This free baby shower checklist will help you remember all the little things and put together a party to remember.
Whether you are the mom-to-be or the host, you’ll quickly find out that there are a lot of tasks involved in hosting a baby shower . From choosing a compatible date and location to picking a theme and narrowing down food selections, a list that has it all (plus some) is what you need to make planning and executing a breeze.
Before getting into the small details, don’t forget the basics. Roughly three months before party time, it’s important to secure things like who will host the baby shower, where it will be held, and what the budget will be. Once these things are in order, unless it’s a surprise, have a general meeting with the mom-to-be to discuss:
With these tasks in order, you’re ready to plan the best baby shower ever.
Although it may seem a ways away, around six weeks is when you’ll want to prepare the invitations and mail them. This will give guests plenty of time to make arrangements to attend and respond. If you’re hosting with a group of friends, make sure everyone has been delegated a task to do. Tasks to be completed during this time are:
With just a month left, now is the time to order the cake and make sure the food menu has been finalized. Because most baby showers have games, ordering the game prizes now will ensure they arrive on time. If you plan to give guests party favors, order those at this time as well. Check in with the mom-to-be to see if she has any special requests.
To give yourself time for any last minute changes or mishaps, confirm any reservations, cake orders, and catering (if applicable). Meet with your team of host-friends and decide who will record gifts received, head up game time, take pictures, and ensure that the day-of agenda runs smoothly.
With just a week to go, touch base with your other hosts or party planners to make sure any last-minute details are taken care of. Now is also the time to purchase food and serving supplies, bar items, and food that can be bought in advance.
The day before the baby shower is set to happen, pick up the cake, purchase any last-minute items, set up the party space and decorate. This makes it a lot easier when party day arrives. On the day of the baby shower, assemble the final things, get ready to welcome guests and shower the mom-to-be with a party she’ll love.
When it comes to mapping out a timeline, you don’t have to stick to this baby shower checklist exactly. Take into consideration the type of party you’re planning. Fancy and formal events with several coordinators and planners would naturally need more time for execution. A more casual gathering with less planning needed would typically take less time and are perfect for having some on short-notice.
Also keep in mind that planning a party depends on who’s hosting it. The more people involved could mean less time needed to get everything together versus having a one-woman host. Regardless of how you plan to approach hosting a baby shower, having a plan and checklist can make it a lot easier.
Keep our checklist handy as you plan your next baby shower.