How to Have a Nontraditional Baby Shower

When you think about baby showers, the common conception is a dainty event attended only by women with sickly sweet pastel colors everywhere. But what if you re-imagined your baby shower as a chic, urban party where all of your friends – regardless of gender – actually wanted to attend? Divya and Abhinav’s baby shower was exactly this type of stylish soiree, and I have all the details so that your nontraditional baby shower can be just as sophisticated.

First, let’s start with the location. Divya and Abhinav live in a beautiful building in Jersey City with a public penthouse that can be rented for private events. The view was simply breathtaking, and while I am quite afraid of heights, it was worth braving the roof deck for these photos. Note the ominous skies in the distance. The rain held off for the afternoon, and added a complexity to the photos that I just adore. In addition to a gorgeous view over Jersey City and Newport, you also have the NYC skyline in the distance. For portraits, I asked the mother-to-be, are you an Empire State or Freedom Tower kind of girl? She chose the Empire State Building, (and so would I).

The chic setting extended inside to the decorations, which were low key, but festive. The colors for the party were navy and gold, and there was nary a pastel in sight. There was a cake and games, but the overall feel of the event was that of a family reunion who just happened to be getting together to celebrate the upcoming birth (in July!) of Divya and Abhiav’s son. [No name picked out yet.] And note that the guest list was all inclusive: family and friends were welcome to bring their own kids to the event. This was not a party just for the ladies.

So here’s my advice if you want to plan your own nontraditional baby shower: expand your guest list to include as many people as you like, and don’t be afraid of asking the men folk to attend. Keep your color palette neutral, or perhaps lean towards metallics. Divha and Abhav are having a boy, but they didn’t go for cotton candy blue to emphasize the face. Keep the games fun (and short), and have prizes that adults can enjoy, like a gift certificate or nice bottle of wine. Finally, don’t forget about the food. Go for a hearty meal. For Divya and Abhinav’s party, they were lucky enough to have a family member who runs the Indian restaurant, Masala Times. The food was delicious! And as you can plainly see, there was lots of it.

Lastly, take a look at the sparrow candle holder that was given to guests as a parting favor. It is a beautiful gift with just a touch of sweetness to remind everyone of the baby about to fly into Divya and Abhiav’s lives. Enjoy the photos!