The Ultimate Baby Shower Guide 2020 – Part 2: How To Plan a Baby Shower
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- Pick a time. The most popular time for a baby shower is approximately 4 to 6 weeks before the birth. This time is preferred by many because it gives expectant parents a chance to create a ‘support network’ of friends who will help them when the new baby arrives. It also allows a window of time sufficient to purchase any items that were not received as gifts. Other parents prefer to wait until after the birth and have a kind of joint baby shower with ‘meet the baby’ event. The time you choose is up to you, but by planning ahead, you can enjoy the best baby shower possible with all the special touches you want.
- Choose a location. The most important factor to consider for this is the mum-to-be. She is the centre of this event so it’s really important to choose a place that she loves and will be comfortable. Consider also the number of guests that will be invited, will the room you have in mind be big enough if everyone is there at once? Having a baby shower at home is comfortable and intimate, also avoiding much expense. Restaurants or cafes can also be a good option, simply book a table at the expectant mum’s favourite restaurant and you’re off to a great start already. Others prefer hotels or party venues for larger events, allowing it to be managed and decorated for less stress and extra uniqueness.
- Prepare a guest list. To plan a successful baby shower, you’ll need to be aware of the number of people likely to attend. When deciding how many friends and relatives to invite consider the size of the space you’ll have as well as the budget you’re working to. Baby showers have traditionally been limited to ladies only, but some parents have preferred to include male friends and partners too. Be sure to consult with the mum-to-be. Once you have a guest list, you can consider your invitations. As this is such a special event and you want to make sure everyone you invite is able to attend, sending out the invites around six weeks in advance is recommended.
- Plan the catering. Next you’ll need to think about food and drink. If you’re having the baby shower in a restaurant or café then you probably won’t need to worry too much about this, a special meal can be ordered and if you want a cake, many restaurants or cafés will allow you to bring one if they cannot provide what you request. At home, keeping things simple is generally best. A simple buffet spread with various finger foods is generally best, served alongside a variety of soft drinks. While keeping things simple is a good policy, you can add imaginative twists to everything you do: instead of simple snacks you could theme your food on a particular cuisine; in addition to soft drinks, you could offer mocktails.
- Think about what games you will play. Baby showers are an incredibly unique event, and for the expectant mum, these memories will last a lifetime. Most baby showers include games, and these really add fun to an already memorable event. One popular game is ‘Who’s That Baby?’ where everyone brings a photo of themselves as a baby and then you have to guess who’s who. Another good game is a baby version of ‘Name That Tune’, prepare a playlist of songs that have ‘baby’ or ‘babe’ in the title, play a short clip to the guests and then make them guess the song name and artist. There’s a lot of really fun games that you can play, it’s worth doing a bit of research. To make the games more fun, you could even have prizes.
- Pick baby shower favours. To thank guests for coming (and for their gifts) it’s customary to give each guest a party favour. You don’t have to spend a fortune, but it’s good to make these as special and unique as possible. Scented candles or soap, jars of sweets, bubble bath, elegant stationery and other items are all generally well received, with extra points for anything homemade! Party favours will help end the event on a happy note and ensure all guests feel appreciated.
