Organizing A Baby Shower 101

Baby showers, as everyone across the United States knows them today, have evolved into an incredible, colorful, and joyous celebration of the impending start of brand new life - both for the new babe and for the parent.

Organizing and planning the perfect baby shower for your best friend, sister, mother, or any other cherished family member does not need to be as complicated, stressful, or expensive as you think. Furthermore, the sooner you put your plans into place, the sooner you can get to the pregame fun - like planning your outfit and picking the perfect baby shower gift. Here’s a quick 101 breakdown of all the best baby shower basics.

Date and Time

Traditionally, American baby showers are held approximately six or seven months into the pregnancy, so the bump is showing, but your friend is not at risk of giving birth any time in the immediate future and is still relatively restful. Additionally, one of the other reasons baby showers are usually held within this time period is that the mom-to-be still has time to purchase baby clothes, diapers, and toys that they still need after the shower.

Baby showers are usually held around the brunch or lunchtime mark, and obviously, check with the expectant mom as to a date that suits her. Be sure not to tell her any more information to keep her baby shower as much of a surprise as possible. 

Drinks, Drinks, and More Drinks

In terms of drinking, obviously, the expectant mom-to-be will not be partaking, but this does not mean that you and the rest of the celebrants have to consist on sparkling water. The best way to ensure all your baby shower invitees always have a full glass of bubbly in their hands is to hire professional and experienced bartenders, such as Event Bartenders, who will make the baby shower the best celebration for the excited mom-to-be and ensure the day is one to remember. 

Budget, Guest List, and Themes

Traditionally, the theme of a baby shower is blue or pink, dependent on the gender of the new baby. However with the decline of gender stereotypes, and growing trend of keeping the gender of the baby a surprise (can we all just agree on no more gender reveal stunts already?), many baby showers tend to have a gender-neutral color scheme. Seasonally dependent themes or themes that relate to the parents themselves are great options for sidestepping the gender theme altogether.

In terms of organizing the guest list for the baby shower, consider how outgoing or insular your friend is and how much of a ‘show’ they would want, as well as how much of a fuss you think they would like to be made around them. If they are outgoing and would enjoy a lot of fuss, invite as many people as possible and go to town on the invitations, requesting fancy dress and balloons aplenty. If, conversely, your friend is a quieter and more considered person usually, perhaps a smaller, more intimate affair would be more suitable. Evites are a great way to keep track of the guest list, are more environmentally friendly, and easier to send (especially last minute, ahem).

Regardless however, make sure your parameters are clear when throwing any kind of party for someone else. How much time are you both expecting you put into it? What will the division of labor look like and who will be helping you? How much will it cost and who will contribute towards it? Getting these sorted and clarified asap will help a great deal when it comes to setting aside stress and potential conflict - and will allow you to truly enjoy the day and celebrate the ones you love.