LilSugar

Couples Cocktail Party: Food and Beverages

LilSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:00:22 PDT

Like any other fete, there should be ample food at a couples cocktail party and of course, a signature drink to wash the nibbles down.

Ask the bartender to concoct a beverage that reflects both the baby and the parents-to-be. If the nursery is in shades of pink and the father-to-be is a fan of Stoli, perhaps a renamed vodka cran fits the bill. Or if the soon-to-be mama used to sip on champagne and orange juice, go for a "mom"osa. And, of course make sure there's a delicious mocktail version for the expectant guest of honor.

For more edible ideas,

Set up a table of prepared eats so guests can serve themselves and you can enjoy the soirée, too. Italian food is always a nice option since Caprese salad on skewers, spicy meatballs, focaccia squares, stuffed mushrooms, and cozzi are all crowd pleasers.

Source

Couples Cocktail Party: Decor

babysugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 PDT

I love couples showers because they give men, especially the papa–to–be, a chance to bask in the pregnancy spotlight.

And generally, the showers are like any other festive affair - just with an additional purpose - celebrating an impending arrival.

To see how to make a couples shower cute to boot,

If you're hosting a couples shower at your residence, it is easy to dress up your home for the occasion.

Enlist parents of the mom and pop–to–be and ask them to send you baby pictures of the expectant pair. Make copies of the adorable photos and place them around the entertaining rooms for friends to enjoy during cocktails.

And speaking of drinks, instead of using bowls, fill up some baby bottles with candy or peanuts and place them next to the festive napkins at the bar.

As with most parties, you'll probably have food to balance out the alcohol. Instead of bringing in flowers for a centerpiece, buy a pregnant wire form and tie a pretty ribbon around her empire waist.

An odd way to celebrate new life, the tradition is to smoke a cigar upon the birth of a baby. Keep things clean and healthy by offering up pink and blue bubble gum cigars to your guests. I'd be willing to bet they'd be more popular than the authentic ones anyway.

Baby Bubble Gum Cigars ($11)

Pregnant Dress Form ($17)

Pink Zebra Placesettings and Cocktail Napkins

Couples Cocktail Party: Invitations

babysugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:00:00 PDT

Move over carriages and baby bottles, we're throwing a baby shower for guys and gals to attend this week. Many friends of first-time parents are often still single and sometimes weirded out by the fact that their buddy is about to have a babe. Starting with the invitation, set the tone for this celebration with a twist.

To see what party invitations I recommend,

Choose something that appeals to both sexes, but that still screams baby. These concert tickets make great invites combining the perfect amount of playfulness and all the necessary details.

On the invitation be sure to include where baby is registered – especially for those, ahem, clueless bachelors. And if you're hosting the event at a restaurant or bar, include an ending time so the mama-to-be won't be obligated to party all night!

Bubbly Besties: Beautiful Bridal Shower Bites

Sara Yoo — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:05:00 PDT

One of my favorite things about weddings is how they give the couple and their loved ones so many excuses to party! And bridal showers are no exception. While I've been to all sorts of showers - tea parties, fully catered lunches, co-ed boozy bashes, and even bachelorette-shower combos, to name a few - my favorites have been ones that allowed me to mix and mingle easily with friends and enjoy some great food and laughter. Save the heavy meals for rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions: at a shower, I want to snack on something lovely with one hand and sip champagne with the other! We've rounded up 11 perfect appetizer bites that let you do just that without skimping on the delicious food.

Photos: Nancy Einhart, Camilla Salem, and Lauren Hendrickson

Sugar Shout Out: A Lovely Lavender Baby Shower

Lauren Turner — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:55:21 PDT

A Guide to Wedding Festivities

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:19:28 PDT

When a couple decides to get married, they aren't just signing up to host a wedding, they are also committing themselves to a lot of parties that happen along the way. An engagement party, shower, and bachelorette are all commonly associated with weddings. But with so many parties, it's hard to keep them all straight! That's why I've created this handy guide that explains everything you need to know - from the proper time to host a shower to the first person to toast at the wedding. Read on for all the details.

