Matt Kemp hit a homer and Clayton Kershaw threw eight dominant innings as the LA Dodgers cruised to a 6-1 victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday, August 13, 2011. The stadium roared for their Dodgers success but, inside a private suite with a perfect view of the victorious game, Alyssa Milano’s guests laughed and cheered in celebration of Baby Bugliari. The co-ed gathering of David and Alyssa’s closest friends and family included a stadium-catered lunch (Dodger Dogs included!), an arts and crafts table and tons of customized kitsch to welcome the couple’s first-born son.
Hosted by Alyssa’s mother Lin and best friend Alaa, the luxury stadium suite was decorated in all things baby. A giant Dodger-blue ribbon on the suite’s door invited guests into a room full of grandiose balloon bouquets by Balloon Celebrations and exquisite floral arrangements by Empty Vase. The decoration’s centerpiece was a tall-standing glass vase full of underwater orchids and baseballs that whimsically plumed into a display of roses and, of course, more baseballs. Shower-goers arrived in their best game attire and proudly wore “Baby Bugliari” medals while sipping champagne, crafting, and catching up with the glowing mother-to-be. Alyssa looked beautiful in a Dodger-blue maxi dress, happily showing off her baby bump and welcoming her company as a gracious hostess. Friends and family gathered around her to share stories and decorate “labor beads” with words of encouragement for the mother (and sometimes the father!) in the delivery room. Each handcrafted bead was then strung together like a rosary of love from those excited to meet her baby boy.
Guests, themselves, were showered with goodies including Dodgers-decorated cupcakes by Crumbs, custom-wrapped chocolate bars by Tillman Sweets, gold-plated vintage baseball charms, and beautiful blue candles engraved with the baby’s initials by Carved Solutions. In return for the soon-to-be-born baby’s hospitality, guests had the opportunity to scrapbook well wishes, first hellos and thank you’s into what will be Baby Bugliari’s first official book. In fact, shower invitations were sent with a request for guests to forgo traditional gifts, and to bring their favorite childhood book instead. The result was a collection of both hilarious and heart-warming shared memories among friends.
As the Dodgers win became apparent, and in a moment of appreciation for the afternoon, Alyssa’s visiting cousin turned to the baby’s grandfather, Mr. Milano, and said, “Now all we need is a foul ball hit into our suite.” And then…moments later…a ball came soaring into the suits and was caught by a neighboring fan. Looks like Baby Bugliari is good luck for the team, we can’t wait to meet him!
—-
Want to send your own message to Alyssa and her baby boy? Visit her Virtual Baby Shower and learn how!
[nggallery id=26]
