delicious farmer market eats, wonderful chocolates, breath-taking wild flowers, and the quaintest-of-quaint architecture. Don't these lovely details all sound like snippets from an absolutely amazing french dream? Well, save your pennies for another trip because this French baby shower that Hailey Kendall put together for her friend Andrea has all of these yummy details (and more)! Elizabeth and I can't decide which of Ashlee Raubach's photographs we love the most -- there are just simply too many gorgeous ones to choose from! We're thinking you may just have to shut your office door, slip a "back in 10 minutes" note on the door knob, and pour yourself another cup of joe because you're going to want to get a little lost in these beautiful photographs.  Rumor has it little mental vacations can increase work productivity :)

From Hailey Kendall... Last weekend I threw my good friend Andrea's baby shower. She is almost the last of our friends from High School to have a baby, so we wanted it to be really special for her.

Luckily, because of the bad economy beautiful restaurants who usually charge an arm and a leg to have an event in are practically giving away the space if you will use them for food. So, we got to hold Andrea's baby boy shower at the lovely La Caille.

Because of the location I decided I wanted to do a french theme. And I thought it all turned out darling. We had our little luncheon in the attic of the restaurant, a really pretty spot, I had never seen before. And we based the entire shower decor and details on the lovely shower invite Ann Elizabeth did for me. She is the best.La Caille's event coordinator Colby had the idea to do a cute little clothline between the flower arrangements with pics of Andrea and Alex (the baby's mom and dad, when they were babies). It looked so cute. And Sax Romney's flower arrangements were beyond lovely. I love hydrangeas.

Sorry so many detail photos but its my favorite part of any party, the little things... and Ashlee Raubach (my photographer friend) captured them all perfectly.

Lindsey (our friend who flew in from Chicago for the shower), as a gift to Andrea surprised her my picking her up in a limo, and even bigger surprise is we were all in it to come get her! Thanks Lindsey, that made it extra fun. It was like Prom all over again. (without the boys). There is a picture of all our friends and party guests, a bunch of whom are also pregnant. I was so surprised no one got "sick" in the limo. And yes, I told everyone to wear black, I know how annoying and obsessive of me, but I thought it would be cute if we all matched Andrea's shower colors. 

There was a book of games, a trivia game with questions about all our friends childbirth and pregnancy stats and stories, a match which friend to which baby picture game, and gift bingo. All so fun. The booklet was tucked into the napkin at each girls place setting.

The mini cakes, by Carrie's Cakes were the party favors. And so good, well mine was until I threw it up (ahh joy of pregnancy). We opened presents and played gift bingo.

Andrea, we are so happy for you and so excited to meet baby Dexter, hope you enjoyed your special day!! Love you! 

Photography: Ashlee Raubach / Planning & Design: Hailey Kendall / Mini Cakes: Carrie's Cakes / Florist: Sax Romney / Venue: La Caille, Salt Lake City, Utah