When Olivia Culpo began planning her baby shower, she knew that there was only one place it could be: Rhode Island. The New England state is where spent her childhood, where she married Christian McCaffrey, and where she became the person she is today. Quite literally: In 2012, Culpo won Miss Rhode Island, before going on to be crowned Miss United States and finally Miss Universe. So it felt important that her next life milestone was marked here, too.
âRhode Island has always held such a special place in my heartâitâs where I grew up, where so many of my values were shaped, and where most of my family still lives,â she tells Vogue. âIt felt really meaningful to celebrate this next chapter surrounded by close family and friends in a place that feels so deeply like home. The shower happened the morning after I was inducted into the Rhode Island Hall of Fame, which made the whole weekend feel incredibly full-circle and emotional in the best way.â
On May 4, she held a Parisian-inspired affair at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, planned by Lisa Vorce and with creative direction by Lucio Andreozzi.
The scene was set from the moment guests walked onto the iconic hotelâs grounds, where a vintage Piaggio Apeâoutfitted with espresso martinis and iced latte taps that said âBébé McCaffreyââstood right outside a classic white tent. Inside were long white Tuscan tables adorned with roses, hydrangeas, and eucalyptus. French country chandeliers hung from the ceiling, graced with ornate floral installations resembling baby mobiles.
Vorce, along with Ryan Designs, transformed the back wall of the tent into a nursery, complete with Bonpoint onesies and teddy bears as well as a vintage Silver Cross pramâa baby shower gift Culpo received from a friend. Hung on the nursery walls were Culpo and Caffreyâs wedding photos; atop the dresser was a card holder where guests were encouraged to write notes to the coupleâs future child.
In another corner was what Vorce describes as âa charming vignetteâ meant to evoke the streets of Paris. A Newport-based artist, Kate Hickman, painted florals on Jo Malone perfume bottles for guests as a harpist wearing a flower crown played on. Then there was Le Petit Bébéâa faux French patisserie complete with macarons, croissants, and a four-tier cake, which guests could enjoy on bistro tables.
Culpo wore a custom sage green Marchesa dress by Georgina Chapman for the occasion along with Bvlgari jewelry. âThe color choice was intentional since Christian and I are waiting until birth to find out the gender of our little one,â Culpo says. âI was honestly a little nervousâmaternity dressing can be trickyâbut made the process so seamless.â
The afternoon began with a speech by Culpoâs mother, Susan, followed by McCaffreyâs mother Lisa. Guests enjoyed a brunch selection of French toast, mushroom frittata, or maple-glazed pork belly. During dessert, a surprise guest made an appearance: Christian himself.
âIt was a beautiful day. What Iâll remember most, though, was the love in the roomâbeing surrounded by family and close friends as we prepare for this next chapter,â Culpo says. It was truly special.
Below, go inside Culpoâs âBébé McCaffreyâ baby shower.