Entertaining: How to Throw the Perfect, Stress-free Baby Shower
Cute and chic in equal measure need not mean hard work when it comes to baby showers. Take the pressure off by following these easy steps
This amazing moment in the journey into parenthood deserves to be celebrated so, if you’re planning a baby shower for someone in the family, or a friend or colleague, these tips will set you on the right path to nailing the perfect event.
I recently threw a baby shower for a fellow designer friend, and I wanted it to be stylish, fun and a little bit quirky. I’ve shared my ideas with you here: there are no kitsch games or decorations, only easy-to-replicate DIY projects. I’ll also take you through what to consider in advance, and the key steps in planning a stylishly memorable party for the parents-to-be.
I recently threw a baby shower for a fellow designer friend, and I wanted it to be stylish, fun and a little bit quirky. I’ve shared my ideas with you here: there are no kitsch games or decorations, only easy-to-replicate DIY projects. I’ll also take you through what to consider in advance, and the key steps in planning a stylishly memorable party for the parents-to-be.
What to consider when planning your baby shower
- Delegate to other attendees – you can’t do it all alone. Think about who can help with the invitations, DIY projects, food, drinks and games, etc.
- DIY projects always take longer than you expect so either ask your friends for help or plan a few ‘crafternoons’ well in advance.
Pick a theme
Take your pick from a variety of themes, such as a favourite storybook character, vintage tea party, woodland or nautical. And when making your choice, think about what the parents-to-be like to spend their free time doing (for example, gardening could lead to a floral theme). Make sure the theme is personal to the guest of honour.
For this baby shower I chose an Aztec theme, with the teepee bunting as the starting point. It’s super cute and is now hung up in the baby’s nursery.
Browse ways to display art in a kid’s room
Take your pick from a variety of themes, such as a favourite storybook character, vintage tea party, woodland or nautical. And when making your choice, think about what the parents-to-be like to spend their free time doing (for example, gardening could lead to a floral theme). Make sure the theme is personal to the guest of honour.
For this baby shower I chose an Aztec theme, with the teepee bunting as the starting point. It’s super cute and is now hung up in the baby’s nursery.
Browse ways to display art in a kid’s room
Get your DIY on
Nothing shows your love for the parents-to-be more than some decorative DIY projects that you’ve spent time creating for them and their special day.
Everything seen here was cheap, easy and fun to make. Jazz up terracotta pots from the local garden centre or hardware store with some washi tape in Aztec patterns and colours, and pop in a crazy-coloured cactus to set it off perfectly. Print off pretty patterns on sheets of paper and roll them into cones to create mini teepees, finishing them off with toothpick tops. For the arrows, use the leftover teepee paper to create feathers and use more washi tape to decorate wooden sticks, with black paper cut into arrowheads.
Find creative ideas for upcycling household items
Nothing shows your love for the parents-to-be more than some decorative DIY projects that you’ve spent time creating for them and their special day.
Everything seen here was cheap, easy and fun to make. Jazz up terracotta pots from the local garden centre or hardware store with some washi tape in Aztec patterns and colours, and pop in a crazy-coloured cactus to set it off perfectly. Print off pretty patterns on sheets of paper and roll them into cones to create mini teepees, finishing them off with toothpick tops. For the arrows, use the leftover teepee paper to create feathers and use more washi tape to decorate wooden sticks, with black paper cut into arrowheads.
Find creative ideas for upcycling household items
Bring it to life
No event is complete without flowers or plants to create eye-catching table decorations, so take care to link them in with your theme.
I commissioned a florist to make up an arid desert-style terrarium as the centrepiece for this baby shower. But this is also a great opportunity to practise your flower-arranging skills.
Discover ways to bring plants into your home
No event is complete without flowers or plants to create eye-catching table decorations, so take care to link them in with your theme.
I commissioned a florist to make up an arid desert-style terrarium as the centrepiece for this baby shower. But this is also a great opportunity to practise your flower-arranging skills.
Discover ways to bring plants into your home
Don’t forget the drinks
OK, so obviously not everyone can drink alcohol at a baby shower, but it’s not a party without some bubbles! Also, think about creating a special cocktail or mocktail for the party and write it up on a chalkboard menu.
Finally, whip up some cute straw labels by printing off snappy taglines and taping them to paper straws in colours to match the overall theme. These chevron cups were the perfect hit of colour and were found at a local craft shop.
OK, so obviously not everyone can drink alcohol at a baby shower, but it’s not a party without some bubbles! Also, think about creating a special cocktail or mocktail for the party and write it up on a chalkboard menu.
Finally, whip up some cute straw labels by printing off snappy taglines and taping them to paper straws in colours to match the overall theme. These chevron cups were the perfect hit of colour and were found at a local craft shop.
Go for platters
Large plates of food are ideal when catering for a group of people and are an opportunity to test out your food-styling skills. Think about platters of sandwiches, cupcakes or muffins, and a variety of cheeses and biscuits.
Don’t forget to cater for the mum-to-be when making your sandwiches (avoid processed meats and seafood) and be sure to include hard cheeses, such as Cheddar (as opposed to soft cheeses), that she can safely eat. Homemade dips, such as hummus and beetroot dip, also work a treat and are easy to tuck into while mingling.
Large plates of food are ideal when catering for a group of people and are an opportunity to test out your food-styling skills. Think about platters of sandwiches, cupcakes or muffins, and a variety of cheeses and biscuits.
Don’t forget to cater for the mum-to-be when making your sandwiches (avoid processed meats and seafood) and be sure to include hard cheeses, such as Cheddar (as opposed to soft cheeses), that she can safely eat. Homemade dips, such as hummus and beetroot dip, also work a treat and are easy to tuck into while mingling.
Table-laying tricks
The tablecloth is a great decorative device and the simplest way to introduce your theme on the table. Keen to replicate the fun of nursery school, I used a stamp to make the table runner. It was a bit fiddlier than I expected but the final result was so worthwhile. Once the table was set with the afternoon’s snacks, the teepees were peeping through the plates of food to reinforce the baby shower theme.
The tablecloth is a great decorative device and the simplest way to introduce your theme on the table. Keen to replicate the fun of nursery school, I used a stamp to make the table runner. It was a bit fiddlier than I expected but the final result was so worthwhile. Once the table was set with the afternoon’s snacks, the teepees were peeping through the plates of food to reinforce the baby shower theme.
Don’t forget to note down gifts
You’ll need a rubbish bag to collect wrapping paper and a notepad and pen to write down who gave what gift. This makes writing thank you letters much easier for the parents-to-be.
Discover tips to ease you into parenthood
You’ll need a rubbish bag to collect wrapping paper and a notepad and pen to write down who gave what gift. This makes writing thank you letters much easier for the parents-to-be.
Discover tips to ease you into parenthood
Remember these tricks for tried-and-tested success
TELL US…
Have you ever held a baby shower? If you have any tips, please share them in the Comments below.
- Stock up on food and drink The more the merrier when it comes to what you’ll be serving the guests; you don’t want to be caught short!
- Running out of time? Buy flowers They’re cheap, cheerful and an easy way to spruce up the space at the last minute.
TELL US…
Have you ever held a baby shower? If you have any tips, please share them in the Comments below.