For women, there’s nothing more exciting, and nothing that brings a greater sense of fulfillment in life, than becoming a mom. Welcoming a new life into the world, and knowing you’ll get to enjoy those great moments like the first bath or the first time your baby walks, fills our lives with joy in a way that nothing else even comes close to matching.
It’s important that we have the support of friends and family when it comes time to welcome our baby into the world, and there’s nothing better to get those closest to us pumped up about our new arrival than a baby shower! If you’re a soon-to-be mom or helping to welcome your bestie to the sisterhood of motherhood, here are five tips to help you plan the perfect baby shower that’s memorable and fun!
1. Think About the Venue
The first thing to consider when planning a baby shower is the size of your guest list, and a location that will fit everyone comfortably: the more you’re going to have, the bigger space you’ll need. If you want to host everyone from your sister to your second cousin’s aunt Rita, some examples of great spaces include:
- Dining Halls
- Convention Centers
- Churches
- Community Centers
- Restaurants or Wine Bars with Private Rooms
If you want to limit your guest list to just a few people, allowing you to be more intimate with each of your guests, you can definitely host a shower right out of your home, and save those reservation costs!
Besides the number of guests, look at the activities you’re planning and how you’re serving food when choosing your venue. For smaller trays with finger foods and simple games, you can settle for a smaller room with just a few tables. If you’re planning a buffet line with an outdoor relay race, then you’ll definitely want to ask the pastor’s wife if you can reserve the church worship hall. Don’t feel reserved about calling different places to get a quote and ask about any discounts they may offer large groups or for baby showers; you’d be surprised how many people are excited to help you celebrate a new life coming into the world!
2. Decide on a Theme
Every baby shower is different, and without a unifying train of thought, it can be challenging to plan a shower that looks perfect, from the balloons to the plates. Choosing a theme is a great way to make sure everything is in order, and that your decorations are absolutely perfect!
If you already know the gender, you can go with themes of blue for boys, tied in with sea-based decorations (sailboats, whales, etc). For girls, pinks or yellows with flowers or cute dresses are perfect. If you don’t know the gender, or don’t want to confine yourself to traditional gender themes, go with bright colors like yellows, greens or oranges, and incorporate tablecloths, balloons or confetti to match!
3. Set Your Budget
Definitely not the most fun part of your planning a shower, but it’s crucial that you set a budget and stick to it. Baby showers can cost as much or as little as you want them to, and there are plenty of options to make sure your focus is all on your guests and your baby, instead of your catering tab.
Aside from the final dollar amount, think about where you want to focus your budget. If you want a bigger or fancier venue, with more guests, you may find that most of your money will have to go towards your reservation and usage fees, or for food. If you are keeping your shower at a smaller scale, that frees you up to focus on getting more of those gorgeous teddy bears to decorate your tables!
As a precaution, once you’ve calculated your final amount, add on another 10% for any unexpected costs: those cute flower napkins might have been $2 when you checked, but you missed the sale, and now they’re $4. Having some, “Well shoot!” funds set aside will help ensure that even if you have a few surprises, you’ll still be able to afford everything you want.
4. Find the Perfect Gifts
Soon-to-be moms will treasure the memories of her baby shower for years to come, and all the more so if she got something that she knows was picked out just for her. Finding the perfect gift for mom is very important for showing how much she’s loved and valued and is a great way to show her just how much you love her.
To find the perfect gift, first, think about momma and the kind of person she is. If she’s a practical person who loves the organization, or just wants gifts she can use to care for her baby, then consider gifts that can be put to work right away. Examples include car seats, a crib, or a baby monitor. And diapers. New moms can never have enough diapers, and they fill up fast (and we don’t mean with feelings of love…)
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On the other hand, if your soon-to-be mom already has everything she needs, then you can think about finding a gift that’s cute and memorable that she’ll cherish for years. Some great ideas can include a professional photographer to take snaps of the shower, a homemade scrapbook filled with the pictures and notes you’ve shared over the years, or a super-detailed diaper cake designed just for her!
5. Plan Your Activities
The best part of a baby shower is coming together with loved ones to celebrate the newest addition to the family, and feeling the outpouring of love and support that mom depends on washing over her. To help make your shower as memorable for your guests as it will be for you or the world’s newest mom, consider incorporating some fun activities into your wedding shower that everyone can enjoy!
One of the best ideas to get everyone engaged is to play games centered around pregnancy and babies. Examples can include Don’t Drop the Baby! or a Couple’s Sack Race. Depending on your venue and the weather, don’t be afraid to get outside and run around a little!
If mom is too far along to risk getting too physical, or you just want to relax without breaking the mood, consider some trivia based games like Nursery Rhyme Fill In the Blank or “My Mom Always Says…” These are great games that allow you to relax inside, don’t cost anything at all, and are great fun for everyone!
It’s All About Mom
However and wherever you decide to host a baby shower, remember that today is all about mom. Soon, she’s going to welcome a new member of the family, and all of the joy and challenge that being a parent entails, whether it’s her first time or not. Do everything you can to make sure that she’s comfortable, gets what she needs, and, most of all, knows that you’ll have her back, no matter what may come. Now, go make that special lady feel like the luckiest mom in the world!
