Get Set...Meredith's Baby Shower 2010

This Sunday, my best friend Tara Novotny and I are hosting a baby shower in honor of our friend Meredith. We're making a list (well several actually) and checking it twice (an hour).

For a woman as unique as Meredith--who is having her first, Thomas Henry--ordinary sailboats and elephants and trucks just wouldn't do. And tea parties are so 2005. So where to begin?

The the timing of the mid-afternoon shower allowed us to go out on a limb in terms of menu: Viennese dessert buffet (much to Tara's chagrin; she's not a sweet tooth. Whereas I, on the other hand...). The Viennese table is all the rage for weddings, so why not a baby shower? Viennese dessert tables, typically presented at receptions to facilitate mingling after a seated dinner, feature a variety of fancy cakes, tarts, mousses, and petit fours. We're serving some savory desserts (phyllo cups filled with goat cheese, fig preserves, and honey), some healthy options (melon and raspberry "kabobs" with Fluff spread and chocolate mousse for dipping), and some decadent sweets (red velvet and mint Oreo cake truffles from Bakerella). Not only is it fun and unexpected, the concept works for my space, where my four-level town home cannot accommodate seating for 25 guests in one room.

We looked for an invitation as flamboyant and whimsical as Meredith herself. The invitation by Doc Milo shown here is from Polka Dot Design. I've ordered several invitations from Polka Dot and I am never disappointed. It is a perfect reflection of Meredith...both her style and her personality. I simply love that the design carries on to the reverse (shown right)!

We're carrying the invitation design through to the shower decor with aqua and lime napkins and zebra print (yes, zebra) table cloths rented from Bright Settings. This is my first time using the company, but so far I'm impressed. You select what you want, they send you swatches to confirm, they ship to you on the date you request, and you send the dirty linens back in the box you received them with the return label they provide! Brilliant.

Stay tuned for pictures from Sunday's main event. Wish us luck!

Holiday Brunch 2009

Each year, my best friend Tara Novotny and I host a Holiday Brunch for 40 guests. Our decor in 2009 was black, white, and fuscia--festive but not conventional holiday--with tiered cylindrical vases filled with ball ornaments to display food.

For the menu, we went for a twist on the classics: lox tartar, baked french toast, deconstructed Waldorf and Caprese salads, passed crab soup shooters, and cheesecake parfaits. We prep the food to be bite sized...this facilitates mingling and eating while standing.

For dessert, mini cupcakes by JoAnna Hiatt--a must at any Emily H event.

And of course, what would a brunch be without a mimosa station and Bloody Mary bar?

My thanks to my dear and very talented friend Jessica Del Vecchio for capturing these images from our signature annual event!

Baked Dates with Goat Cheese

Caprese Salad Skewers

Deconstructed Waldorf Salad

Table Presentation

Crab Soup Shooters

Bloody Bar...

...With shrimp!

Mimosa Bar

Lox Tartar with Dill Cream Cheese

Utensils

Cheesecake Parfait

Cupcakes by JoAnna Hiatt

The hostesses with the mostesses...

Some useful resources for planning your event:

Fabric in black & white damask and stripe for tables: Ballard Designs
Favor boxes: Beau-Coup
Catering quality serving pieces: Smarty Had A Party