get to know us more!

my passion is producing stylish & memorable experiences through special events. 

Whether it's a holiday dinner party or a wedding celebration for 300 guests, I believe every event is an opportunity to create something special. Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you'll stay a while and find some inspiration along the way!

So, hey! I'm Cassandra.

How to Host a Budget Friendly Baby Shower That Your Guests Will Love

When it comes to life’s big events, the birth of a baby is certainly one of the most important and joyous occasions for a family!  A baby shower honoring the future mama is a great way to celebrate the days leading up to this monumental occasion.  Having a beautiful, meaningful shower does not have to be a huge expense. To honor these new beginnings you can get creative, add personal touches, and still have a budget friendly shower that the guests will love!

  1. Choose the right venue. From hotel banquet rooms to a private home there are an abundance of options when it comes to choosing a venue to host a baby shower. When considering your venue you’ll want to focus on what’s included. Items such as tables, chairs, linens, and glassware will all help you stay on budget if they’re already provided with the venue of your choice.  If you’ll be hosting a shower in your private home you’ll want to factor in the cost of these items whether you purchase those wholesale or go through a rental company.

  2. Send digital invitations. Websites such as Evite.com and Paperlesspost.com allow you the opportunity to design beautiful invitations while saving trees and money along the way. Websites such as these are used friendly and even allow you to track invitations and send friendly reminders to the guest list.

  3. Choose a theme. When it comes to planning the décor and look of your shower I highly recommend consulting the mama-to-be to see if she has anything in mind. Not every woman want’s the traditional pink and blue baby shower and there are so many fun ways to get creative.  Does she already have a design of the nursery in mind? If you find a way to tie those two themes into together or even pick the same one you could even include décor and elements that can be re-purposed in her nursery later. This is a great way to add in personal touches to the baby shower with items that will later find a home in the baby’s room.  

    In the baby shower featured here we found budget friendly ways to add in floral elements without purchasing expensive centerpieces. The faux-floral cake topper, greenery garland for the balloons from La Boutique Nostalgie, and floral printed table linen for the gift tables were ways to add in these touches without breaking the bank.

4. When it comes to décor make use of what you already own. For this bridal shower we included a mirror with a custom Cricut vinyl for our welcome sign, a vintage dresser for the dessert display, and a bar cart as our drink station. You can get creative with the furniture and décor you have at home and include these in the design of your shower.

5. Feed your guests (and not just cheese & crackers).  Often times a shower can take an hour or two and occur over a meal time so you’ll want to keep this in mind.  To keep your menu budget friendly consider items such as sandwich platters, pasta salads, fruit and vegetable displays, and a dessert station.

6. Bake your own desserts.  You can create a beautiful dessert display with items made right from your own kitchen or by picking up over the counter items at your local supermarket.  Do you have a friend or family member who is a skilled baker? Ask them for help! I loved the beautiful cake we included in this shower that was created by Amanda’s aunt.

7.Create baby shower games that are free.  You can create word searches, puzzles, and other interactive games online for free and are a simple and fun way to give your guests something to do throughout the shower.

8. Stick to the registry. Most likely, she’s taken the time to create a registry and has added items that she has probably thoroughly researched herself or has been recommended to include by loved ones You can go in with a few other attendees to contribute to higher price items like cribs, strollers, and car seats. 

Thank you to my friend (and host of this shower) Amanda for asking me to help design this shower for the lovely Danielle.  All photos are courtesy of Amanda Collins Photography.

Location: The Lamb Center at the Metropark in Toledo

Reply...

- AUBRI & MATTHEW

Cassandra was absolutely incredible! She took the time to get to know us and our vision for the day. She made sure everything we wanted fit in perfectly with the day’s schedule. We’re so grateful for her and we were truly able to enjoy the day knowing we could trust her fully and that she’d ensure everything went smoothly. Cassandra truly felt like an old friend and we were so happy to have such a wonderful person to guide us through the stages of planning. We’d definitely recommend her services for wedding and special event services to anyone.

"The best decision we made"

LOVE NOTES.

- Elena & Nick

Event Prep is the best decision you can make for your wedding planning needs. Period. From the beginning vision phases, to the tough decision making moments, Cassandra is there not only as a seasoned professional but as a friend. There were times where I was at my wits end, and Cassandra became my place of peace and calm. She was always 10 steps ahead of the game and guided me in the right direction. She made me feel like my wedding was her only focus and her efforts showed through. My husband and guests were absolutely speechless at our ceremony and reception. They were truly blown away. None of it would've been possible without her. Simply put, Event Prep made my wedding dreams come true. 

"None of it would have been possible without her."

- Lauren & Todd

You will not be disappointed in your selection with Event Prep. Cassandra is the most professional, kind and bubbly spirit you’ll come in contact with.  We both have full time jobs and knew we would need all the extra help we could get.  Cassandra and Event Prep were the answers to my prayers! She made sure that we were all able to enjoy our day and not think twice about what needed to be accomplished. When I needed her, she was right there. I could not possibly fit a list of all the things Cassandra assisted with into this review. However, I can say she is a big reason I am able to look back on my wedding day with joy and happiness. Having the ability to focus on our guests and enjoy the most important day of our lives was priceless. 

"She is a big reason I am able to look back on my wedding day with joy and happiness."