Now that you have determined the baby shower theme and have the initial steps organized, it is time to finish the job and have a memorable baby shower.
Determine a Date.
The baby shower should be held approximately 4 to 8 weeks prior to the baby's due date.
As with most events, the optimal days to host the event are the weekend days of Saturday or Sunday.
It is often more economical and better for guests, especially if they have young children, to have the baby shower sometime between the morning or afternoon.
Friday evening and Saturday evening will be the most costly and most booked blocks of time and many guests may pass if they have young children.
It is best to choose two to three dates and then contact the most significant guests and verify their availability.
Location.
Most people host their events at their home or someone's else home when the guest list is short and intimate.
This will decrease the expenses considerably and increase the intimate setting of the event.
Future moms and the small band of guests tend to feel more comfortable and relaxed at your home or the home of one the guests since they have most likely visited before.
Large baby showers are best held at restaurants with private rooms, or at some other large venue such as a hotel.
A co-host may be needed here.
The co-host can help find and reserve the location or just contribute money.
Invitation.
The invitations should match the theme and have all the essential information necessary for a guest to attend the event: location, date, time, your contact information.
Or if you prefer the more traditional way, plan to send out the invitations seven to eight weeks prior to the event.
Sending too early will cause many guests to forget and sending too late may cause of lot of guests to miss the baby shower if they had other plans.
Call the guests who have not sent their RSVP four weeks prior to the event to confirm if they will attend.
The more trendy way is to use an online event organizer to save the date and make sure to send out a reminder two days prior to the event.
The Menu.
This is one of the most flexible areas of the event depending on your budget and your venue.
You can serve appetizers or a full meal although most hosts serve appetizers.
It works better that way as to leave more time for the gift giving and games.
If you host the event at a hotel or restaurant try to visit it in advance to get yourself familiar and to speak with your liaison at the restaurant.
If you host the baby shower at a house, you can make your own food, purchase food, cater or a combination.
If you plan to cater ask the caterer to send/fax you a menu.
Note you do not want to have too much food to save room for the cake.
Finger foods and appetizers such as bacon wrapped asparagus, stuffed mushrooms or mini sandwiches work best.
They are simple and will not make guests overly full.
Decorations.
Now it is time to prepare the decorations, you're almost there! Try to buy the decorations a week in advance.
Nowadays there are many party stores with all the materials and items imaginable for a baby shower.
A growing trend is to purchase favors and materials online.
Regardless of your theme, you want paper table ornaments, streamers, balloons, paper cutouts, and other items that match your theme.
Games and Prizes.
There are many games and prizes you can play.
Please visit our Baby Shower Games page for great idea.
Shower Favors for Guests.
The baby shower favors are a great touch to remember a successful baby shower.
Below are some ideas but any baby gifts and products that are small and easy to carry home works best: oMini Gift Baskets oMini Favor in a Bag oMini Pacifier Candy oBaby Feet Lollipops oPersonalized Candle Tins oPersonalized Baby Bottle oCandy Bar with Personalized Wrapper oIt's a Boy/Girl candy oHearts Candle You made it, congratulations on a job well done! Thanks for reading this detailed three series on how to throw a memorable baby shower.