- Food Ideas
- Party Favors
- Centerpieces
- Invitations
- Inviation Wording
- Games
- Icebreakers
- Themes
- Etiquette
- Types
- Itinerary
- Office Baby Shower
- Neutral Baby Shower
- Cakes
- Diaper Cake
- Diaper Wreath
- Diaper Baby
- Gift Baskets Homemade
- Baby Sock Bouquet
- Baby Shoe Mint Cup
- Dainty Cups
- Baby Shower Notepads
- Flower Pens
- Homemade Invitations
Planning a Baby Shower
Planning a Baby Shower can be fun, creative, and challenging especially if you want to have an inexpensive shower. The more you do yourself, the more money you save. If at all possible, plan on making your own babyshower crafts, invitations, and/or party favors.
Planning a Baby Shower with help is not only more exciting, it is definitely a whole lot easier. If it is at all possible try to get three other people to help you and assign them the roles of Host, Decorator, and Photographer. If you have to do it all by yourself then see below for a timeline. Pace yourself and leave plenty of time for items you ordered over the Internet, in catalogs or anything that must be delivered by mail. Do all of your shopping one - two weeks before the big day so that you have plenty of time to purchase anything you forgot and/or so you will have plenty of time to put together any gift baskets, diaper cakes, diaper wreaths, etc. Order the food ahead of time if applicable and then you will not have to worry about it until the day of or the day before the Shower.
If this is an Office Baby Shower, be sure to make all clearances and reservations ahead of time. Check on them a few days before the Baby Shower to make for certain that there is no double booking or other issues. Remember that if you work in a workplace that houses many employees, there really is no way for you to know how many people will attend. Order a little extra but not much as from my experience most Baby Shower's at work occur at or around lunch time so in these case, running out of food should not be much of an issue.
When hosting a baby shower, following these simple steps will ensure that your Baby Shower goes smoothly and having some order will also allow you to calm down and enjoy planning for the big event!
1. Select a Baby Shower Theme!
This is not something that you have to do as a matter of fact, for a Workplace Baby Shower, I wouldn't not even recommend it. But it will definitely make things go along a whole lot quicker and you will even feel more efficient and organized. Your theme can be as broad as a color or as restrictive as the expectant mother's favorite sports team or cartoon character. You can have everything surround the theme, food, decorations, games, center pieces, gifts, etc. or you can just have the decorations revolve around it. It is all up to you and we have some ideas for you!
2. Gather the Guest List
This is going to determine how much food, how many plates, spoons, party favors, prized, etc. so it is best we go on ahead and tally up the number of guests that you are expected to attend. Use this handy sheet to keep up with the number of guests and whether or not they have RSVP.
3. Plan your Budget
Now that you know how many people will be attending, set a strict budget before you buy anything that way when you go shopping and see a huge selection of items that match your theme, you will be able to choose wisely! If you have people assisting you with paying for the shower, be sure to share your budget and collect all monies due at least three weeks before the shower. Most of the money should go to catering and decorations but the more creative you are, the less expensive the shower will be. Take advantage of our Baby Shower Crafts section and see how many items you can make homemade.
4. Set the Environment
Before you send out the invitations, consider what type of environment you want the Baby Shower to take place in. Do you want it to be relaxed, formal, cute? Figuring this out now will help you pick out your invitations, games, favors, and maybe even theme.
5. Plan the Menu
You can make the menu match your theme or not. You can purchase all your items, or make your own platters. Either way, you can go to this page and check out these baby shower theme specific recipes or you can check out our simple and quick baby shower food ideas.
6. Select a Location
Most showers are held at the home of a loved one or in a workplace. No need to spend extra money, reserving space, you can accomplish what you would like right in your living room or if it is warm, right in your backyard!
7. Set a Date
Meet with the expecting mother to determine when will be a good time for her! She is likely to be attending the doctor's office frequently and you want to select a time that will be doable for the guest of honor! Give her enough time to set a date that will also be good for her hubby or any other significant others she is planning on inviting.
8. Pick your Games and Baby Shower Party Favors
Go on and decide on which games you will have the guest play and which favors you will send them home with. Leave yourself ample time for mail order deliveries and/or any assembly/preparations needed. If it is a co-ed shower, consider Baby Shower Jeopardy or Wheel of fortune!
9. Send out the Invitations
Go on and send your invitations to your guest. If this is an Office Baby Shower, email them now and again a week and the day prior to the shower. Learn how to make your own invitations using Microsoft Word.
10. Decorations and Centerpiece ideas
check out this list of do-it-yourself centerpiece and decorations ideas.
Baby Shower Planning with no Help
Use this timeline to assist you in your planning if you have no help! It starts at about one month from the date of the shower and doesn't leave anything out!
Baby Shower Planning with Help
If you have people willing to help you pay for and plan the shower then this is the timeline for you! You could assign people to do the decorating, catering, hosting, and photography or divide the duties of these titles up among the people you do have.
The duties for the host would include:
- Record all gifts received at the Shower
- Determine which games and/or party favors will be used at the Shower
- Greet the guest at the Shower
- Pick any music for the Shower
- Decide on a seating arrangement – consider if the game played will affect how the guests need to be seated
The duties for the photographer would include:
- Take pictures at the shower
- Have film developed/printed by designated time
- Place pictures in any scrap books if applicable (i.e. part of the shower activities included preparing scrap book pages)
The timeline for the decorator and caterer are linked below:
