A baby shower is a fun way to spend time with loved ones before your baby arrives, and is usually thrown when you are around seven months along. It was traditionally thrown for expectant moms by a friend or family member, but the etiquette these days is much more relaxed. If you want to throw it yourself, then go for it! Here are some of the things to think about, to bring the party together.

Invitations

If you want your baby shower to be more of a formal affair, you could consider sending baby shower invitations out. You could buy them ready made, or have a designer from a site like Etsy create something especially for you. If you’re crafty or good with Photoshop you could even make some yourself, look at existing designs for inspiration and to know what kind of info to include. At the very least you will need the date, time and venue. If your baby shower will be a little more casual, you could set up an e-invitation or send an invite on social media instead.

Venue

Will you be having the party at home, or booking out a venue? Having a rough estimate of how many people will be attending will give you the best idea which option to go for. Having it at home is likely to save on costs which is useful when you have a baby on the way! But if you want to go for something a bit grander then a venue is the way to go, this will probably be the last time you get to relax with your friends and family for a while. As once your baby comes along you’re going to be extremely busy!

Theme

You could go with a vintage tea party, serving canapes and tea in an ‘afternoon tea’ style. You could opt for a pink or blue themed party depending on the gender of your baby, or go with something different entirely, like a princess themed baby shower. Either way, having a theme can help you bring everything together and give you ideas for the following steps.

Decorate

Once you’ve got a theme in mind, decorating will be easier. Sites like Pinterest have tons of inspiration, and you can buy cute pieces without spending much from places like eBay, and other budget stores. Paper chains, bunting, banners and balloons don’t cost much but look really effective.

Food and Drink

Finger food and buffet items are a good way to go for a baby shower. You can buy pre-made party food which you can pop in the oven, or make things yourself from scratch if you have a bit more time. Pretty cupcakes, sandwiches, and plates of little bites are all great additions to a spread. While you of course won’t be drinking alcohol, you could put out some bottles of wine or champagne for your guests, or even create a little cocktail stand for people to help themselves to. Don’t forget soft drinks for designated drivers, non-drinkers and other moms-to-be like yourself!

Schedule

You could plan out a schedule for your party, for example starting with drinks then moving on to nibbles or food. And then going through and opening your baby shower gifts. Later on, you could play some games; there are lots of ideas on sites like this. Alternatively, you might decide to keep it a little more casual and just allow everyone to mix and mingle as they please.

Whether your baby shower is big or small, formal or relaxed- with your loved ones by your side for moral support you’re bound to have an incredible time.

Have you ever thrown a baby shower?