The big day is finally approaching, and it’s almost time to meet the long-awaited new baby. What better time to pamper the mum-to-be and celebrate a new life than to give her the perfect baby shower!
You probably want the party to be perfect for the parents-to-be and don’t want to miss a thing. You’re right, and there’s a lot to plan. Rest assured, even if you’re a novice, it’s relatively easy to organise a baby shower if you start planning early.
Here’s a list of tips to help you organise an exceptional baby shower!
Summary
1. Why organise a baby shower?
As well as being a joyous, once-in-a-lifetime event, a baby shower can help new parents feel less overwhelmed. A baby shower is usually organised by one of the mum-to-be’s close family members or friends. Mum is usually the guest of honour at the party, not the host.
It also gives the new parents a helping hand when it comes to baby gifts and furnishing the baby’s room. Giving essential items, from skin care to onesies, is just as important as more expensive gifts.
2. Set the date
The tradition of baby showers has been popular since the baby boom of the 1940s, as it gives the new mum everything she needs.
It’s common to organise a baby shower when the mother-to-be is between 28 and 35 weeks pregnant. It’s the ideal time while she still has energy and a pretty tummy.
You can also choose to organise a baby shower after the birth, but bear the following factors in mind when choosing the date:
- Organise a party before the birth: the mother-to-be will have time to sort out her gifts, furnish the nursery and buy any missing items. She can relax and enjoy herself.
- Organise a party after the birth: the party can be used to meet the baby. Knowing the baby’s size and name will make it easier for guests to choose gifts.
3. Choose a venue
Think about what the mum-to-be would like as a place to celebrate the arrival of the baby and you can’t go wrong. Of course, your budget, the number of guests and even the weather will all play a part in the choice.
You can choose from the following venues:
- At home: this is a private and comfortable venue. If the party is taking place after the baby is born, the mother-to-be’s home will allow her and her baby to stay in a comfortable place.
- In a restaurant or café: simply book a table in advance, and you’re all set.
Outdoors: you can organise a picnic in a park or near a lake.
4. Decide on the theme and decoration
You don’t have to have one, but choosing a theme can add an original touch to the baby shower and will be appreciated by the mum-to-be.
Here are a few theme ideas:
- Jungle
- Fairytale
- Princesses
- 80s
- Back to high school
- Etc.
If the theme is used for the gender reveal, make sure you get the go-ahead from the mum-to-be first, as she may not want to reveal the sex of the baby just yet.
There are lots of inspiring ideas for decorations to use when organising a baby shower. In general, the main table is the centre of attention in terms of decoration. If you have a theme, the gifts that guests bring can also be part of the decoration.
5. Create the guest list to send out the invitations
The number of guests depends on your budget, the space available at the venue and who the mum-to-be wants to attend.
Whether you’re sending out printed invitations or by e-mail, you’ll need the name and contact details of each guest. If you have a theme, the invitation should follow the theme codes. Indicate the time, date and place of the baby shower, and you can also include information about the gift list.
Invitations should be sent out around four to six weeks before the baby shower. Make a list of responses as they come in, or use an online registration tool.
6. Think about food and drink
If the baby shower is taking place in a restaurant or café, they can create a meal especially for you.
At home, you can prepare a simple buffet or use a caterer. You can also ask each guest to bring a dish to share, or prepare savoury dishes yourself and order cupcakes. Don’t forget drinks such as lemonade, tea, coffee, punch or homemade mocktails.
7. Plan games
Baby showers are generally over after a few hours, but the memory of this event will remain engraved in the memory of the mother-to-be. Think about how much time you want to devote to the games and how many games you need to prepare. Make sure you have the equipment you’ll need, as well as prizes for the winners.
On the big day, try to relax in the knowledge that you’ve done all you can to organise the baby shower, and now it’s time for you and your guests to enjoy the moment and have fun.
With Weezevent, organising your baby shower is easy thanks to our registration tools as well as our marketing and CRM tools that allow you to easily inform your guests before, during and after your event.
