Shower with friendship

MANILA, Philippines – The gift of friendship is one that must be celebrated regardless of season or reason.

At a time where so-called bonds have regressed from fleeting to fake, what better way to gift a loved one then with the gift of an unforgettable experience.

Model, blogger and businesswoman Mikaela Lagdameo-Martinez threw an intimate shower for her best friend, model and columnist Isabel Roces-Trebol to celebrate the arrival of Isabel’s first child, a baby girl!

Are you thinking of throwing a shower for a loved one? Here are seven tips to get all the elements down to party perfection:

1. Choose a venue that is spacious yet cozy enough to accommodate your guests.

The EDSA Shangri-La Hotel’s Presidential Suite was the perfect setting for an afternoon with the girls.

2. Select guests who are more or less in the same circles of friends for easier transition of banter in an intimate setting.

3. To set the happy tone of the party, decorate the room with bright pops of color from the easy-to-enjoy canapés to the props like balloons from Wrap It Up.

4. Liven up the party with games that have baby themes and winners go home with prizes like gift certificates. A makeover from Flair Blow Dry Bar or a fitness session at Beyond Yoga Serendra, perhaps?

5. A party always ends with guests receiving giveaways. They may be DIY crafts you made or guests can pre-donate to a “goody bag fund.” Imagine going home with goodies from Beauty Bar, Burt’s Bees and Jeunesse Anion!

6. If you’re up for it, get even more sentimental by presenting a special memento to the mom-to-be’s new journey.

Isabel radiated in a beautiful lapis lazuli necklace from Rich Earth Jewelry, which happened to also be the color theme of her wedding.

7. Never steal one’s thunder and focus from the mom-to-be.

Ever the thoughtful friend, Mika also surprised Isabel with a birthday cake but little did we know that she, too, was carrying a little bun in the oven (she waited until the shower was over to announce she was expecting).

Photos by KRISTINE CORPEZ  • Location: EDSA SHANGRI-LA HOTEL Presidential Suite  (@EdsaShangriLa) • Special thanks to: BEAUTY BAR (@BeautyBarPH), BURT’S BEES (@BurtsBeesPH), JEUNESSE ANION (@JeunesseAnion), RICH EARTH JEWELRY (@RichEarthJewelry), FLAIR BLOW DRY BAR (@FlairBlowDryBar), WRAP IT UP (@WrapItUp_PH) and BEYOND YOGA SERENDRA (@iGoBeyondYoga)