There are many things to remember when planning a baby shower. Here is some practical baby shower advice:
1. Where’s The Party – The first question to ask when planning a party, especially a baby shower, is where you will be having it and who will be its host or hostess. The party could either be at someone’s house, preferably the host’s or hostesses’, or at a restaurant or event center. The host or hostess, by the way, does not have to be alone in this endeavor. A group can also play baby shower host or hostess. Once this has been decided upon, the next thing to figure out is when the party will be. Consult the expectant mother and father for advice as to their available dates and what time will be most convenient for them. Check with the guests, too, if they can make it on the dates the couple has chosen.
2. Money Matters – Having a budget takes care of the details for the baby shower. From here, you can determine how many guests you will be having, what kind of food you’ll have and so on. Sticking to your budget is always good baby shower advice.
3. Pink or Blue -Ask mom-to-be what the baby’s gender is and you can go with the usual pink for girls and blue for boys, which is the simplest way to choose a theme. However, you can choose a lot of other themes that are not based on gender. For example, if the expectant couple has a favorite band or sports team, that would make an interesting baby shower theme too. There are a lot of options to choose from, but the advice here is to not do too much. An over-exaggerated theme isn’t always the best of themes.
4. Who’s Coming To The Party – This would be a good time to discuss whether this baby shower will be open to everyone or if it will only be family or friends or if there will only be girls allowed. Once you have decided on that, the next thing to do is ask a member of the family you trust to make a guest list. This way, awkward family situations can be avoided. Enlist the father-to-be to help out. This could be a delicate situation, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
5. Decorations and Invitations - It is time to go out and shop! There are lots of decorations and invitations to choose from online that you can just order and have them sent. You can also go to your local crafts store and find all the stuff that you need there. This saves you a lot of time but they can be costly. Should you decide to make your own invitations and decorations, make sure you have enough time. Invitations need to be sent out early to make sure your guests get them way before the baby shower so they can RSVP on time.
6. Snack Time – The kind of food you’ll be having at the baby shower will greatly depend on the time of day that you’re having the party and how many guests are coming. If you are hiring a caterer, then you are saving yourself the headache of cooking yourself. However, if you enjoy cooking for a party, make sure you have enough time to prepare and cook. Keep your menu simple. You can also have a potluck party so you won’t have to stress yourself out too much.
7. Treats – Practical party favors can make your baby shower more unforgettable. Every guest should get one but keep some more handy if you have unexpected visitors.