Human Interest Real People Real People Pregnancy Influencer Admits She Had 'No Idea' Fireworks Display to Reveal Baby's Sex Would Be Over-the-Top as Photos Go Viral (Exclusive) Influencer Nicole Renard Warren tells PEOPLE she and her guests were "shocked" by the results of the professional fireworks show By Virginia Chamlee Virginia Chamlee Virginia Chamlee is a Politics Writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE for three years. Her work has previously appeared in The Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Eater, and other outlets. People Editorial Guidelines Published on August 14, 2024 10:30AM EDT Comments baby Warren gender reveal. Photo: Nina Long Photography Nicole Renard Warren didn't set out to create an over the top sex reveal party — but when she was offered a free pink and blue fireworks display, she jumped at the chance. "My husband and I love fireworks," Nicole, 29, tells PEOPLE. "We got engaged on the 4th of July and they've always been our special thing, so we thought it would be fun to announce the gender of our first baby with either pink or blue fireworks." After finding a company called Big Grin Fireworks that had created fireworks-themed sex reveals in the past, Nicole was offered the service for free. "They wanted to test a new show and asked if they could do something bigger," says Nicole, an influencer who has over 2 million followers on TikTok. "I had no idea what they meant but long story short, we had no idea it would be as big as it was." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Pregnant Mom Sobs from 'Gender Disappointment' After Baby's Sex Reveal — Why She Posted Her Reaction (Exclusive) The resulting fireworks display — which was all in pink, as a nod to the couple's baby girl — was, she says, "a total surprise." And, as Nicole mentions, created with biodegradable products and utilizing strict safety protocols in that it wasn't set up near trees and was kept a safe distance from attendees. the fireworks gender reveal. Nina Long Photography "It was epic and we are so grateful we were able to celebrate with our family and friends in such a big way. It's definitely a memory we will never forget," she adds. baby Warren balloons. Nina Long Photography While the fireworks show was entirely managed and set up by a licensed team, Nicole DIY'd the rest of the event (which took place at a friend's Nashville, Tennessee, property) herself, making all the food and turning to Amazon and local craft stores for the decor. Nicole at the gender reveal party. Nina Long Photography "The planning took about a week," she says. "Once we had the fireworks team on board I really just had to decide what I wanted to do for decor and food and then make sure everything got ordered and made on time." Nicole and a guest. Nina Long Photography Roughly 50 of her and her husband Chandler's closest family members and friends attended the event, enjoying "buns in the oven and burgers on the grill" (i.e. hamburgers and hot dogs), along with homemade brownies, chocolate-covered pretzels and pink- and blue-dipped Rice Krispie treats. Handmade floral arrangements (utilizing flowers from Trader Joe's) added to the aesthetic. Pregnant Woman Asks Guests to Dress as 'Iconic Moms' for Baby Shower — and the Results Go Viral (Exclusive) It was the fireworks, of course, that shocked guests the mosts. "None of us expected them to be that big," Nicole says, adding that guests all agreed that the party was "the most epic gender reveal they had ever been to." gender reveal party. Nina Long Photography She continues: "I love an excuse to get my friends together, celebrate and make a memory. Whether it's a birthday party, celebrating a promotion or Christmas I always go all out because why not?! Life is too short." Close