Baby Shower Checklist
Hosting a successful baby shower comes down to planning and organization. The following time-line and step-by-step planning guide will help you organize and prepare a successful baby shower, stay in control during the baby shower party and ensure the mommy-to-be has the time of her life.
Two months before the Baby Shower
* Create the baby shower guest list (Things to Consider: Will you invite women only, or couples?)
* Determine a budget for the baby shower
* Set the date of the baby shower
* Decide on the baby shower location (Things to Consider: Will you have the shower at your home, in a restaurant, a church hall or community hall, or a hotel reception room?)
* Book any special vendors, entertainment or other surprises, if applicable.
One month before the Baby Shower
* Decide on the baby shower theme, the style, formality, and mood of the shower. (Things to Consider: Formal or casual, elegant or whimsical?
* Select and mail the baby shower invitations – include directions (Things to Consider: Will you purchase invitations or make your own? Will you use fill in the blank cards, or custom order them pre-printed?)
* Plan for the baby shower menu (Things to Consider: Will it be a sit down meal, a buffet, pot luck, finger foods, coffee and dainties, wine and cheese, afternoon tea? Who will provide the food? Caterers, restaurant, do-it-yourself?)
Three weeks before the Baby Shower
* Order a the baby shower cake
* Order balloons and flowers if there are decorations
* Order tables and chairs if hosting the baby shower at home
* Order any other special entertainment or surprises
* Order / Book any party rental supplies you may require, if applicable (tables, chairs, linens, outdoor tent, dishware, serving accessories, theme decorations...)
* Purchase your gift for the guest of honor, or the group gift for the guest of honor if you have opted for one large gift from all guests.
* Purchase a guest book or memory album for guests to sign (or make a memory album)
Two weeks before the Baby Shower
* Decide whether you will include party games, and if so, decide on which games
* Buy baby shower decorations, game prizes and party favors
* Buy plates, cups, eating utensils, tablecloths, etc. if you’re hosting the baby shower at home
* Finalize the baby shower menu with the Caterer or Restaurant
* Plan which baby shower games you want guest to play
One week before the Baby Shower
* Establish a final count on your baby shower guest list, particularly if a sit down meal will be served.
* Call invited guests who have not RSVP’d to the baby shower
* Wrap baby shower game prizes and party favors
* Buy film and batteries for camera and video recorder
* If hosting the baby shower at home, begin to clean the home
* Prepare a printed baby shower menu, table assignments and name tags (if desired)
* Buy your baby shower gift for mommy-to-be
* Select background music and make sure you have any equipment you require.
* Order a corsage from a florist for the guest of honor
The day before the Baby Shower
* Begin decorating if you’re hosting the baby shower at home
* Set up tables, chairs, food table, drink table, etc. if you’re hosting the baby shower at home
* Buy baby shower drinks if you’re hosting the baby shower at home
* Purchase food and prepare platters and/or pick up any special food platters ordered.
* Make telephone calls to confirm with all vendors, if applicable.
* Have cash on hand to tip vendors, if applicable.
* If you’re cooking anything for the baby shower, do whatever you can today
* If you are baking the baby shower cake, today is the day
* Make sure camera and / or video camera are ready to go, complete with film, batteries, and any other necessary accessories like a power cord, tripod, etc.
* Wrap gifts/ prizes for game winners and get the baby shower games ready – make sure you have plenty of pencils
* Prepare a time-line for the day of the baby shower so that you stay on schedule. - The time-line should include last minute tasks before the baby shower begins and a schedule to keep the party on track (baby showers are generally 4 to 6 hours)
* Double-check that every item on the checklist before “The Day of the Baby Shower” is done
* Buy flowers if applicable.
* Pick up cake if applicable
* Prepare street signs leading to the party, if necessary.
* Pick up any party rentals that are not being delivered.
* Pick up the corsage for the guest of honor if its not being delivered
* Tidy up house and party area(s).
The Day of the Baby Shower!
* Follow your baby shower time-line to stay organized and calm
* Pick up balloons, flowers and/or other centerpieces if you have ordered them
* Pick up the baby shower cake if you are not baking it yourself
* Finish setting up baby shower decorations and put party favors out on a table
* Set up the gift table.
* Set up the guest book on a table near the door so guests can sign it upon arrival
* Buy plenty of ice for drinks and setup up drinks and cups
* Set out food on tables if you’re hosting the baby shower at home
* Designate certain guests to take pictures and video of the baby shower
* When mommy-to-be is opening baby shower gifts, keep trash bags close by
* Write down the baby shower gifts and who they were given by – use the Invite/RSVP
list to make sending thank you cards easy for mommy-to-be
* Have fun and rest assured that you have planned a wonderful day for mommy-to-be!
Showing posts with label Baby Shower Planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby Shower Planning. Show all posts
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Baby Shower Planning Suggestions
Baby Shower Planning Suggestions
Having a baby shower can be a lot of planning for the baby shower organizer. A standard baby shower itinerary makes it easier to throw the baby shower. It is important to point out that there is no right and wrong order of events. Make sure the mommy to be is the focus and ask her what she would like to see as well. Here are some of our suggestions:
1. Welcome Period: Have a baby shower sign in sheet where guests can sign a pre-made cute board/book or something creative. This is great for those memories to look back on to see who attended the shower. It is also great to leave room and ask for a remark or advice as it is fun to read. Have someone who knows the most guests at the front to greet.
