As hostess of a baby shower, your mission is to organize this candy-colored show of moral support. The celebration should be tailored to the tastes of the expecting parents, but must also work for you, your budget, and the amount of time and creative energy you can devote to the task. This book contains the basic guidelines you’ll need to get started, but feel free to improvise and put your own unique spin on this tradition.
Perfect Timing
Plan to schedule the baby shower for some time during the last trimester of the mother-to-be’s pregnancy; most hostesses select a Saturday or Sunday afternoon that’s six to eight weeks before the baby’s due date. Present a few dates to the mother-to-be and let her decide. To ensure the attendance of important friends and family, the mother-to-be should inform these people of the potential dates as soon possible and take their availability into account when committing to a date. Once a day has been selected, it’s courteous- though certainly not mandatory – to send out save-the-date cards or emails, especially if certain guests will be flying in form out of town. Save-the-dates will also be much appreciated if the shower is planned for a holiday weekend or during the summer vacation months.
The Setting
Host the event in a venue that’s conveniently located, at least for the showeree and the majority of guests. Traditionally, baby showers are held in a close friend or relative’s home, though restaurants, tea houses and hotel function rooms are also popular. Public beaches and parks are yet another option, although outdoor celebrations do require a little extra forethought and preparation, due to unpredictable weather and possible alcohol and noise regulations. You might also consider hosting the event at the home of the mother-to-be, thereby eliminating any need for her to travel. And she wouldn’t have to transport a car-load of gifts to her home after the shower.
Also Think About
Formality Choose a venue that will accommodate the showeree’s sense of formality- not necessarily your own. An elegant tea party in a chandelier-lit hotel lobby might strike you as a divine setting for the baby shower, but ignore these instincts if the showeree is a casual, backyard barbecue kind of girl. By the same token, a picnic on the beach would not suit a multi-generational, Chanel-wearing crowed.
Size The number of guests you’re planning to have should guide you in your selection of the proper space. A small gathering will find it difficult to mingle in a sprawling hotel dining room-an intimate lounge with plush seating would feel infinitely more warm and inviting. Meanwhile, the showeree’s cousin may be adamant about having the shower in her tiny apartment, but you’ll have to convince her that such petite quarters cannot accommodate 100 guests.
Food If the venue is providing food and beverages for the shower, make sure you have sampled their offerings at some point or other, or at least have a recommendation from someone who can vouch for the quality. If you have any doubts, ask to schedule a tasting with the chef.Invitations and Guests who’s invited to a baby shower? You’re certainly not limited to a female-only crowed. Co-ed showers are quite commonplace and offer their own breed of fun and excitement. Not that the traditional women-only, deserts-and-punch variety is a total bore, but a gathering that consists of both male and female attendees will have the energy of a “regular” party-much less cute and cuddly, much more chic and contemporary.
Obtain a list of names and addresses from the expectant parents, and plan to have the invitations in the mail at least six weeks before the event.
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