Aimed at further boosting the parents-to-be's excitement for the future member of their family, the baby shower is usually hosted by a close friend or relative, at any time during the last months of the pregnancy.
Just like any other party, a baby shower requires careful planning to ensure that it will go as smoothly as possible, and be memorable for everyone. Although there are no rules cast in stone in preparing for a baby shower, there are some helpful tips to follow to help the host organize every aspect of the event.
1) Decide on the location.
Most baby showers are held at the parent-to-be's house, since the expectant mother's health needs to be considered. It is recommended for small, intimate parties, with only the closest friends and family members. Guests also tend to be more comfortable if the party's setting is at home.
If the expectant parents love the outdoors, a barbecue party at their garden, or a local park may also be an option. Naturally, the weather must be considered - baby shower does not literally mean soaking the guests in the rain.
For less complications, the host may reserve a secluded area in a restaurant or bar. It may be more costly, but at least the decoration, food and drinks, as well as the post-party cleanup will already be taken care of.
2) Choose the party's theme.
For easier decoration ideas, a theme may be decided upon. Consider the expectant parents' favorite movies or hangouts. Another option is to decorate the party site by re-creating the place where they had their honeymoon, such as a cruise ship, or Paris-inspired caf?.
Since the party will also be a celebration of the future baby, a childish atmosphere may also be considered. Choose cartoon characters, bright colors, and other designs depending on the baby's gender.
3) Finalize the menu.
The party's menu will depend upon the time of the event. In most baby showers, the host serves finger food, pastries and other baked goods for convenience. However, if the event will be held during lunch or dinner time, heavier meals will naturally be served. Alcoholic drinks may also be prepared, depending on the guests' preference.
4) Design a fun program.
Contrary to what most people believe, a baby shower is not only limited to mingling around, gift giving, eating and drinking. Fun games may also be included, such as charades, or those which will bring back the guests' childhood memories. Remember that the main point is to make sure everyone will have a good time, and various games will surely liven up the event.
5) Create the guest list and send out invitations.
Prepare a list of the expectant parents' closest friends and family members. Make sure to seek their approval before sending out invitations, to avoid any embarrassing mistakes later. Bear in mind that it's the parents' event, and not the host's, so their choice of people should matter the most.
Ready-made baby shower invitations are readily available in gift shops and craft stores. However, homemade invitations may also be used to provide the host's personal touch.
Send out invitations out two to four weeks before the party to give time for the guests to fix their schedule. Baby shower invitations follow the same format as any other invitation - it indicates the date, time, place, attire preferred, gift registry, if any, the host's contact numbers for RSVP. Just to be organized, prepare a final list of attendees a few days before the baby shower.
It does not matter if another host's availability fell through, if you perhaps were a bit slow on the draw when it came to planning the whole affair, or if the mom-to-be changed her mind at the last minute and decided she would not mind for you to go ahead with the shower - throwing a last minute baby shower will require just a bit more planning, but can be pulled off successfully just as easily as one that has been in the works for months.
First and foremost, decide on a location and a hostess. While you may be the party planner, you do not automatically have to also be hosting it. Once these two are worked out, you will need to delegate. Close friends who will be on the guest list should be recruited to clean the
party location before and after the party, while the hostess should be working with the mom-to-be on a guest list. While the guest list is being put together, you will need to go ahead and order the food and balloons. Yes, you will need to order food before you even know how many people will come for sure, but if you are throwing a last minute baby shower, you do not have the luxury of waiting for RSVPs to be received. Instead, focus on foods that can be easily frozen, so as to provide yummy snacks for the parents-to-be for
the next few weeks. These make for great quick meals that any hurried pregnant mom will appreciate having in her freezer!
Once the guest list is comprised, you will want to consider using electronic invitations rather than mailing out traditional paper ones.
While this will not work for everyone - after all, some folks do not have email - it will get the information out quicker. If time is of the essence, then these emails can be followed up with phone calls a few days later to get a preliminary guest count. If your mom-to-be is a member of a church, you may also wish to include an announcement in the weekly bulletin. At this point, getting the word out is absolutely essential.
Last but not least, you cannot throw a last minute baby shower without contemplating games and entertainment! Make sure you are in close
contact with the mom-to-be and find out if she has any preferences. If the gender of the baby is known, or if a name has already been picked out, this will also help you come up with some specific games that will incorporate this information. So take a deep breath and relax - last minute baby showers happen more often than you think, and they are just as much fun as the ones that have been in the works for months!
Both Julia Sullivan & Dustin Cannon are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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