Tips for organising the perfect baby shower

Whether you’re organising your baby shower yourself, or have someone kindly taking charge for you, there are a number of things you will want to consider (or pass on to them to consider for you). Some careful planning will help make sure the day goes off without a hitch – and that it is memorable for all the right reasons. 

To help you plan, we’ve put together a party-planning to-do list, broken down into time frames to make it even easier to get organised. 

7-9 weeks before…

• Select a date and time
  
• Guest list (even if its just rough at this stage)
  
• Set a budget
  
• Select and/or book a venue
  
• Start thinking about a theme 
  

4-6 weeks before…

• Decide on the theme
  
• Finalise gift registry (if there will be one)
  
• Finalise the guest list
  
• Send out invitations
  
• Order anything specific that you need that will take some time to arrive – eg the cake
  
• Lockdown the menu or order catering if needs be
  
• Start planning games (if you’re having them)
  
• Book (or assign a friend/family member) to be the official photographer for the day
  
• Ask friends/family to help out with other tasks on the day – and make sure there are some who can stick around to help with clean up/getting gifts home after the party finishes. 

2-3 weeks before…

• Follow up any outstanding RSVPs
  
• Finalise games and party favours
  
• Confirm your booking with the venue or whoever’s house it will be held at
  
• Confirm your booking for the cake and delegate someone to pick this up on the day
  
• Create a run sheet for the day and send it to anyone else who will be helping you
  
• Finalise decorations
  
• Think about music, organise a play list (and whether you’ll need speakers or any equipment) or delegate someone else to look after this on the day – just make sure you tell them what sort of music you want!
  

1 week before…

• Shop for any food items that can be bought in advance (check out some baby shower food ideas here)
  
• Organise drinks
  
• Make sure you have enough cups, plates, cutlery, serviettes etc if the party is at a home/park 
  

1-3 days before…

• Finalise food shopping
  
• If it is held at a house, organise any final cleaning to be done and start setting up the space 
  

On the day…

• Finish setting up
• Finalise decorations
• Pick up the cake (or have someone do this for you 

Tips for making the day run smoothly – and enjoying yourself!

• Stay organised along the way and hopefully any problems will arise beforehand so that when the day does arrive it can run smoothly.
  
• Things might come up or go wrong on the day, but don’t stress.
  
• If you are planning this for another mama – make sure you know her expectations well in advance and listen to what she wants.
  
• Baby showers don’t have to be Pinterest-worthy extravaganzas, as long as the people you/they love most are there, that’s all that matters.
  
• Don’t forget to send thank you cards to guests and anyone who helped out to plan/prep for the day.
  
• Don’t leave the mum-to-be with the clean up after (if it’s at her house) or if you are the mum-to-be either get some friends to help you or book a cleaner to come in afterwards so you can put your feet up and relax (and open all your present).

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Baby shower food ideas that your guests will love

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