Planning a baby shower is the perfect way of expressing congratulations to a newborn’s parents. The baby shower is often arranged by a relative or close friend, usually during the last months of a mother’s pregnancy.
If you want the baby shower to go off without problems, careful organization and planning is required, just like any other party you might host. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare for the event:
- Where will you have the party? – It is common to have the baby shower at the house of the parents to be because it is easiest for the expectant mother. This is usually best if the party is going to be only a few people, such as family and close friends. In addition to convenience, the guests will feel more comfortable if the party is at home. However, if the expectant parents like being outdoors, you might also consider an outdoor barbecue or a party at a local park. Least complicated of all would be reserving a private area in a restaurant. It may be more costly, but you will not have to worry about decorations, food, drinks and cleanup.
- What is the theme of the party going to be? – It’s not necessary to have a theme for the party, but having a theme can make the occasion even more festive. If you have trouble coming up with an idea, consider the expectant parents’ favorite movies or hangouts. Another option is to decorate the party site by re-creating the place where they had their honeymoon or their first date. A childish theme might also be fun, as a celebration of the future baby. For example, you might choose cartoon characters, bright colors, and other designs depending on the baby’s gender.
- What type of menu will you offer? – Finger food, pastries and other baked goods are typical fare and are very convenient. However, consider the time of the event. If the event will be held during lunch or dinner time, it may be more appropriate to serve a meal or have a buffet. Consider also if you want to serve alcohol and, if so, if you will limit it to “soft” drinks like wine, or if harder liquors will also be available.
- Design a fun program. – Unlike many adult parties, a baby shower is a perfect time to include games; it’s not just a time for mingling, eating, drinking and giving gifts. The main point of the party is not only to celebrate the baby’s birth, but for everyone to have a good time as well. If you can’t think of any games or don’t have a lot of time, you can download games from the internet at a reasonable price from sites like best-baby-showers.com or allbabyshowergames.com
- Who will you invite and when will you have the party? – Make sure that you have the expectant parents’ approval of your guest list before you send out invitations. You don’t want to risk spoiling a good time by inviting the wrong people and causing an embarrassing moment. Remember that even though you are planning the party, this is the expectant parents’ party, not yours. Homemade invitations are always a nice touch, but if you are tight for time, ready-made baby shower invitations are available in gift shops and craft stores. Send out invitations out two to four weeks before the party to give time for the guests to fix their schedule. Baby shower invitations follow the same format as any other invitation — it indicates the date, time, place, attire preferred, gift registry, if any, the host’s contact numbers for RSVP. Just to be organized, prepare a final list of attendees a few days before the baby shower.
