The gardens of Paris have inspired creative minds for centuries. Think Water Lilies by Monet. Maybe it’s the ivory vines crawling over old stone archways, the bridges bending over iris-lined ponds, or the rainbow fields of tulips and roses. This is what inspired The JDK Group to plan a Parisian-chic baby shower for Bryce and Kyle Hollinger. And Bryce’s mother had the perfect venue: her own backyard. White and orange lilies grow among the lavender and ferns, all hugged by a sea of trees. JDK had the ideal Parisian garden for the special day—until that June morning came with a downpour.
Not a passing drizzle, this was a cloud-shattering rainstorm. However, it did not dampen the celebration. Within twenty-four hours, JDK redesigned the party to be held inside. They draped the garage in white and set up tables bearing yellow and white bouquets. Above each table, a black parasol hung by its handle (from the garage door tracks on the ceiling), with the lace canopy overflowing with blossoms. The flora continued inside the house, where food tables brimmed with vases and vintage touches like wire birdcages, fraying hardback novels, and tarnished sugar cans.
Since Bryce and Kyle are part of a close extended family, JDK meshed several ideas into a vintage Paris and Mommy-to-Bee theme. The menu buzzed with honeycomb inspiration like the honey-mint signature cocktail and lavender lemonade with honey syrup that greeted guests as they arrived. Later, hors d’oeuvres like chilled sorbet, a chicken and waffle cone, and a beef short rib brioche bite were dished out alongside a cheese display and a create-your-own deviled egg station. Gourmet salads and small plates kept coming before guests indulged in a dessert table created by Jasmine Clouser of The Couture Cakery. A beehive-shaped cake and honeycomb small cakes stood with yellow candies, chocolate-dipped pretzel rods, and bee-topped cupcakes.
If this sweet station did not steal the spotlight, the gift display did. Rather than endure the endless unwrapping, Bryce and Kyle admired a table full of presents onto which guests tagged a personal message for the parents-to-be. The couple was “blown away,” says David Everett of JDK, by their surprise shower. They appreciated the mature atmosphere created by the gourmet menu and the elegant décor, as well as the extra social time allowed by the gift display. This may be atypical of baby showers, but it was perfectly suited to Bryce and Kyle. And the duo is twice as excited since they are expecting not one daughter, but twin girls. Double the stroller, double the diapers, and double the photo album. They’re celebrating the happiness that comes with two extra spots at the dinner table.
Vendors
Design and Catering Production: David Everett, The JDK Group, Camp Hill, www.thejdkgroup.com Floral Design: Bill Murphy, The JDK Group, Camp Hill, www.thejdkgroup.com Cake and Dessert Station: Jasmine Clouser, Couture Cakery, Lemoyne, www.couturecakery.net Linens: Special Occasions and Queen Street Linens, Lancaster, www.specialo.com Photography: Seth Nenstiel, Seth Nenstiel Photography, York, www.sethnenstiel.com
By Kaila Young / Photography by Seth Nenstiel