Drew Barrymore Gets Back to Business Following Her Couple's Shower

Lauren Turner — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:15:14 PDT

Drew Barrymore stopped by her LA office with a drink in hand yesterday. She was covering her possible baby bump in a long coat, much like the oversize look she stepped out in while running errands with fiancé Will Kopelman last week. The couple had an exciting weekend since their friends reportedly threw them a joint wedding and baby shower. It's just the beginning of the fun for Drew and Will, who are apparently planning a Summer wedding. The excitement will continue when they welcome their first child later this year if rumors that Drew is pregnant hold true.

Friends Throw Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman a Combined Wedding and Baby Shower

Katie Henry — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:27:20 PDT

Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman have a couples shower in LA - People
Carey Mulligan wore pink wellies and a Prada gown on her wedding day - Lainey Gossip
Jason Statham is waiting for Reese Witherspoon's phone call - HuffPost Entertainment
Shirley MacLaine isn't a fan of Dick Clark's dogs - D-Listed
Jennifer Aniston calls wedding rumors "total fabrication" - JustJared
See what Joe Millionaire looks like today - BuzzFeed
Stacy Keibler flaunts her figure for Men's Fitness - Hollywood Tuna
Dr. Dre addresses rumors about touring Tupac - Pink Is the New Blog
Jessica Simpson loves takeout from Chilli's - The Superficial
Should Pamela Anderson hang up her short shorts? - TooFab
Are Scandal and Styled by June changing prime time? - The Daily Beast
Gotye disses Glee's cover of "Somebody That I Used to Know" - Zap2it
Hot stars showed lots of leg at Coachella - cityrag

Baby Shower 411: Your Top Questions Answered

LilSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:32:43 PDT

Since there are just as many types of baby showers as there are moms-to-be, the etiquette behind hosting such an event can be a challenge. From who to invite, to how to invite them, and what to actually do once you're there, the range of "what's appropriate" varies depending on the honoree and her family/social circle, but there are some basic guidelines that everyone can adhere to. Here's our best advice:

When should the shower be held?
Typically, a shower is held four to six weeks before the baby's due date. This allows for some "wiggle room" in the event of any unexpected complications. If the mom-to-be has to travel for her shower, it's appropriate to host it even earlier, as most doctors advise staying close to home during the end of the third trimester.

Who should host the shower?
The honoree's close family or friends are typically the hostesses. Nowadays, couples showers have become increasingly popular, so your shower needn't be limited to just women (though we suggest switching up the dynamic from a luncheon or tea to an evening event or barbecue if men are included). Historically, it was considered self-serving to have the honoree's mom or mother-in-law host her shower, since there's gift-giving involved. But the practice has become much more widely accepted, and no one will bat an eye if they receive an invite from a proud grandma-to-be.

Who's invited?
This completely depends on the size of the event, but it's generally appropriate to include family, friends, and co-workers - anyone who's excited about the lil one on the way. There are varied opinions about the appropriateness of inviting long-distance guests who would have to purchase a flight or make a lengthy journey to attend the shower. We're in favor of including them as a gesture, but making sure that they don't feel obligated to attend. You may want to include a short, handwritten note, or follow up with a phone call letting these guests know that they're more than welcome, but not expected, to make the trip.

Keep reading for more of our best advice.

Eco-fy Your Wedding!

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:17:14 PDT

In honor of Earth Day (and wedding season here on PopSugar Network) we're serving up some easy and simple ways to make your wedding just a bit more earth friendly from a geek's perspective. These days, getting down with protecting Mother Earth can be simple.

From your wedding shower, to the big event and to all the details in between, little changes can certainly help our planet and our pocketbooks! Making your wedding eco friendly has never been more simple (and surprisingly) cost effective. Besides, wouldn't you rather spend all that extra cash on the honeymoon, or better yet? That flat screen HDTV you've been eyeing? Go, Earth!

Invites - We've already talked about how a wedding website can save you time, money, and the planet, and since all of your ceremony and reception information is in one place, no one will be losing the details on your big day. Allowing your guests to RSVP directly on the site at any time can reduce or negate the need for paper invites. However, if you are a traditionalist and want to send out your dream monogrammed paper invitations, make sure your paper is 100 percent recycled.

For a few more tips, just keep reading.