Baby showers are a great way for friends and family to celebrate a mum-to-be. For those planning the festivities, though, the party favours, decorations and food can cost a pretty penny. Here’s a look at strategies for planning a baby shower without breaking the bank.
Theme
Having a theme will actually make things easier. For example, if you choose a storybook theme, your decorations could include pictures and toys taken from storybooks as well as the actual books themselves. Guests could be invited to bring their favourite children’s book as a gift.
A simpler solution is to choose a single colour, which will help tie it all together. If you go with a pink theme, for example, mix and match various shades of pink for simple but eye-catching decor. It’s quick, easy, and looks lovely.
Venue and Food
Throwing a baby shower at a restaurant can cost a lot of money. Instead, consider hosting the shower at someone’s home and get cooking! Check out Martha Stewart, Jamie Oliver, Spoonful or BBC Good Food for party food recipes.
You can also consider holding the party in a public space like a neighborhood park. If you choose an outdoor venue, you’ll also need to put a rain plan in place.
Digital Invites
Skip the snail-mail invites and consider sending digital invitation offered by sites like Celebrations, Paperless Post, Tiny Prints or Punchbowl. Most of them offer free online RSVP party manager, which can help you manage your guests’ RSVPs and take a little more stress off your shoulders.
Activities and Entertainment
Find out what the mum-to-be would like before asking guests to measure her belly with a roll of toilet paper. If she hates playing shower games, then make a music playlist that guests of all ages will enjoy and plug in the iPod.
Dessert
Enlist invited friends and family to help with the dessert bar so that everybody feels like they’ve been part of it. Or set up a DIY cupcake decoration station — you provide the prebaked plain vanilla and chocolate cupcakes, frosting, and topping options.
Photographer
Why not get the guests to help document the special event? Assign a special hashtag for the shower, and invite guests to hashtag their Instagram party photos using it. After the shower, the photos can be made into a mini photo album and gifted to the mum-to-be.
Favours
Forgo personalised door gifts. Stick to foodie favours like homemade cookies. Package them with party bags from Daiso (everything for RM5!) and a pretty ribbon.
What are your best tips for throwing a baby shower?
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Image Credit: Fiskars, Martha Stewart, Jamie Oliver.
