Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Throwing A Beautiful Baby Shower
The birth of a baby is one of life's greatest miracles, and is an occasion that deserves to be celebrated. Help the new parents get a jump start on the celebration by throwing them a baby shower that they (and their guests) will never forget.
The guest list: Check with the parents to be to see who they'd like to be invited to the shower. Find out if they'd like to make it a girls' day, or if men and women will be included. Or, if you'd like to make it a surprise, talk to some close family of the mom-to-be and put a list together with them.
The invitations. Choose your invitations carefully; they are the first impression you will make on the guests! For a personal touch, consider having photo invitations made. Photos of the parents to be or even an ultrasound picture of their impending arrival can be included on the invitation along with all of the party information.
The theme. Choose a theme for the party. Have the parents to be registered yet? Check out their registry to see if they've chosen their baby's bedding yet and carry that theme through your decorations and favors. For example, if they've chosen a butterfly theme their little girl's room, you can incorporate butterflies into your cake decorations, favors, flowers, centerpieces. . . any way you want. If they haven't chosen bedding (or if the gender is a surprise) you can go with a color theme - pink or blue if you know whether they're having a boy or girl - or maybe yellow or green if it's a surprise. Or maybe you can go with the birth month for a theme - a St. Patrick's Day party for a March baby, or a Beach Baby party for a summer due date. Just use your imagination!
The drinks. Alcohol isn't necessary for a great shower. Choose a "signature drink" to serve and make it a "virgin" version served in wine or champagne glasses. Your signature drink can be as simple as pink lemonade for a little girl's shower or a blue punch for a little boy's shower. You can even tie your drink into the mom to be's heritage - Mojitos for a Cuban mom - to - be, for example (non alcoholic for the mom, of course!)
The food. Keep your buffet design simple and pretty, using basic dishes to serve and present on. You can tie your food into a theme - if you've decided to do a "beach baby" shower, for example, go with summery foods - fresh fruit, cool salads and maybe ice cream for dessert. You can be as elaborate as you'd like with your offerings, just make sure there's enough to go around for all of your guests.
The wishing well. Many showers have a "wishing well" where guests bring a small, themed gift and give it anonymously to the mom to be. You can theme the wishing well however you'd like - bath and body for baby and mommy is one example - guests can bring baby shampoos and lotions and small bath toys for baby and sweet lotions and creams for mom. Books for baby is another idea - baby's book shelf will be full in no time! Just make sure to keep the theme to ideas that can be purchased inexpensively for your guests, as the wishing well is in addition to a gift bought from the couple's registry.
The favors. It's nice to send the guests home with a little remembrance of the party. You can find custom candies and chocolates, or small votive candles scented like baby powder - your guests will appreciate the small gesture.
Enjoy throwing a baby shower to remember!
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