Pink & Blue Baby Shower Tablescape 2021
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It’s official – I am besotted with bows! As a Christmas gift to myself (I know…ha!), I bought a set of Vista Alegre’s Ruban Blue china which I’ve been coveting for years. It’s sadly discontinued so you have to scour Replacements LTD, eBay, and the like (you can even find pieces on Etsy), but with a little time and luck, I was able to source four place settings plus matching teacups. I’ve been dying for a chance to style them, and my Barnsley retreat with the lovely Cristin Cooper was the perfect opportunity. We opted for a baby shower vignette, but the blue bow motif would work equally well for a bridal shower (a cute take on “tying the knot” and “something blue”) or a ladies’ lunch.
Photos by Katheryn Blythe
Pink and blue are of course classic (and unsurprising) for a baby fete, but I think that using a single motif (bows) in both colorways offers a fresh, new take. I love India Amory for all things table linen (remember Easter?), and luckily my sister owns their fabulous Petal Bow tablecloth and napkins which we borrowed for the shoot (this pattern also comes in blue – tablecloth here, napkins here). My napkin bows from Mrs. Alice are the perfect complement to the linens and china. (Don’t be afraid to use velvet in warm weather months; the white keeps it spring-y. Remember these from the Bridgerton table?)
Photos by Katheryn Blythe
Can we talk about how much I adore these petit fours? Southern Squares always delights with her made-to-match sweets. Of course we incorporated bows but I also love Susan’s take on chinoiserie motifs. The collection of patterns is so playful and looked beautiful on the dessert plates. Petit fours are a great choice for entertaining because they’re mess free, easy to eat and serve, and absolutely delicious, plus you can customize them any which way.
Photos by Katheryn Blythe
For the flowers, our mantra was “low maintenance, high impact.” How pretty are these alternating blooms? The great thing about hydrangeas is that the heads are very large, so a single-file line makes a bountiful centerpiece and requires no arranging. We simply cut the stems very low and plopped them into individual water glasses. Cristin’s pink Anthropologie stemware was the prefect finishing touch (similar option here).
Photos by Katheryn Blythe
I've worked with Mi Golondrina several times and was thrilled to reconnect with them to showcase some pieces from their Easter Collection. They very kindly gifted me the Olivia Jardin de Flores Rosa dress and Cristin the Soledad Jardin Rosa Celeste top. I mean...could the colors be more perfect?! Mi Golondrina pieces are so versatile, amazingly comfortable, and the perfect weight for southern summers. I'll use this dress with both flat sandals for a causal outing and dressier wedges and big jewelry for a night out. And of course I love that it's a woman-owned and operated company and partners with female artisans in Mexico to create their beautiful clothes.
Phew...I think we covered it all! The best thing about this table is that it looks so elegant and high-end but is truly one of the easiest vignettes I’ve ever styled (it was budget-friendly as well since I bought so little for it). I followed my own advice and simplified as much as possible: I borrowed linens, used pieces I already own (including our everyday flatware and the napkin rings), and remembered that simple, grocery store flowers can be so impactful when cleverly arranged. Plus, never underestimate the power of a pretty dessert (that you didn’t bake!!) to put an exclamation point on the whole scene.
Resources
Table linens: India Amory Petal Bow (tablecloth & napkins). Also comes in blue - tablecloth & napkins.
China: Vista Alegre’s Ruban Blue (discontinued, find it on Replacements LTD and eBay)
Petit fours: Southern Squares
Cake stand: old Williams Sonoma; similar here
Flatware: Fortessa Royal Pacific
Mary’s dress: Mi Golondrina, Olivia Jardin de Flores Rosa (gifted)
Cristin’s top: Mi Golondrina, Soledad Jardin Rosa Celeste (gifted)
Photos by Katheryn Blythe