Money is Always an I ssue

As with any event, it is important to set a budget for decorations, food and your venue rental. For the venue, we wanted a simple-yet-fun menu, an ideal location for attendees, and an accessible entrance for those with disabilities. After looking at 3-4 places, one checked all the boxes: the beautifully remodeled Building 24 Kitchen and Bar in Wyomissing. With its lightly stained wooden shiplap, steel beams and history in Berks County, it made perfect sense to utilize their facility. It would match our vintage travel theme, fit our budget and accommodate our needs.

Coleen Newell, Building 24’s event coordinator, was helpful and excited to be a part of the celebration.

I was able to come into the space and capture some images to get a feel for the ambiance and layout where we’d be hosting and entertaining our

50-person guest list. We settled on a brunch-style offering along with a dessert bar.

Decorations were sourced from my local Goodwill, Hobby Lobby, Ross, on Facebook Marketplace, Marshalls and Amazon. There were some items that were unavailable at stores and local shop owners were able to help with those. We found beautiful vintage suitcases at consignment store Nothing’s New in Shillington, and some were loaned by Brenda Huey of AAA Reading-Berks travel.

As a photographer and graphic designer, I could make all the signs for the shower; however, time is a precious commodity, as a time saver, I decided to utilize what Etsy had to offer. Voilà! Tons of on-theme templates that are easily editable and at an affordable price point. These signs are an integral part of the event. They give instruction and add to the whimsy of the day! The entrance sign gives the room direction; the guest “Baggage Check-in” allows attendees the chance to sign the glass globe with well wishes for the baby, and as a thank you at the end of the event, the “Baggage Claim” is where guests picked up their travel take-home gift. Most handmade elements were curated from finds at the Dollar Tree. If you haven’t looked lately, they have a fantastic craft section. I was able to purchase burlap banners, craft paper, fabric squares, markers to write on glass and so much more! These handmade elements were a labor of love and no doubt added to the look!