A baby shower is a very special event and so naturally it is only fitting that you should want to formally invite your guests. So, unless a baby shower is intended as a surprise or is being arranged in a hurry, then a written invitation is almost always the best method to use. Where this is not feasible then personally inviting guests by telephone is acceptable and e-mailing your invitations should be avoided in spite of the fact that they might appear to be convenient and fast.

As long as your finances allow then your shower invitations can be custom ordered but this is really unnecessary as there are many very good pre-made invitations available either on the Internet or locally. As an very good alternative you can also create your own baby shower invitations if you have enough time and a bit of creative talent.

As with any party invitations your guests will have to have some basic details such as the name of the person who is the subject of the shower, the full name of the host, the date and time of the shower, the location and instructions on how to RSVP.

Another thing to think about adding is details of any theme for the event or the shower gift registry and this can be somewhat tricky because a lot of people feel that this is presumptuous and places excessive pressure on the guests. This is naturally a matter of personal choice, but one solution that often works is to leave this out of the invitations, request you guests to reply by telephone and then than slip this artfully into the conversion when guests do confirm their attendance. Remember though that you must have this information to hand when your guests phone and etiquette dictates that you should only give out any shower gift registry information when your guest requests it. When the baby shower is to be a formal event then you cannot go far wrong if you keep to etiquette but, when the shower is less formal and involves just close friends then you can probably get away with relaxing the rules.

The timeline for a baby shower planning is very important and the greater the notice the guests are given the better. As a result, you should aim to send your invitations out 4 to 6 weeks ahead of the shower date and this is especially important if guests from out of town are being invited. When this is not feasible then you should certainly aim to send your invitations out a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks before the party. A good period of notice allows your guests time to sort out their schedules, RSVP and go shopping for suitable gifts.

It is also important that you request your guests to pick up the phone to let you know whether or not they will be coming. With all the tasks involved in organizing your shower the very last thing you need is to have to telephone around to discover if some of the guest plan on coming. However, there will almost always be some guests who do not reply and so one week before the party date you will need to make time to contact those individuals to find out their intentions. An accurate head count will help a great deal with making the arrangements for your very special event.