So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

So, my sister's BFF and I are throwing my sister a baby shower in June. Yes, proud aunt to be here

I have never had one, thrown one, or been to one before is I am hoping for a lot of great advice form my LIF girls!

So, tell me about your baby shower: what was your favorite activity at the party, favorite touch in terms of decorations and venue, was there anything you didn't appreciate, anything you wished was handled differently... Feel free to gush, rave and complain bitterly. Let it aaallll out! I am listening!

Message edited 4/5/2010 10:09:25 PM.

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

Open bar: yay!

Jack and Jill (men included): nay, none of them will come anyway

DJ: totally not necessary, although MIL thought that was the best idea she ever had

Games: yay, but get creative! And go easy on candles as prizes, I think I have OD'd on candles at every shower I've been to.

I happen to love venues like VFW halls for showers because they are a bit more relaxed and people are more likely to mingle. However, sometimes "assigned" seating is a good thing, especially if you will have guests who don't know anyone else.

Have fun planning!

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

Honestly, I loved everything! I waited my whole life for that day - more than a bridal shower, even almost more than my wedding I don't think they could have gone wrong, lol. Cookie cutter favors were a cute idea, I like clotheslines. I guess the only complaint - if I had to have one - is it was a little crowed in the room. It was at the snapper inn which was perfect but as big as I was trying to say hi to everyone was a little tough. But no big deal

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

I wanted something different! My mom & sis threw me a Brunch! Not your normal "Chicken, Beef, or Fish".
It was set up buffet style with lots of stations! Breakfast and Lunch choices.



My favorite game was the "Baby Name" game! As each guest arrived they were given a ribbon to wear. Throughout the whole shower, if you heard someone say the word "Baby", you go and steal their ribbon. At the end of the shower, the one with the most ribbons, wins a prize.
There were other games as well (BINGO, Word Scramble, etc) to keep the guests busy

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

The Cheese Stroller - enough said...

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

Loved the decorate the onesie contest. DS still wears all the beautiful onesies that were made with love for him

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

love having them in a house..so I dont feel rushed and I have time to "work the room" a little better!

I also tried something new and like it...I did an "open house" - we asked for cellophane if wrapped and I opened the other gifts as people arrived and put a tag on it "This gift was given by..." so people could walk around and see what everyone gave and I didn't have to spend the whole party sitting in one place! I could mingle =)

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

we did the decorate onsies and clothes line - it was great -my mom got plain white onsies in lots of different sizes - i love getting the box out an dlooking at all the different onsies made as he moves up in size

just a note the gerber onsies run very small - the carters are very true to size - but you may want to add a calender so say baby will be 3 moths at halloween, 6 months christmas, 9 months easter - that will help give people some idea

we didn't do this because i use cloth diapers - but i love the idea of writing fun messages on diapers to make the parents laugh -

i love home showers- much more laid back and brunch is such an easy thing to do

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

I loved my shower because it wasn't a 'typical' shower. It was really just kind of like a big cocktail party. I have a lot of male friends - so my sisters made sure it was Jack & Jill - couples were invited instead of all girls. ALL of my guy friends were really excited to come.. especially when they heard it would be open bar! The favors were not 'baby related' - my sisters got the glowing stained glass candles (round). I had a gorgeous green and purple cake (I was team green) - and was just surrounded by so many people that I loved. It felt like a fun party and everyone was laughing, relaxed and having a good time socializing. The food.. I don't think it was anything spectacular.. but there was top shelf liquor being served so I don't think anyone minded! We didn't do games - and since there was so much conversation and wandering around going on, I don't think that would have worked anyway.

ETA: LOOOOOOVE the decorate the Onesie idea! That's FABULOUS!
My second shower (sprinkle) was a complete surprise to me. I didn't expect anything and was completely blown away that my best girlfriend had gathered my sisters and in laws and close friends for an intimate luncheon at her home. It was VERY small - maybe 15 people? No party games, no favors.. just some people I loved coming together to celebrate the arrival of my newest love.

Now.. when it came time to do a shower for my girlfriend.. I knew she was a little more traditional than I was. So I made sure that we had lots of fantastic food, cute favors, all of her nearest and dearest friends and a couple of games that we could have fun with - sniff the diaper, baby charades, etc. The guys spent most of the time at the BWI - but rejoined us after gifts. Her husband came running in dressed in a giant diaper with a bonnet on his head and a HUGE pacifier. That was hilarious and lent the perfect amount of humor to the evening. Then the guys stayed for dessert and the bottle drinking contest.

I guess the common thread is love. Lots of people, lots of love, no drama. Makes the best parties.

Message edited 4/6/2010 9:18:42 AM.

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

One thing that I loved at my shower, but I love even more now, was that my mom and sister who threw my shower asked that instead of a card, guest bring a baby book with a message to the baby written inside. My DS now has a wonderful library full of books with messages from all the people who love him!

Message edited 4/6/2010 10:30:14 AM.

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

Must have game - Baby Bingo - makes your guests actually interested in watching mom-to-be open the gifts!

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

Thank you so much to all who shared their wonderful baby shower memories!! So many great ideas for me to work with!!!

Goldi, that cheese carriage is a pisser!!!!

Love the onesis clothing line idea- definitely doing that one!

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

My mom did a book wishing well, everyone brought a book instead of the usual stuff, that was great.

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

ours was a jack and jill - if guys wanted to come they were more than welcome - it was great bc i shared the day with my family - brother brother in laws dh and our close friends/family
..
the guys kinda all hung out and had their drinks from the open bar, ate.. it was like a get together we would normally have but a surprise baby shower!!
it was held at our local fire dept so it was a pretty relaxed atomsphere.

ive been to some where there is a ton of games and lots of candles and little trinkets.. gets a little boring. the last one i went to they were giving out $1.00 scratch off games and they were great!

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

I planned my bs and loved everything obviously! I did a teddy bear theme and got build a bear cp's(huge hit bc someone frm each table won a bear and brought it to someone special). We had it at ciao baby open bar top shelf and three course meal and the food was excellent, I also did choco loli teddy bear placecards and these were a hit;) I hav pics in my album with more details so feel free to fm me if ya hav any other questions:)

Oh and my work shower did a book wishing well, this was the absolute best and before my son was even born he ha5 a huge library full of awesome books!

Message edited 4/18/2010 12:30:23 AM.

Re: So, tell me all the fabulous things about your own baby showers!

At the last shower I went to the host bought thank you cards and each of us addressed an envelope to ourselves. I thought this was a great idea to save the new mommy time.