An American Girl-Themed Baby Shower

Hello Y'all!

This past weekend officially marked the start of baby shower season! Can't believe we are already here!

I hadn't originally planned to share the shower details over on this corner of the internet. I already posted a full photo album on my personal Facebook for friends and family to enjoy, especially those who couldn't make the trip to South Carolina for the special day. BUT my mom truly outdid herself in the details, and they were too good not to share with y'all for inspiration!

When my mom and I started looking at the calendar for potential shower dates and landed on July, it was a no-brainer that a patriotic theme was a must! As a Navy daughter and a girl who: One, grew up loving American Girl dolls, and two, has sweet memories of New England summers with hydrangeas bursting in full bloom while flags sway in the sea breeze...An ode to that time, especially during a bicentennial year, felt serendipitous.

My mom enlisted my help for the invitations (I was itching for a fun invitation project to play with my Cricut features) So I painted an original watercolor fence, like the ones of my childhood in Connecticut, and turned it into a doorway to the invitation; unlike a regular belly band, this one was attached along the back, and you have to undo the bow to read the full invite. We are blessed with close family and friends all over the US (military family life), so we decided to send invitations out with a sweet note to family outside of weekend driving distance, to let them know we love them and appreciate their impact on my life in every season. I highly encourage others to do the same: send the happy mail and always remind people that they are loved and valued!

Quick tip: Decorate with reusable items!

We love a multipurpose decoration in our households! I am still decorating with the ginger jars and brass candlesticks from my wedding, and about to reuse a large frame for the nursery!

Main decor list:

Childhood American Girl Dolls:

We are fortunate that I am a hoarder of my dolls; I always knew I would have a girl one day, I guess! Buying these for a shower probably isn't budget-friendly, but I am sure you can find a friend or two that may have some in their attic or daughter's room.

Clothing Line:

Our daughter is set for next July with all of the patriotic outfits my mom bought for decorations! My mom ordered several with her monogram, and hunted for the rest over a couple of months and purposely bought them in the size baby girl should be in next year or the year after.

Bunting:

My mom is an avid quilter and has lots of fabric, but she also collected some fabric while out and about to sew her own bunting. Just cut triangles and then sew the tops together between a long piece of rope. Pro tip: she went to the venue and measured the distances to make sure her bunting was long enough. This bunting will find its way to many summer festivities in the future, I am sure of it!

Florals:

Hydrangeas were the star of the show, but we had a hard time finding budget-friendly blooms in our area. THEN we discovered Sam's! You can order from Sam's online hydrangeas (during season...not sure about wintertime) and greenery for cheaper than Trader Joe's AND they deliver right to your door. We were shocked by the quality and quantity for the price. If I wasn't a designer/watercolor artist, I would be a florist. The morning of my wedding, I arranged (with help) all the florals for the reception, so it felt right to help arrange the shower florals! The wicker whale filled with hydrangeas was a highlight on the food table; my mom found the whale at our local Fluer De Lis, we added a bucket to the large open mouth and arranged with mainly floral wet foam to keep it from splashing her backseat during transit too much. The whale now has a permanent spot in the nursery for stuffed animals! Day of, she added flags and accessories to the arrangements.

See photos below for full inspiration! Thank you to my sweet momma and everyone else who made the day so special. Our baby girl is already so loved!

Vendor Shoutout:

Venue - Griggs Farm

Catering - Hidden Treasures (Cupcakes by a sweet friend)

Invitations and sign - Rebecca Powell (me)