Baby Shower Hosting Checklist - Everything You Need to Consider
So you've got the task of organizing a baby shower for a friend or family member and now you don't know where to start.
As baby showers are still a relatively new phenomenon in the UK, not everyone's heard of one, attended one or even have any idea what's involved in one! It's not surprising that it can be a daunting task then if the success of the baby shower party is down to you.
Planning a baby shower, however, doesn't have to be a difficult job as long as you have a checklist of things to consider.
You don't even have to include all of these elements to throw a great baby shower as the parties are all unique and will depend on all sorts of factors such as the personality of the mum-to-be & the guests, the availability & type of venue, the number of guests, the timing & length of the party, and so on.
So use this checklist as a basis to ensure you've covered all the bases and then pick out what you need to make your ideal baby shower party.
Things to think about: o Have you worked out the budget for the baby shower? Are you going to be paying for it yourself or will you and your guests all chip in? o Is the party going to be a surprise? Have you thought about whether mum-to-be likes surprises or would like to be involved in the decision making? If it's to be a surprise, how will you get the mum-to-be to the party? o Where do you want to host the party? Can you hold it at your home, the home of the mum-to-be, or do you need to find another venue? o How long do you want the party to go on for? What time of day do you want to hold it and have you thought about whether any guests coming from a distance away will be able to arrive in time? o Have you worked out a suitable date when you know mum-to-be is going to be available and that isn't too close to her due date? o How many guests can you cater for/will the venue comfortably hold? Have you worked out which friends and family would be best to invite? Do you know the contact details of these guests? Will you send them formal invitations through the post or email/telephone them? o Do you want specific baby shower themed tableware and decorations? If so, have you thought about where to buy them from? Do you want a theme for the party and if so, what will it be? o Are you going to have a centerpiece such as a nappy cake or baby clothes bouquet? If so, do you need to order one or will you make it yourself? o What kind of food and drink will you serve? Will you have a cake and if so will you be baking it yourself or buying it? Are you going to cook the food yourself or do you need to pre-order? o Are you going to have any party games and if so which ones? What would mum enjoy playing - does she like to be centre of attention or prefer group games?.
Do you want to have prizes for the winners? o Will you need a guest book for mum-to-be to have as a keepsake? o Are you going to give your guests favors as a thank-you for coming? If so, have you thought about what would be a suitable token? o Are you going to be giving gifts and if so, what gifts are you going to buy? Something for the baby or perhaps for the new parents? Has the mum-to-be got a wish list or bought anything already? o Do you need some thank-you cards to make mum's life easier after the party? o Who is going to clear up afterwards? Will mum need help getting gifts home?
As baby showers are still a relatively new phenomenon in the UK, not everyone's heard of one, attended one or even have any idea what's involved in one! It's not surprising that it can be a daunting task then if the success of the baby shower party is down to you.
Planning a baby shower, however, doesn't have to be a difficult job as long as you have a checklist of things to consider.
You don't even have to include all of these elements to throw a great baby shower as the parties are all unique and will depend on all sorts of factors such as the personality of the mum-to-be & the guests, the availability & type of venue, the number of guests, the timing & length of the party, and so on.
So use this checklist as a basis to ensure you've covered all the bases and then pick out what you need to make your ideal baby shower party.
Things to think about: o Have you worked out the budget for the baby shower? Are you going to be paying for it yourself or will you and your guests all chip in? o Is the party going to be a surprise? Have you thought about whether mum-to-be likes surprises or would like to be involved in the decision making? If it's to be a surprise, how will you get the mum-to-be to the party? o Where do you want to host the party? Can you hold it at your home, the home of the mum-to-be, or do you need to find another venue? o How long do you want the party to go on for? What time of day do you want to hold it and have you thought about whether any guests coming from a distance away will be able to arrive in time? o Have you worked out a suitable date when you know mum-to-be is going to be available and that isn't too close to her due date? o How many guests can you cater for/will the venue comfortably hold? Have you worked out which friends and family would be best to invite? Do you know the contact details of these guests? Will you send them formal invitations through the post or email/telephone them? o Do you want specific baby shower themed tableware and decorations? If so, have you thought about where to buy them from? Do you want a theme for the party and if so, what will it be? o Are you going to have a centerpiece such as a nappy cake or baby clothes bouquet? If so, do you need to order one or will you make it yourself? o What kind of food and drink will you serve? Will you have a cake and if so will you be baking it yourself or buying it? Are you going to cook the food yourself or do you need to pre-order? o Are you going to have any party games and if so which ones? What would mum enjoy playing - does she like to be centre of attention or prefer group games?.
Do you want to have prizes for the winners? o Will you need a guest book for mum-to-be to have as a keepsake? o Are you going to give your guests favors as a thank-you for coming? If so, have you thought about what would be a suitable token? o Are you going to be giving gifts and if so, what gifts are you going to buy? Something for the baby or perhaps for the new parents? Has the mum-to-be got a wish list or bought anything already? o Do you need some thank-you cards to make mum's life easier after the party? o Who is going to clear up afterwards? Will mum need help getting gifts home?
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