So it must be known that I adore the color YELLOW for parties. I love how it can brighten any event. The bright hues add a sweet and charming touch and can be combined easily with other colors.This color combination is something pretty special. It is distinctive, charming and just easy on the eyes. Here is the Lemon & Lavender Baby Shower dreamed up by Valerie Gimre of Charming Touch Parties,
PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:
– Lemon adorned floral arrangements & a fondant bow, lavender flowers & lemon slice decorated cake – Blackberry garnished champagne + berry topped mini cakes, lemon bars & cake ball baby rattles – Custom ‘Wishes for Mom’ book for guests to write in + pinwheel & lemon onesie garlands – Framed lavender baby carriage & ribbon bunting backdrop + carriage decorated cookie favors
The baby shower we planned and styled was a much bigger event held at a charming local reception hall. A large framed baby carriage and sweet fabric fringe bunting provided a precious and charming backdrop. A stunning 3 tiered cake was the feature of our sweets table. Fresh lemons, beautiful flowers and an assortment of gorgeous mini desserts were incorporated to create a charming and plentiful dessert table.
To fill our large space, we utilized appliqued onesies and more fabric fringe bunting to drape from mini balconies. It added such a sweet and custom touch.
As guests entered, they were greeted by a circular cocktail table with glasses of champagne or lemonade. This encouraged mingling before lunch was served and added to our celebratory vibe. Guests were invited to open seating and at each guest’s table setting was a boxed baby carriage favor cookie.
We positioned a candy and wishing book area between the two tables reserved for gifts. Guests were encouraged to write their own personal wishes and words of advice for the Mom-to-be. We love this concept, as this book can thereafter be a treasured keepsake.
Brooke Whitney Photography captured this darling little guy at three months old, bright eyed and full of smiles, in a beautiful at-home session with his parents. This trio could not be cuter, and we love his nursery too! It's so light and sophisticated, but fun, too, with a classic safari theme.
Life's not quite as picturesque as Instagram pictures make it look. Kids don't smile when you ask them to, family rooms aren't spotless and clutter-free, and moms don't always have it all together. That's why Danielle Guenther's Best Case Scenario series of photographs speaks so well to parents. The Hoboken, NJ-based family photographer has taken to adding some real-life (though somewhat exaggerated) photos into her mix, and the results are hysterical.
"I have a regular client that I photograph, and I was over at her house," Guenther explains. "It was at the end of the session, and the mom, [who] is always a total blast, just laid down on the couch, and I [said] we should do a funny one. She has a wonderful sense of humor, [and] she was all about it! And then it just spiraled out of control in a really great way."
From that single "Parenting Is Exhausting . . ." photo, a series was born. There are currently 11 pictures in the series, most of which are inspired by Guenther's 5-1/2-year-old son.
"A lot of these ideas you think back to when he was a baby," she explains. "The 'Hold On a Sec . . ." photo where they're crossing the street. Mothers are always doing everything with crap all over their strollers, picking up the dry-cleaning. That's the scenario: you running errands and your husband holding up his finger — hold on a second; I've got to check the score. That's life; that's how it is!"
Guenther doesn't have Instagram, so she's not inspired by the perfection that is so prevalent on the social photo sharing site. Rather, she's inspired by the truth that is parenting. "This is real, this is life, this is parenting. Parenting is so ugly, but there are moments that are so beautiful. Just when you think you have it under control and you're like, 'Oh, yeah, this is great. My kid's using his manners,' they slam the door in your face and they scream at you! But nothing in life is perfect."
She will continue her photojournalistic-style family portraiture, but it is these stylized photos that really motivate her these days. "I want to know what's going on before you got to the shoot. I want to know what goes on at home, behind closed doors. If you can find a funny take on life, you're ahead of the game."
Read on to see Danielle Guenther's full Best Case Scenario series.
