A Dream Come True: Inside Phoenix’s Baby Dragon Shower

It’s been a year since we gathered to welcome the love of my life, my son Phoenix, and I’ve been reflecting on the magic and meaning that went into planning one of my most personal events.

I was seven months pregnant and deep in the chaos of peak wedding season. Between severe pelvic pain, carrying a very big baby, managing clients’ destination weddings, and juggling a corporate job, your girl was EXHAUSTED AF. Even in the whirlwind and chaos of my life, I knew this baby shower wasn’t just another celebration. It was the beginning of Phoenix’s story, and I wanted it to be intentional, thoughtful, and filled with love.

For those who don’t know, I grew up with little, we didn’t have much disposable income. After my mom brought me from Vietnam, birthdays were rare. I think that’s why I’ve always been so passionate about celebrating others and making people feel seen and special. This shower wasn’t just for me. It was for my son, so that one day he could look back and see the village that surrounded him even before his first breath.

As a planner, I’m no stranger to the urge to do it all, and for this event, I trusted no one more than myself, his mom. I didn’t resonate with any of the traditional baby shower themes. What I felt pulled to instead was a color. That summer, I was captivated by Dior’s iconic Toile de Jouy in a soft, dusty blue. I’ve always believed colors carry emotion, and this one made me feel everything I wanted Phoenix to be wrapped in. It felt serene, classic, and quietly powerful. Elegant without being too babyish. It didn’t scream baby shower, but it whispered calm, sophistication, and intention. That color became the emotional anchor of the entire day and informed every creative decision that followed.

Finding the perfect outfit was its own journey. It took forever to find a dress that not only matched the exact shade of blue I envisioned but also fit my big pregnant body comfortably, no small feat, let me tell you. Thankfully, I ordered just one dress, which arrived a week before the event. Somehow, by some miracle, it fit perfectly. To complete the look, I wore Dior earrings that added a subtle touch of elegance and tied everything together. It felt like the final piece in a puzzle that made me feel both beautiful and true to the vision I had for the day.

When guests arrived, they were greeted with a welcome table that included a guest book, but also something deeply personal. I created custom stationery with empty envelopes labeled by age milestones, inviting guests to write letters to Phoenix that I would give him on each birthday. Words of affirmation are my love language, and I wanted Phoenix to grow up hearing not only my voice but also the voices of everyone who has loved him since before day one. I also displayed a few of his cutest little outfits because, if you know me, you know a good fashion choice is non negotiable in my book. I was so proud of the little wardrobe I curated for him, and showcasing his looks felt like displaying tiny works of art that hinted at his future style.

Now let’s talk dragons. Before I was even pregnant, I used to tell the girls at my dentist’s office that I would love to have a dragon baby. And here we are. When we announced Phoenix to the world, we referred to him as our baby dragon, and I knew I wanted to carry that same strength and symbolism into this celebration. We still lovingly call him our baby dragon, so it felt right to honor his zodiac year with intention and flair.

The invitations were a labor of love and collaboration. I partnered with my Gen Z niece, Abigail, who is wildly talented at design. We went through multiple rounds of feedback until we got it just right. From the copy to the imagery, every element was considered. I wanted the invite to reflect the feeling of the entire shower and everything it stood for. She absolutely nailed it. Beyond the invitations, I personally hand designed every piece of stationery to tie into the dragon theme, from custom signage to curated menus, making sure every detail felt cohesive, intentional, and aligned with the magical world we were creating for Phoenix.

You’ll notice a theme here. I intentionally chose to work with people I love. Friends. Family. Up and coming creatives. I’ve always been big on community, and I believe in supporting young talent. I was once that person waiting for someone to take a chance on me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people who believed in me early on. It meant everything to extend that same energy when building this dream team.

Let’s talk dessert. You know your girl loves dessert. It’s my favorite part of any meal, Michelin or not. Phoenix is lucky to have Auntie Kady, one of the most talented pastry chefs I know. I didn’t want the standard custom sugar cookies. They’re pretty to look at, but let’s be honest, they rarely taste good. I wanted desserts that were as delicious as they were beautiful, because I don’t think you should have to compromise. Kady and I worked closely to design a menu that played with textures and flavors. We leaned into the French theme with macarons, and let’s just say, getting the exact shade of blue was no easy feat. There are a gazillion variations out there, but we were determined to match it precisely to the event palette. It took a few rounds of trial and error, but Kady got there, and it was perfect.

Food was non negotiable. My biggest event pet peeve is leaving an event hungry. That was not going to happen here. I dreamed of a buffet style brunch lunch hybrid built around my pregnancy cravings. In other words, carbs. I didn’t want to go fancy and there wasn’t much rhyme or reason, just comfort food done right. I didn’t want anything too messy. I also didn’t want salads because your girl does not eat salad. I just wanted food that felt satisfying and would pair beautifully with the soft color palette of the day. After several back and forths with Chef Huyen, a fellow mom and small business owner, we finalized a flavorful and fun menu with a cheeky nod to our baby dragon.

