April Showers Bring... Babies!

Flowers are blooming, fresh starts are beginning, and babies are being born! Being baby-less, I feel like I am always on the shower committee - which I LOVE. I love beautiful things, so babies, expectant mothers, and a gathering of strong women supporting one another is a great time.

These days, there is SO much inspiration for baby showers (hey, Pinterest), but I thought I would share a couple of thoughts I have gathered from attending and throwing so many showers.

Pinterest is Great, Simple is Better.

Unless you have an unlimited budget and time, it may be hard to recreate everything you pin. While DIYing is awesome — have you ever seen those “Pinterest Fail” pages? — sometimes, it’s best to work within your means. Maybe pick one DIY project you can master and a couple of all-star recipes to make. Save the Pinterest board for overall inspiration.

Simple is a great focus for decor, timeline of events, and even food! No need for a four course plated meal.

Example Brunch Baby Shower Menu:
Mimosa Bar, Coffee, Water
One Veggie Frittata
One Meat Frittata
Fruit Salad
Assorted bagels or bread
Decorated cookies
Done!

Themes and Decor

Don’t kill yourself over a strict theme. A baby is coming! It’s a celebration and a time to shower the expecting mother, so you don’t need mountains of tablecloths and garland on every single plate in order to do that. I like to keep in mind that although we are celebrating a baby on the way, this party is for adults.

I often save a chunk of my decor budget for flowers. You can pick them up the morning of and take minimal work compared to that paper mache giraffe you pinned. Whether we are expecting a bouncing baby boy or girl, flowers are totally appropriate and bring a sense of freshness and sophistication. Plus, giving an arrangement to the mom-to-be and grandmothers at the end of the day is a sweet touch! Check out my blog on easy floral arranging tips here!

A mimosa bar, beautiful cake, and gorgeous food can really shine as decor with no extra cost! Display it beautifully on your nice serving dishes (you can always borrow from friends!) and in glass pitchers, and you'll be well on your way.

I have a couple of faux leaf garlands on hand for Christmas, birthday parties, Easter—you name it, and I can personalize those for an event! Add a colorful banner from Target to hang with the garland and you have a stunning entrance for a baby shower.

Timeline

Keep it moving. An appropriate timeline for a shower is about 3 hours. Many guests have busy weekends and multiple engagements. I always think it’s nice to do presents while the guests are served sweets or cake if there is one, especially if there are a lot of gifts to get through.

For games, I would check in with the mom-to-be. Some moms don’t even want a game at their shower, which is fine… but if she does, game on! I would focus on a game that is simple, interactive, and doesn’t take a lot of time or brain power.

Pinterest has millions of ideas here, but some of my favorite baby shower activities have been:
Who’s that baby?: Have guests bring in their own baby photos and pin them to a board.
Diaper Changing Races: These are funny—perfect for a energetic crowd!
Notes/Prayers for baby: Set up a table where people can write sweet notes throughout the day.

Example Baby Shower Timeline:
10AM: Arrival/Coffee/Mimosa Bar
10:30AM: Brunch is served
11:30AM: Game/Activity
12PM: Cake served, Gift opening
12:30PM-1PM: Good Byes

Favors

I don’t think anyone goes to baby showers thinking “I can’t wait to get the party favor!” These are no longer expected, so if there's just not enough budget or time, don’t sweat it. If you do have the capacity and dollars, something simple and useful is best. I like small candles, sweet treats (appropriate for adults ie: candied almonds), or plants/seeds.

How exciting it is to celebrate the arrival of a new life! The most important thing is that you are showering a loved one who is bringing a new human into this world—and that is really special.

Check out some of my inspiration below!

Eucalyptus Garland, Hobby Lobby