How to Plan the Perfect Baby Shower

So, one of your friends is expecting??

Then she certainly deserves a celebration!? But like all parties, baby showers have the innate ability to go from being a fun get together to becoming an afternoon filled with too much estrogen.?

So, before you go spending a fortune at the party store, be sure to look through these steps to help you plan the perfect shower:

Designate a Host

Back in the day, people had rules about, well, everything.? Thankfully, we?re much more relaxed now, so while it used to be improper for a sister or mother to throw a shower, today it?s perfectly acceptable.? So, don?t rule family members out when it comes to hosting the bash.

Set a Budget

You don?t want to look like a cheapskate, but it?s a good idea to set limits on how much money you?re willing to dish out for the party.? While a shower may not seem like it has many components, it does, multiplied by however many people you invite.?

Pick the Date

The baby?s arrival date may fluctuate but your party?s shouldn?t.? Let guests know the date and time a few weeks before hand, giving them an opportunity to make schedule adjustments.? And try to not let the party exceed 3 hours.? An entire afternoon dedicated to baby gifts can get a bit tiring.

Get a Theme

No one?s suggesting that everyone shows up as a Star Trek character.? Rather, go ahead and plan out how everything is going to come together, and start with your invitations.? People get the feeling for the party by your invites, so the rest of the gathering should be the same. If the invitations are simple and elegant, they?re going to expect the party to follow suit.

Let it Be Heard

Generate a guest list and send out invitations as well as R.S.V.P. information.? You?ll want to make these creative and adorable, so if you?ve got the time, give your wallet a break and make them yourself.?

Make a Menu

Think about what time works for most people and the food that?s served at certain times.? Example: brunch.? It?s generally cheaper than dinner, right?? So, if you?re working on a tight budget, you may want to consider the time of day that you?re throwing the party.? Remember: you?ve got a pregnant lady on your hands, it?s okay to have a little fun with the food.

Think on the Drinks

While the mother-to-be may not wish to partake in the popping of any champagne bottles, she may not want anyone else to suffer.? Talk to her first and figure out what she?s comfortable with before you buy 5 bottles of Dom Perignon.

Help Plan the Gifts

Sure, every new mom dreams about getting her first baby diaper cake?not.? While they?re ?cute,? there are also tons of other items she?ll need more?and there is such a thing as being too practical.? If she doesn?t have a registry, try figuring out what she hasn?t gotten yet, so you can tell guests what she?s actually in need of.

Create A Game

You?ll want to plan an activity for all your guests, but seriously, what?s the deal with creepy baby games these days?? Measuring Mommy?s Tummy?? Guessing what kind of melted chocolate is in the diaper?? What happened??

Classic games are still around for a reason: everyone finds them fun.? Bingo, Pictionary, and charades are great choices?and they don?t offend anyone.

Get Pen & Paper

Right, like you?re going to remember who gifted what.? Keep a pen and paper by the gifts so that when it comes time to opening them, you?re prepared.

Figure Out Party Favors

I ask you: what is someone going to do with a fake baby bottle full of candy?? Or a teeny baby pacifier necklace?? Try gifting small potted plants, small takeaway bouquets, simple teas, or chocolates as favors instead.? They?re all still adorable but slightly more useful.

That about sums it up. Follow these guidlines and your guests will love you! Just remember to enjoy yourself too!

Katie Straw is the Gourmet Scribe at GourmetGiftBaskets.com, one of the top suppliers of gift baskets in the nation, and currently resides in Manchester, New Hampshire.

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Source: http://www.embracinghome.com/how-to-plan-the-perfect-baby-shower/

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