Here was the final spread:

• Dragon’s Flamed Tri Tip Banh Mi

• Smoke Breathing Pork Baos

• Nest Guarding Turkey Croissant Rolls

• Dragon Egg Tamago Sandwiches

• Miniature Dragon Claw Burgers

• Wyrm’s Treasure Deviled Eggs

• Crispy Scaled Karaage and Waffle Nests

• Dragon’s Lair Lasagna

Every dish felt playful but intentional, with just enough fantasy to make it fun and enough flavor to make it unforgettable.

For centerpieces, I chose something simple yet symbolic, a single white rose, my favorite flower, to represent my son as the centerpiece of this new chapter. The balloon installation was built by Phoenix’s dad, Jonathan, who quietly flexed a hidden talent for balloons. If you know me and Jonathan, you know I’m the visionary in our relationship and he’s the executor. I’ll be the one designing the menu, and he’s the one getting it printed. I’ll pick the linens, and he’s the one reviewing the purchase order, quantity and confirming everything with the vendors. It’s just how we work and we make a great team. Even though after this event, he’s probably never going to want to plan another party with me again. He also solemnly swore he’d never do a balloon installation again, but you know what they say… never say never. Someone’s first birthday is coming up.

For drinks, I handed the reins to my baby brother. We had a champagne bar and, to honor my my college days at USC, he created a custom batch cocktail we called Dragon Juice aka elevated version of Jungle Juice, if you know, you know. Let’s just say the name was fitting. One of my besties thought it was just juice and ended up leaving the party just a little tipsy. Honestly, goals.

Entertainment was everything. I tapped three of my best friends, Phoenix’s uncles and auntie, to plan a few games. Guest experience was huge for me. I remember attending events where I didn’t know anyone, so I’d usually stand around awkwardly, eat a tiny bit, and then quietly slip away because I just felt too shy to participate. That was not going to happen here. The games they planned were interactive and fun, designed to break the ice and get people laughing. It was the only part of the shower I left as a surprise for myself so I could enjoy it from a guest’s perspective. They crushed it and made sure everyone felt included.

We hired two DJs to play EDM because that’s where Jonathan and I fell in love, and I wanted the soundtrack of our story to be part of Phoenix’s too. We also brought in a glam photo booth because if the Kardashians can have one, so can I. Most photo booths have terrible lighting, which always bugged me because I hate looking oily or so tiny you can barely see my face. To make it truly special, I designed a custom logo and sent it to the booth vendor to incorporate into the prints, giving every guest a polished, personalized keepsake that felt just right. Oh, and of course we had baby pong. It’s a nod to my college days and yes, I was a champ. Some things just deserve their place.

The cake was something I dreamed up and sent to a family friend whose bakery we grew up with. I wanted something nostalgic, something that felt vintage. A Blueberry Chantilly cream cake with soft floral piping that nodded to the 90s without feeling dated. Sweet in every way.

I could’ve outsourced every detail, but it was important to me that Phoenix know I touched every part of this day, with the loving help of his auntie and uncles (aka David, Karen, Jessica, Steven) who showed up early and worked tirelessly to execute my run of show. I know it’s taken me a year to finally put these memories into words, but this story was too good not to share, a rare glimpse into my mind as an event planner and a mother, woven into one.

If you can’t tell, every detail was chosen with care. The same intention and heart I bring to my clients’ weddings, I brought to this day. It was the first gift I gave myself as a mother and the first celebration I created for Phoenix.

The venue was over 4,500 square feet and could have held 120 people easily, but we chose to keep it small. We debated between Los Angeles and Orange County, but ultimately settled on the City of Angels. It’s the city that changed my life when I moved there for college at 19 years old, so it felt like the perfect place to mark this new chapter. We invited only those who are truly present in our lives. Both Jonathan and I come from small families, but our chosen family, our friends, mean everything to us. Inviting past clients who’ve become lifelong friends made it even more special, feeling like a beautiful full circle moment.

From the ombré colors of the balloons to the tiny touches of baby’s breath sprinkled throughout the arch, no detail was overlooked. We had a simple white and blue backdrop as a step and repeat so every guest could snap a cute photo with us. I wanted people to have spots where they could eat, drink, and just be entertained, so the floor plan was set up with the sweetheart table right in the center. That way I could see everyone’s faces and keep an eye on where the games were happening. My two best friends added personal touches with their toasts while Tiësto played in the background, setting a vibe that was totally Khanh. We even set up cornhole so folks could have a little friendly competition and hang out. Every inch of square footage was thought through to make sure it was fun and welcoming for everyone.

One year later, I still hold this day close. Phoenix entered the world wrapped in intention, love, community, and celebration. That was always the vision. And it came to life beautifully.