Of course if you are wealthy you can hire an event planner to do the work for you. Planning a baby shower can be a lot of fun, so you may want to plan for yourself.
Go on line and do a web search for a baby shower event planner or baby shower check list. These documents tell you what you need to do and when, such as: when to send the invitations, order food, etc.
Adapt these schedules to suit your own needs or use them to create your own event planner.
Eight weeks before the shower
Choose a date for the baby shower. This should be no closer than six weeks before the due date.
Put together a guest list. Contact the new mom or her family for the names and addresses.
Decide on the location of the shower.
Set a budget.
Six weeks before
Settle on a theme.
Choose and mail the invitations. If possible coordinate these with the theme.
Plan a menu: sit down meal, buffet, or just snacks and drinks.
Three to four weeks
Order the baby shower cake unless you will be making it yourself. The cake should be decorated to go with the theme and other decorations
Rent tables and chairs if you will need them
Consult with the caterer if you will use one or plan your menu. Ask friends and family to bring something.
Order flowers if you have planned for them.
Two Weeks
Buy your decorations, game prizes and favors.
Purchase your tableware - plates, cups, cutlery, tablecloths.
Plan for games if you will have them. Gather paper, pencils and whatever else you will need to play the games you have chosen.
Call invited guests who have not RSVP’d
One week before
Give a final guest count to the caterer if you have one. There is always at least one or two people who don’t respond but show up on the day of the shower, so add at least two people to your guest count.
Make sure you have film and batteries for your camera and if it is a digital have an extra card on hand.
Wrap game prizes.
Don’t forget to buy and wrap your gift for the mom and baby.
The day before
Begin decorating.
Set up extra tables and chairs.
Make a time line for the shower. A shower usually lasts about three hours.
Prepare the last of the food you will be serving.
Check every detail one more time.
Get your decorating done.
The day of the shower
Have someone pick up any flower or balloon bouquets.
Pick up the cake from the bake if you have ordered one.
Make sure you have plenty of ice on hand.
Delegate one or two people to be the “official” shower photographers.
One-two hours
Set up the food tables.
Put the cake on display.
Have a comfortable chair for the expectant mother to sit in when she is opening gifts.
Have trash bags handy.
Assign someone to sit near the guest of honor to write down each present and the giver’s name. This will make it easier for the mom to be to do her thank you cards.
Once you have used a checklist you will never want to host any affair without one.
If you are co-hosting a baby shower, meet with your partner and discuss who will do each task. Both of you should have a copy of the checklist.
Use a marker to black out the items that the other person is doing. When you each have a list read the original out loud and make sure you have everything covered. You don’t want to leave out an important task such as sending out the invitations or ordering the cake.
You may find yourself making a check list for all important occasions like Christmas, New Years, a graduation or anniversary party, etc. For most affairs you can pretty much follow the same schedule and order of the baby shower event planner with only minor changes. We have decided that we will use an event planner even for summer barbecues. What kind of barbecue can you have if your forget charcoal? Sounds silly, but I have known it to happen.
Years ago, my mom forgot to put the Easter ham in the oven and didn’t realize it until we were ready to sit down to dinner. We laughed about that for years. We see it as another star story to add to the family lore.
Who knows, being organized and on top of everything with a baby shower may spill over into your everyday life. One can only dream. All joking aside, the event planner made the last shower I hosted go really smoothly. There was no last minute panic about who was supposed to get what and when.
You can go on line and get a time line baby shower planner that will help you stay on track. Everyone will be talking about what a great time they had because each activity flowed smoothly into the next. Congratulations you hosted a great baby shower.
