What Is a Gender Reveal Party?

I'd like to think I'm pretty knowledgeable to most pregnancy traditions, like announcing the news, baby showers, etc. So imagine my surprise when I heard about a friend who was holding a gender reveal party. I'd never heard of such a thing, nor did a lot of other people I know. I was curious to know more, and here's what I learned about it.

What exactly IS a gender reveal party?
So the most obvious question so many people have is, what is a gender reveal party? It's the latest fad among the parents-to-be bracket where a party is thrown at which all the guests (including the soon-to-be-parents) find out the sex of the baby. This can be done in a number of ways, but most traditionally (so far, considering this idea hasn't been around too long) is have an ultrasound around the fourth of fifth month of pregnancy, and have the ultrasound technician write down on a piece of paper what the sex is and seal the paper in an envelope. Then the expectant parents give that envelope to either a bakery or a trusted family member, who will then bake a cake with neutral frosting on the outside, but either pink or blue colored cake inside, hence revealing whether it's a boy or girl. Most of the time, it's a surprise for everyone involved, but sometimes the expectant parents already know.

Who pays for it?
Most of the time, it's the expectant parents that are throwing this party, so they're the ones that are expected to foot the bill. However, depending on where it's being held (at their home, perhaps), guests might feel helpful by bringing a favorite dish.

Who's invited?
And speaking of guests, who exactly do you invite to a gender reveal party? More than likely, anyone you would normally invite to a party. Some folks like to make it a grand event, and will invite friends, family, extended-family, co-workers, etc. Others like a small, intimate gathering, like maybe just a the grandparents-to-be or a few close friends.

Are gifts expected?
No, and they shouldn't be. This kind of gathering is quite different from a baby shower; it should be taken as more of a get-together, not a formal shindig. However, most people aren't even aware of this kind of party, so if you plan on sending out invites, you may want to make sure to specifically state that it's a "gift-free" party, so that there's no confusion.

So why do it?
Why throw a gender reveal party? For a lot of expectant parents (especially first-timers), finding out the sex of the baby is such an exciting and awe-inspiring moment, and it can be fun to share the news with those who are a big part of your lives. A gender reveal party can be a fun, pressure-free way to surprise everyone with the news (even the soon-to-be-parents). Plus any excuse to party with your family and friends is a good thing, right? So happy partying!