A baby shower or gender reveal is one of the most special ways to celebrate the newest addition to your family with those you love most. But how can you throw an epic celebration that’s fun, fuss-free and a day to remember? Fear not - we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know ahead of your big day to make sure it goes off without a hitch. Keep reading on to find out more.
Guest list
When organising your baby shower or gender reveal, have an honest conversation with your partner about what you want it to look like. Are you a couple who prefers to keep things intimate with only family and close friends or do you want to share the love with everyone you know? This will help you plan your guest list and make sure that you’re both on the same page.
That being said, think about the people in your life that would love to help celebrate the arrival of your little one. Your special day should be reserved for positive and uplifting vibes only, so make sure you invite people who will make your baby shower or gender reveal a wonderful day to look back on.
Invitations
A general rule of thumb is to send out baby shower invites 4-8 weeks in advance. As baby showers typically take place during the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy, this means getting your invites out the door when you’re around 5 months pregnant.
Now the big question: do you send out your invites electronically or in the post? While sending out baby shower or gender reveal invites in the post is the more traditional way of going about things, there’s equally no harm in sending out your invites online. You’ve got a lot on your plate at the moment, so do what’s easiest for you.
There are countless websites out there that have pre-made templates you can work from to make things as easy as possible. You can also try your hand at making them yourself if you’re a self-proclaimed craft wizard. Whatever floats your boat!
Gift List
While preparing a gift registry can feel a little bit awkward, people actually love working with them as they know they’re buying you something you actually want/need! A great way to balance out your registry is by including lots of items at different price points. You wouldn’t expect a co-worker to pay for a pricy item like a cot or a pram, so make sure you include lower-priced items to make it as accessible as possible for everyone.
Venue
When choosing a venue to celebrate the arrival of your little one, it pays to work with people who know what they’re doing. At The Venue on Middle Street, we have more than 20 years of combined experience in planning and hosting events, so you can rest assured that your day will go off without a hitch.
We know that baby showers and gender reveals require a unique approach to make the day as warm, welcoming and fun as possible - and we’re just the place to make it happen. Depending on your needs and guest list, we have three floors that can perfectly accommodate your celebration. We do the hard work for you so you and your guests can focus on celebrating instead of stressing.
Decor
If you’re planning a gender reveal during your celebrations, it’s a good idea to use neutral decor that doesn’t give away any element of surprise. You can incorporate a mixture of colours to keep things fun and balanced while making your space light, airy and fun.
A great way to add beautiful decorations that make your party come alive without feeling overwhelming is to use a balloon arch kit for people to take pictures with the mama-to-be. You can hang cute bunting and banners behind you with fun sayings such as “oh baby” or “welcome baby”.
Food
Most people don’t expect to receive lunch or dinner at a baby shower. This type of affair is usually reserved for picky bits such as appetisers, desserts and other foods that are easy to eat standing up or when in conversation with someone else. The last thing you want is to serve food that’s hard to eat!
Keep it simple and prepare a charcuterie board filled with yummy meats and cheeses that people can pick from. Serve 3 other appetisers such as arancini, veggies and puff pastry treats. And add loads of cakes and goodies! There’s no need to stress out on the food front when it comes to a baby shower - keep it easy and accessible.
Games
If you haven’t announced your baby’s gender, you could hang a chalkboard that says ‘boy’ or ‘girl’. Each guest will then put a tally park in either column signifying their guess. This is a fun way to get everyone involved in the surprise!
You can also have a nappy competition where people race to put a nappy on a doll as quickly as possible. This results in lots of laughs as guests scramble to remember which side goes where. A guaranteed fun time!
Throw a baby shower to remember
Throwing a baby shower or gender reveal should be fun, stress-free and a day to remember. If you’re looking for the perfect place to host your special day, visit our website for an instant quote or contact us for more information. We can’t wait to give you the baby shower of your dreams!