As most of you know, our families are a tad spread out. So when I was pregnant with Oliver, I had four baby showers in three different states! Needless to say, I picked up a few things and by the third one I was a baby shower expert! Read on for 11 tips for a fun and successful baby shower that’s sure to be memorable!

Choose a Theme

This one sounds so obvious but I think a lot of ladies can agree that this is one of the tougher choices. There are so many color schemes and pinterest-worthy themes to pick from that it can get overwhelming. But once you decide on your colors and theme, it will streamline everything else and you can carry it across all aspects of the special event –  into your cake, invites, decorations and maybe even your outfit!

Side note: if you’re having a co-ed baby shower, may I suggest gender neutral tones!

Set a budget!

A biggie that will determine everything from the food, to the guest count and deciding on things such as fresh flowers or hand-crafted decorations. This even helps decide the time of day for your shower. Brunch or breakfast will generally be more wallet-friendly than lunch or dinner.

Food

Whether you choose to prepare all the food or let a caterer or restaurant take care of it, I suggest buffet-style or self-serve settings. This allows you to enjoy your time with your guests without having to think about food logistics. One of my showers had a super cute mimosa bar which was so fun! And most restaurants are willing to offer a reduced-version of their menu for your guests to minimize confusion.

Create a timeline

Most venues allow an allotted time for parties or events. If you’re having food, desserts, games, opening presents, etc. its a good idea to create a timeline for these events. This helps ensure you stay on track and get enough time for all of the activities you worked so hard to plan!

Decorate

This is such a fun part. I love the idea of creating a center table where you can place the cake, desserts, favors, and any fun decoration. It’s great backdrop for pictures, too! Have fun with this and make it as elaborate as you like!

Favors

Another great area to get creative! There are so many favors you could send your guests home with at a wide variety of budget points. We had candy bars with goodie bags so guests could take home; we did mini champagne bottles and macaroons. You can really have fun with this!

Personalize

This is your baby shower and should represent you! I went to a baby shower where the host requested kid’s books in place of gift cards. Most guests wrote a little note in the front pages and it’s something that will be meaningful and that baby will actually use as he gets older.

We made selfie frames to pass around and guests could take pictures. Everyone had fun doing this. We also made a hashtag #oliverjoly for the baby shower which was fun because I could see all the pictures from the event that were uploaded to social media.

Gifts

You’ll find that your friends and family will want to shower (hence the name) your little one with gifts. I strongly recommend creating a personalized gift registry of items you want. Myregistry.com allows you to pick items from many different stores and consolidate them in one universal list. Guests even have the option of mailing the gifts directly to your door which is great for when your baby shower is out of town! Another option could be to request cash or gift cards!

Don’t forget to set a space for the gifts. If you are only expecting cash or cards, make or buy a box so that you have somewhere to put all the cards. If guests will be bringing gifts, a separate table is ideal!

Call in Help

If you’re planning your own baby shower – don’t be afraid to ask for help. I was lucky enough that friends and family helped host all four of my showers. But if you’re the one doing all the organizing – ask a close friend or relative to help. Make a fun day out of it by watching Baby Mama while you craft or grab lunch before going to choose your flowers!

Games!

Some people love them some people hate them but baby shower games are sure to add some humor to the party! This is another area where you can truly personalize your party. If games don’t sound appealing, projects or craft stations are a fun way to let your guests feel a part of the baby’s life. A few ideas are setting up a headband station or onesie decorating so each guests gets to personalize something for the baby to wear when he/she is born.

Enjoy!

I cant stress this enough. Not everything will go exactly as planned (does it ever?) but who cares! The important thing is that you’re sharing this special day with your friends and family!

Do you have any great tips for event planning? I’m currently organizing Oliver’s first birthday party – I’d love to hear from you! Let me know!