How to Throw a Baby Shower

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In the South you can guarantee two things: 1. We like to get together! Be it showers, dinner parties, potlucks, etc.  2. We like to eat. So the best way we know to show you that we love you and are excited for your new baby is to throw you a baby shower and have some food! It’s a winning combination.

If you’re new to throwing a shower it might be a little overwhelming on where to start. Don’t worry – you can do this, and I am here to help.

How to Throw a Baby Shower

First, find some girls to help you (aka your hostesses). These ladies will help bring food, decorate and make sure things go smoothly. You are not in this alone! Send out an email a couple weeks ahead of time with a sign up list for your hostesses. Finger foods are best so that people can eat while talking which is what us Southern girls do best…eat and talk – amen! Here is what a typical sign-up looks like with each person signing up for one item:

• punch
• fruit
• finger food (sandwiches, sausage balls, etc.)
• dessert #1
• dessert #2
• invitations
• pick up hostess gift

You can alter this list as needed for your shower. I typically like to have 6 or 7 hostesses if possible. Each hostess will try to contribute about $20-$25 towards the hostesses’ gift. Feel free to vary the amount to fit your group. Also remember to try to get invitations out a couple weeks before the baby shower.

Next, talk to the recipient and pick a theme. We typically try to decorate in a similar way to how they are decorating the nursery. It does not have to be extravagant at all. Are they doing a little girls room in pink and white? Use an easy pink table cloth and a white runner! In this nursery, the mom was doing a vintage travel theme so we went with that.

For decoration, start by picking a table for food to go on. Typically this will be a dining room table. Place a simple table cloth that matches your color scheme.

Next add a corresponding runner. I would normally place the runner in the middle but since in this space we needed the table against the wall we decided to make a focal point. We placed some boxes on the table cloth to elevate our display.

I added a vintage globe from my junking trips and got some hydrangeas from a local grocery store. Hydrangeas are my favorite because they are huge and cheap!

Place plates, napkins and utensils at the front of the table for your guests to grab first.

Then place all the yummy food on the table spreading out the dessert and the finger foods. You can even add some decorative items if you have them, like how we added the little cars.

Now set up your drink station. I recommend some type of water and punch. Feel free to borrow drink dispensers from your mom or neighbor. Just start asking, someone will have one!

You are almost ready for the shower! Have a small table near the door for people to sign the guest sheet.

Also decide where you want your shower honoree to sit to open her gifts. Then place the gifts nearby. Try to have this in a central location that people can see easily from all over the room.  When people start to arrive, have them place the gifts on a table near your shower honoree.

Last, have a table to display the open gifts so everyone can see all the goodies the little one received.

That’s it!!! You’ve thrown an amazing baby shower! It really can be that simple so make sure you enjoy it! If you have any questions about your next shower, feel free to ask and I can try to help!

Originally published July 21, 2016