How to Host a Baby Shower

You've just heard the exciting news that a close friend or family member is pregnant. You're delighted for her and feel inclined to host a baby shower in her honor. Most likely, she'll gladly accept and you'll begin mulling over ideas, and pouring through web pages of advice and tips. Read on for an outline of the basics you'll want to cover.

The first thing to take care of is to talk with the mom-to-be about her guest list. It's extremely important that you obtain a list of people to be invited. This is important for because you need to know the number of people that could attend in order for you to plan several aspects of the party: location, invitations, food, games, and other miscellaneous things that could pop up.

After receiving a guest list from your pregnant friend or family member, you'll need to decide how much money you're willing to spend on the shower. If many people are invited, you may choose to rent a small banquet space if your home is not large enough to comfortably accommodate the crowd.

Once the location and date are set, invitations can be mailed out. Generally speaking, it's good etiquette to give attendees enough notice so they don't make other plans. This can range from a few weeks to several, if the party is going to be held during a busy time of year, such as wedding season. Don't forget, if Mom registered for baby items, you will want to consider whether you'll include that information on the invitation or whether you'll just rely on word-of-mouth.

Things will start getting really exciting when the RSVPs start coming in. After you've got a good idea of the number of people attending, you'll really want to start focusing on the food. If you're working with a caterer, plan a taste-testing meeting. If you'll be preparing the food, make sure you test-drive any new recipes before the day of the shower.

As the shower gets closer, you will want to consider decorations. These can be as simple as flower arrangements on a well-set table, to more extensive themed décor. Craft stores such as Hobby Lobby, Michael's, and Jo-Ann Fabrics offer an assortment of baby shower themed decorations for a reasonable cost. You can find banners, confetti, mints in pink or blue wrappers, balloons, and more! You can also look for decorations online by searching Google. One well known party supply company that offers goods online is Oriental Trading Company.

What would a baby shower be without entertainment? It's extremely important to keep your guest of honor's personality in mind when planning shower games. Some women may abhor these together; others may love them. It's up to you to ask her before you get too far ahead! Also, connecting back to the venue the shower is at, you may choose not to play games at all, or opt for in-seat activities only.

Keeping all these things in mind, you should be able to plan a successful and enjoyable baby shower. Remember, if something doesn't go as planned, just keep a smile on your face and let it roll off your back. Chances are, nobody will even notice! Good luck and enjoy the planning!