2. Ice Breakers and Mingling: The beginning of the baby shower is great for people to get to know one another, especially if you have different groups of friends and family. Have a pre-designated spot for baby shower gifts. Have some finger foods and drinks as people feel more comfortable with food and drink as they meet and greet.
3. MC (Master of Ceremony) and Organizers Welcome: Have everyone sit down (unless you are at a restaurant with everyone already sitting) and have a little speech made to introduce the mother-to-be as well as thanking everyone from coming. The mother to be may want to say something which is great. It is fun to let everyone know to take pictures, sign the welcome book/board if they have not and to get food. More time to socialize and for the mother to be to walk around is fun.
4. Game Time: While people are finishing eating, it is fun to start the baby shower games and have those baby shower guests that want to play get involved while the others can watch or socialize. Some games are great to play as a group so no one feels like they have to participate if they just want to be an active spectator.
5. Dessert Time: After playing the baby shower games, it is great to serve the desserts. Whether you have them on a table or are at a restaurant and are each served, this is a great time for speeches for anyone that wants to speak and give their funny or sentimental thoughts about the mother and father to be.
6. Gift Giving: It is not customary to give gifts but nice to the host(s) and planner(s) who threw the baby shower as a gift for helping. This gift can be more sentimental than expensive and is a little thank you and memento. This is the time the mommy-to-be usually thanks everyone and especially those that helped plan the party as well as her mom and mother-in-law.
7. Present Opening: It is customary at the end of the baby shower to open the baby shower gifts for those who want to stay. Many like to watch what the mommy-to-be gets as gifts. The end time is always nice as no-one is committed to have to stay for the entire gift opening. It is also a time for social conversation for those who want to sit in the back and talk. It is very helpful for someone to take notes for the mommy-to-be on what she gets from whom so she can later write the thank you cards. Even better, it is a major gift to help write out the thank you envelopes and beginning of each card as a gift for the mommy-to-be which she will appreciate.
8. End of the Party: As the party winds down, it is usually the time that people say their goodbyes and eat the last of the dessert. It is helpful for someone to help the mommy-to-be with the clean up (if at a house) and to get the gifts into the car (if driving).
Having a baby shower can be a lot of planning for the baby shower organizer. A standard baby shower itinerary makes it easier to throw the baby shower. It is important to point out that there is no right and wrong order of events. Make sure the mommy to be is the focus and ask her what she would like to see as well. Here are some of our suggestions:
1. Welcome Period: Have a baby shower sign in sheet where guests can sign a pre-made cute board/book or something creative. This is great for those memories to look back on to see who attended the shower. It is also great to leave room and ask for a remark or advice as it is fun to read. Have someone who knows the most guests at the front to greet.
2. Ice Breakers and Mingling: The beginning of the baby shower is great for people to get to know one another, especially if you have different groups of friends and family. Have a pre-designated spot for baby shower gifts. Have some finger foods and drinks as people feel more comfortable with food and drink as they meet and greet.
3. MC (Master of Ceremony) and Organizers Welcome: Have everyone sit down (unless you are at a restaurant with everyone already sitting) and have a little speech made to introduce the mother-to-be as well as thanking everyone from coming. The mother to be may want to say something which is great. It is fun to let everyone know to take pictures, sign the welcome book/board if they have not and to get food. More time to socialize and for the mother to be to walk around is fun.
4. Game Time: While people are finishing eating, it is fun to start the baby shower games and have those baby shower guests that want to play get involved while the others can watch or socialize. Some games are great to play as a group so no one feels like they have to participate if they just want to be an active spectator.
5. Dessert Time: After playing the baby shower games, it is great to serve the desserts. Whether you have them on a table or are at a restaurant and are each served, this is a great time for speeches for anyone that wants to speak and give their funny or sentimental thoughts about the mother and father to be.
6. Gift Giving: It is not customary to give gifts but nice to the host(s) and planner(s) who threw the baby shower as a gift for helping. This gift can be more sentimental than expensive and is a little thank you and memento. This is the time the mommy-to-be usually thanks everyone and especially those that helped plan the party as well as her mom and mother-in-law.
7. Present Opening: It is customary at the end of the baby shower to open the baby shower gifts for those who want to stay. Many like to watch what the mommy-to-be gets as gifts. The end time is always nice as no-one is committed to have to stay for the entire gift opening. It is also a time for social conversation for those who want to sit in the back and talk. It is very helpful for someone to take notes for the mommy-to-be on what she gets from whom so she can later write the thank you cards. Even better, it is a major gift to help write out the thank you envelopes and beginning of each card as a gift for the mommy-to-be which she will appreciate.
8. End of the Party: As the party winds down, it is usually the time that people say their goodbyes and eat the last of the dessert. It is helpful for someone to help the mommy-to-be with the clean up (if at a house) and to get the gifts into the car (if driving).
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