Are you thinking about throwing a baby shower for yourself, or for a close friend? If so, you may have a couple of questions about what needs to be done to make this a special day for everyone involved.
If you’re looking for help, look no further. We have put together a guide to help you plan out the best baby shower ever!
So, let’s jump right in. Here are the basics on how to plan a baby shower.
Planning A Baby Shower
Here are 11 things that you should absolutely think about before the big day arrives. Think of this list as a checklist, and use it to check off everything you’re planning as you go along.
Setting The Budget
How much you are willing to spend on the budget is one of the most crucial things to think about, whether you are organizing your own baby shower, or hosting one for a friend.
To ensure a successful event, you’ll need to consider a variety of factors, including the venue, the menu, the drinks, the decor, and the activities. Making your own food or hosting at a friend’s house are always options to reduce costs.
Organizing The Guest List
How many guests you decide to invite to the baby shower will also have an impact on the entire expense.
What activities you can plan, how much food you’ll need, and how many chairs and tables you’ll need will all depend on this amount.
Ask your friend to specify exactly who she wants to invite if you are entertaining for her. She might prefer a big celebration with her entire family or a modest, intimate occasion with her closest friends.
Creating A Registry
A registry is a wonderful way for the new mother to get some gifts on her special day. She’ll have to consider what she’ll need for the baby and inform her guests in advance.
Although some people would rather not have a registry and instead concentrate on the party, it is likely that the mother will receive gifts regardless. Therefore, she may as well tell her guests what she wants!
Choosing a Location
The location of the baby shower should be carefully considered for a number of reasons. It will impact many choices you make, e.g., if the event is held at a restaurant, attendees can place food orders, and you won’t have to bother about planning a menu yourself.
A larger location will be necessary if you’re expecting a huge number of guests, while the party could be held in someone’s house if you are just inviting a few close friends.
Setting A Date
Once you have decided on the most important details, such as the location and guest list, you can work out a time and date that works best for the party.
If the shower is happening before the baby’s arrival, you might wish to schedule it for a month or two before the mother’s due date. If it’s being held afterward, you might want to wait a few weeks for mom and baby to settle.
Decide On A Theme
Even if it’s not always necessary, incorporating a theme for your party is great! It is a fun way to involve the guests in the festivities, and you can even design the activities to fit the theme you have chosen.
For instance, depending on the gender of the baby, you could propose a pink or blue dress code. This would look amazing in pictures.
Alternatively you may develop a theme centered around a fictional character, like Winnie the Pooh.
Send Out Invitations
Sending out invitations is the next thing to do after deciding on all the crucial fundamental planning components for the baby shower. Depending on your preference, you could send them in person or electronically.
Don’t forget to incorporate your selected topic into the invitation design and make it pretty and alluring to look at. Include the time, date, and places, as well as any suggested attire or registries, if any.
Plan Out The Menu
During the activities, your visitors will likely get hungry, so you should provide food options for them. At this point, you can get creative, but keep your budget in mind.
Ask the visitors to peruse the menu if the baby shower is being hosted at a restaurant so that you may place an advance order for food.
If the shower is being held at someone’s house, you may put together a buffet or even order a takeout.
Plan Out The Entertainment
The fun really begins here! Endless games can be played with friends and family at baby showers, and you can get pretty creative with the activities you choose to schedule.
You may make a quiz about mom, or a guessing game so that everyone can place bets on the baby’s weight, hair color, etc. You may also play ‘Pin the Diaper on the Baby’, or hold a baby food tasting challenge. The possibilities are endless!
Hire A Photographer
Even though it’s likely that everyone at the party will have a cell phone and will be taking pictures throughout the day, you might want to consider hiring a photographer.
Alternately, you might assign certain individuals to concentrate on snapping photographs throughout the baby shower.
This way, you can capture all the memories of the soon-to-be mother during her last few weeks of pregnancy, enjoying some quality time with her besties.
Decorating Time
During the build up to the baby shower, you will want to start buying decorations for the big day. This includes banners, signs, table decor, party hats, and anything else that will make the party more special.
If you’ve decided on a theme, keep that in mind while shopping for decorations.
Final Thoughts
If you have followed everything on this list, you should be fully prepared for the big day! When the guests start arriving, enjoy socializing and mingling with old friends and family.
If you are hosting for a friend, be sure to make the soon-to-be mother feel special and loved.
And, then, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy all the festivities along with everyone else! Grab some food, and have fun taking part in all the activities.
We hope you found this guide helpful.
