Tips for planning a successful baby shower
Celebrating the arrival of a new child into the world is an age old tradition; a gathering of congratulatory friends and family welcomes the child into the world and recognizes the happiness that this kind of life change brings about to the new parents. Traditionally a party in honor of a child that is not a birthday party; a baby shower, is an informal affair. It is best to plan and organize the shower in the same manner that you would if it were any other kind of party oriented toward adults – being thoughtful and thorough will ensure the new mother has a wonderful and memorable experience.
So, let’s get right to it and look at some ideas, tips and suggestions for planning a baby shower! Just remember – there is no set way of doing things, whether it is choosing the invitations or deciding on arrival times or music – it is up to you and there is no “right” or “wrong” way, just the way you think is best! The tips given are suggestions, not hard and fast rules.
First things first: make a guest list. Spend time on this part and be thorough and thoughtful. Don’t finalize anything immediately as you may re-think or remember additions to the list after your initial brainstorming. Completing a guest list is an essential building block since you have to plan everything else about the shower around the number of people attending. When your list is final, type it up on your computer, include addresses and contact numbers and print it out (*keep it saved on the computer too).
When a guest list has been finalized you can begin to get an idea of how much money and time will be required to pull everything together. At this time, you can choose a location. If it’s a small party, your house is a fine choice; if it’s a larger party perhaps a restaurant or other suitable venue needs to be considered. If you are utilizing a space other than your home, look into booking dates and availability as soon as you can.
Now you can consider a theme if you wish. A specific theme may dictate what kind of decorations and food are appropriate. Decide if the theme should extend to the invitations in terms of a specific color scheme, etc. Just keep in mind what type of theme or style the mother-to-be would appreciate. Guests you’ve chosen can always be consulted on this too.
Get the invites organized. Invites should mainly match your chosen theme, display all relevant information, and have directions to the location and an RSVP date. You should strive to have the guest list finalized at least 8 weeks in advance as this will give plenty of time for selecting and sending invitations out and plenty of lead time for guests to respond. Invites that do not RSVP within a reasonable time frame should be contacted via phone for follow-up/confirmation.
Food! If your hosting at a restaurant, consult ahead of time with the staff or chef and make sure they are aware of what is required. Determine if they have any suggestions regarding presentation (*service or buffet? etc.). If you are hosting at your home, you can take care of the food or have it catered. As with the restaurant, consult ahead of time with a caterer (*if you’re going that route) and plan accordingly. Note – strive for finger foods that are relatively easy and tidy to serve and eat.
As for activity during the party, only you know what will work best! It is generally a great idea to have ice-breaker type activities that involve everyone in attendance. If there are a large number of guests who have never met before then ice-breaker topics will make everyone feel welcome and encourage conversation as well. As host, it may be a nice touch to have a small speech prepared to announce the occasion and have all the guests recognize the new mother but keep it short and sweet!
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the tips listed here are just guidelines and don’t need to be followed to specification. Rather, they should be treated as flexible suggestions that can be modified to suit your needs and those of the guests. The main thing is not to rush but to plan carefully and to work out the details without over-thinking everything – make the emphasis on fun and not perfection!
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