Planning a baby shower can be a lot of fun, but it can also be quite stressful if you have never done any event planning before. Usually, baby showers are thrown by friends and family members of the expecting couple. However, if you do not want them to make any mistakes, you can hire a professional or do it yourself. In fact, it is advisable to do so because the last time your family and friends planned a party for you, the anniversary cake was a complete disaster! You definitely do not want the baby shower to be another failed event.
Below is a checklist of the nine most crucial elements in planning a baby shower or any major event for that matter.
Shindigs is a party shop where you can buy low-cost baby shower supplies online. Fast delivery to major cities, Vies this useful link
1. Date
The first thing you need to decide for any event or party you are planning is when it is going to be held, and baby showers are no exception. One of the main goals of a shower, especially for a first-time mother, is to prepare her for the baby’s arrival. For this reason, baby showers are usually held before the baby is born, but there are a few women who are superstitious and think that it is bad luck to have a baby shower until after the baby has arrived.
2. Location
It is best not to have the baby shower at your house so that you won’t be burdened with cleaning up afterwards.
3. Time
Would you like the shower to be in the morning, afternoon, or evening? Remember to take meal times into consideration. For example, if you have the shower at noon, guests will probably come expecting to have lunch. If you are only planning on having cake or light snacks, don’t plan to have the event during times that are generally considered to be lunch or dinner hours.
4. Guest List.
You need to decide whom you are going to invite to the event. Make a list of the people you wish to invite. Typically baby showers are a “girls only” event, but some women may prefer to include men as well. Another aspect of making a decision is if you are going to ‘allow’ children. Of course, new babies will have to come, but some mum’s prefer to leave toddlers and the older children at home or with a sitter, so it is best if there is an agreement all round on this.
5. Invitations
Once you have your date, time, location, and guest list down, you need to make sure to send out invitations. Make sure you include baby registry information so guests can see what you need for your new baby. Also, make sure guests know who to RSVP to. If you want you can buy cards or you can make up something original on the computer.
6. Theme
Obviously, the main theme is babies, but you might want to choose a sub-theme. For example, if the child is a boy, you might want to have a simple “blue” theme and have blue plates, napkins, streamers, and other decorations. Other fun decorating themes can include dinosaurs, teddy bears, trucks, or other things normally associated with little boys.
7. Food
Plan appetisers or maybe even a light lunch or breakfast for your guests. Cake is a must, so decide what kind you would like to get and whether you are going to make it yourself or order one from a bakery. Also, try to have the cake colour or design tie in with the theme of the shower.
8. Entertainment
Plan some games for the guests to enjoy. There are thousands of popular baby shower games that you can find online, so make up your own. Interactive games are really good because not everyone knows everyone else at a baby shower.
9. Itinerary
To make sure your shower goes off without a hitch, make a rough plan of when you are going to do the activities you have planned. For example, once everyone has arrived, you might have one of the games where people learn each other’s names, and then time could be spent mingling and eating. After that, the games could be played when everyone is more relaxed and wrap up the day with you opening your gifts. The shower should run about two hours to three hours.
Have fun! Remember to relax a little, and don’t stress so much over the details that you are unable to enjoy yourself. New babies make everyone happy, so even if your baby shower does not go as perfectly as you planned, chances are your guests will still have a good time!
