PLANNING YOUR FIRST BABY SHOWER
If you are hosting a baby shower for your best friend or relative then you want to make sure it will fun,
memorable, and stress-free! The best way to guarantee this is to plan the baby shower online. It will
allow you to share and inform guests about all of the details and allow others to be involved in the
planning process.
Here are 7 steps to follow to begin planning a successful baby shower:
1. Set a Budget
Before arranging anything, you first need to establish how much you are willing and able to spend on
the baby shower. It is sometimes a good idea to have a co-host to help you with the costs. Having the
baby shower at yours or another guest’s home is the most economical option. The menu and decor will
also depend on your budget.
2. Create a guest list
Asking the mother-to-be whom she wants to invite is the best way to make sure you do not forget about
anyone important. Friends, family, and co-workers usually make up the guest list. You want to obtain
the contact information (address, phone number, email) of invitees as soon as possible to be able to get
the estimation on the number of attending guests so you can continue planning.
3. Choose a theme
As the host, you can decide whether or not the baby shower will have a theme. Selecting a theme
definitely adds to the ambience of the shower and makes it easier to plan the website and invitation
design, food, games, and decor. If the expecting mother loves tea, then the shower theme can be a “tea
party” whereby different teas will be served in fun and pretty teacups. “Pampering mom” is another
possible theme whereby everyone will receive spa treatments including hair, nails, facials, and
massages. If you are having trouble deciding on a theme, you can ask your guests for their input and
suggestions on your website message board.
Themes aren’t necessary to plan a fun shower. You can simply choose pink or blue decor (depending if
you know the sex of the baby) and can have supplies with pictures of toys and animals on it to add to
the ‘baby’ feel.
4. Invite guests
It is so easy to invite guest online to the baby shower by sending out a broadcast email. The invitation
should be informative and fun and include the following information:
• Date, time, location and theme of the shower
• Contact person information (# and email)
• A link to the baby shower website
• A description of activities that will take place
• Explain how to RSVP online and mention RSVP deadline
• Include baby registry information
With you baby shower website, guests will be able to RSVP online and should be encouraged to do so by
a specified date. This will allow you to always keep track of your guest list, and send out reminders to
those who have not responded.
5. Menu
The menu will depend on the time of day the shower is being held. If the shower is taking place over a
mealtime then you are expected to serve various food options. It can be either a sit-down meal or a
buffet. If the shower is held during an afternoon, then snacks and appetizers are sufficient.
It is customary to have a cake for the expecting mom at the baby shower. You should decide early if you
or another guest will make the cake or it will be ordered from a bakery. The design on the cake should
be related to the theme of the shower.
In order to make sure your food selection matches the tastes and dietary requirements of your guests,
you can ask guests about their preferences and any restrictions on their online RSVP form available on
the baby shower website.
6. What games will you play?
A fun baby shower includes many silly games and prizes. Games and activities are a great way to get
guests acquainted and mingling. They should be simple and easy to explain and set up. You need to plan
this in advance to make sure you have all the right supplies. Games and activities should be selected
based on the theme and baby related topics, and you want to make sure the mom-to-be can participate
and enjoy. You can have any type of baby games such as baby name Scrabble, or pin the pacifier on the
baby, a guess who gave it gift opening game.
7. Gift registry
You and your guests want to buy the expecting mom something she actually needs and wants. A gift
registry can be set up on your baby shower website with details and a direct link to the expecting mom’s
online registry for guests to browse and purchase.