Locally Grown: My Dream Baby Shower Story

I dreamed of this day long before I was pregnant, and God gave me more than I ever imagined. Here’s how my summer baby shower came to life, and a little inspiration for yours too.

Mar 02, 2026

The baby shower I desired was something I had imagined long before I was ever pregnant. So when it finally became my turn to have a baby, I was so excited for those ideas to be brought to life by my amazing family. Honestly, it exceeded even the dreams I had.

I was blessed with two showers, but in this newsletter, I’ll share highlights from my summer baby shower—my vision, how it came to life, and all the details that made it so special. Feel free to take some inspiration for your own!

The Vision

I love baking, gardening, and all things farmer’s markets. So, my theme was “Locally Grown Baby on the Way.” It felt so cute and perfectly aligned with my homemaker aesthetic.

I spent time on Pinterest, searched for venues, and imagined what the day might look like. Eventually, I made a collage of my vision and passed it along to my aunt, mom, and sister, and they brought it to life beautifully.

The Venue

Most of my family lives in the Chicago area, but my mom still lives a couple of hours away (which is where I grew up). I needed a venue that worked for everyone.

Praise God, my sister-in-law offered her gorgeous backyard. It was perfect—peaceful, surrounded by trees, and just the right atmosphere for the day.

Illinois weather in August can be unpredictable. It might pour or it might be perfect. To be safe, we rented a tent so everyone could stay comfortable (thanks, Dad and Step-mom!). Thankfully, the sun was shining, and the day turned out absolutely beautiful.

The Event

This day was such a dream for me. My hair cooperated, I felt amazing in my dress, and our family came together to celebrate this new journey with my husband and I.

Since it was a co-ed shower, it ended up being a big event. We ate delicious Puerto Rican and African food, enjoyed sweet desserts, and snapped tons of family photos to remember the day.

The Food

I didn’t manage to get pictures of the food (too busy enjoying it!), but it was incredible. We always love to showcase our cultures when we host. For me, that meant Puerto Rican rice; for my husband, it was fish, African rice, and cassava. And for both of us—plantains! They’re our favorite, so of course they had to be on the menu.

My mom, who owns a bread business, also made fresh Puerto Rican bread. It was soft and so good.

The Dessert

When I say the desserts were amazing, I mean it! We ordered beautiful cupcakes from a local bakery owned by a high school friend, my aunt made all types of chocolate-covered goodies, and my sister made a garden-themed cake that turned out so cute.

On top of that, my aunt put together a full treat table with different types of candy, separate from the dessert table, so guests could also take treats home.

The Activities

My sister kept it simple with a few classic shower games, and my aunt came up with a creative idea: a little station where guests could decorate onesies and bibs for the baby. It was precious and such sweet keepsakes for us.

Overall

Overall, my baby shower was everything I hoped for and more. I loved being surrounded by family, catching up, and celebrating together. Even better—I had a cousin and an aunt who were pregnant at the same time, which made it extra fun.

I’m so grateful for this beautiful day and the chance to celebrate the life we brought into this world.