Planning a baby shower can feel overwhelming. There are literally thousands of themes floating around on Pinterest..boho, safari, woodland, rustic chic..the list goes on. When it came to celebrating our baby boy due in September, I wanted something that felt gender-appropriate, upscale, a nod to fashion (which I love), and not overly used.
That’s how we landed on a Ralph Lauren–inspired baby shower. It gave us a timeless, elegant aesthetic while still being fresh. And in a fun twist, just a week after the shower, Ralph Lauren launched their Martha’s Vineyard Collection as a tribute to Black legacy through Spelman and Morehouse College. Totally unexpected, but the perfect cherry on top of our theme!
From the start, I knew I didn’t want planning this shower to consume me. Pregnancy is already a full-time job, and I didn’t want to dread the day because of stress. Instead, I chose to outsource and pay for the legwork so I could simply show up and enjoy. Best decision ever!
We hosted the shower at A Tasteful Place inside the Dallas Arboretum. This venue overlooks the lake, has sweeping outdoor garden views, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows for beautiful lighting and ambiance.
One big tip I learned from wedding planning: choose a venue that naturally brings visual appeal. This way, you don’t have to spend as much on décor to elevate the space. Another bonus, the venue provides an event planner to coordinate with your vendors, which kept me from being the point person (a lifesaver).
While the venue was gorgeous, my event designer Jacqueline is the one who truly brought the magic. She was a dream to work with, great communication, patient with ideation, and creative within venue restrictions (like no balloons or candles). She executed the vision beautifully. If you’re in the DFW area, I highly recommend her!
The Arboretum requires you to use one of their approved caterers, and I’ll admit, I just “picked one” to move the process along. I ended up pleasantly surprised! Vestal Catering was incredible. The food was delicious (not one guest complained), and their staff was top-notch, circulating to check on guests and ensuring everyone was taken care of. I also booked bartending services through them, which made things seamless.
I’d been admiring Victoria’s work on Instagram for a while and knew she was the right choice. Beyond her beautiful photography, she offers a quick turnaround, delivering photos within a week, which is gold when you’re eagerly waiting to relive your special day.
What I’d Do the Same vs. Differently
Do the Same Again:
– Outsource everything. I walked in minutes before guests arrived and left with them, without lifting a finger for setup or cleanup. That’s my kind of hosting!
– Invest in a planner and strong vendors—it saved my energy and sanity.
Do Differently Next Time:
– Schedule earlier. I waited until 34 weeks to host the shower, and by then I was exhausted, uncomfortable, and regretted not doing it sooner. At 30 weeks, I already realized I’d pushed it too late. If I could do it all over I’d have my shower sometime in the second trimester.
– Because of timing, I bought several registry items myself beforehand to avoid scrambling post-shower. Next time, I’d give myself (and guests) more breathing room.
Honest Truth: Was It Worth It?
I won’t sugarcoat it, there were many moments leading up to the shower where I wished I had just skipped it. Between being tired, over pregnancy, and staring at expenses, it felt like a lot.
But when the day came, it was 100% worth it. Friends and family flew in from all over to celebrate and shower our baby boy with love. That was priceless.
Will I ever have another baby shower? Nope! (One and done, thank you very much 😂). But I would never tell a first-time mom to skip it. We deserve to soak up all the joy this journey to motherhood brings.
