To say 2019 was the year of life changes is a bit of an understatement, but our family is growing rapidly and this new chapter is so exciting! Let’s back it up a little: Janie got married February 23rd, I got engaged April 2nd, Blair had her successful IVF transfer on April 3rd, Mom “moves” to Dallas on November 23rd, Blair delivered beautiful baby Frances on November 26th, Janie announced she was pregnant December 2nd, and I tied the knot last month. What a whirlwind year! Safe to say there will be lots of wedding and baby content coming to the blog this year – get ready!
When Blair announced she was pregnant, we couldn’t have been more excited. So many of her friends reached out to co-host a shower to celebrate Baby Butler, and we started the planning process in August. We decided to host the party at our house with a total of 13 hosts and 51 guests and set the date for November!
Keep reading to learn our tips for throwing the perfect shower!
1 – Plan It With Multiple Hosts And Split The Tasks By What You Enjoy
Let me start by saying this was not only the first baby shower I had ever hosted, it was actually the first baby shower I had ever attended – so I had NO idea where to start with the planning. Throwing a baby shower isn’t quite as simple as throwing a dinner party or birthday party.. There’s a lot of coordination, organization, and details to consider when hosting a baby shower for that special friend (or sister!) in your life – so teaming up with a group of friends to split tasks and collaborate on ideas makes the planning process a lot more fun!
Luckily for us, we had an awesome group of hosts to organize the party. One of the girls sent over a detailed list of every task needed for the event, and each of us signed up for the tasks we preferred. This was so helpful, since everyone felt comfortable/knowledgeable about that specific item! One friend ordered custom cookies and napkins from a contact in Dallas, another brought a cake from her favorite New York City bakery, another gift wrapped and shipped our group gift from Atlanta, etc etc. Splitting the tasks not only took the pressure off as a whole, but it also allowed every aspect of the party to have a special touch from each of the girls!
If you’re in Dallas and looking for a beautiful calligrapher for your invites, check out Moore Ink! Margaret co-hosted the event and addressed all of the envelopes, and they were gorgeous!
Shop Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Invitations
2 – Pick A Theme
Choosing a theme made it easy to tie everything together and narrow down the decor choices. Since Blair kept the gender a surprise until she delivered, we chose Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as our gender-neutral theme, and it was precious! We brought in lots of yellows, whites, and metallics for the party for a dreamy setting. We also ordered these fun cloud, moon, and star lights for the cake table, and Blair took them home and now uses them in her nursery!
Pinterest has SO many baby shower theme ideas, and a some of our other favorites are: Little Cutie, Sweet As Can Bee, Llama Llama Baby Mama, Storybook, Taco ‘Bout A Baby, You Are My Sunshine, and so many more!
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3 – Make A Statement With Balloon Garland
What’s a party without balloons? Balloon garland has become almost essential to every shower these days, because it’s festive, fun, and makes the perfect backdrop for snapping photos with the mama-to-be!
Ever since Lushra launched in Dallas, I have been in love with their balloon garland! Their designs are always so creative and elevate any space, so I was thrilled to work with them to create the perfect backdrop for the shower! Lushra was so creative, and after a quick call and sharing photos of my house, they designed the perfect balloon garland for the dining room + the most adorable (and HUGE) “Baby” balloon sign for above our couch. The set up (and take down) was super quick and easy, and it was such a fun way to make our house feel festive for the big day.
Fun fact: this Baby Butler balloon is STILL alive! Blair took it home with her after the shower, then brought it to the hospital when she was on bedrest for a few weeks with preeclampsia, then home with Frances, and somehow that balloon is still floating 5 months later!! It brings a smile to Blair’s face everytime she sees it, so be sure to order one for your next shower!
Check out Lushra’s at-home kits to make your own garland for your next party!
4 – Go Heavy On The Food And Light On The Champagne (And Don’t Forget The Martinellis!)
Food at a baby shower seems to disappear quicker than other get-togethers, so make sure you go heavy on the food! We set up a table with finger sandwiches, cookies, cake, and all sorts of treats. Also if you’re hosting a baby shower, chances are a lot of the other guests may be pregnant too – so keep this in mind when planning the beverages! We picked up tons of champagne, rose, Martinelli’s (sparkling non-alcoholic cider), and lots of La Croix. Needless to say all the LaCroix and Martinelli’s were finished by the end, and we were left with tons of bubbly and rose at the end! Considering it was a morning event and a lot of the guests were expecting, this definitely cut our beverage expenses a lot – and luckily we could return what was left!
5 – Make A Diaper Cake
Diaper cakes are not only adorable, but they’re also super useful since Blair could use all of the diapers later on. The night before the party, my friend, Paige, and I spent the evening watching YouTube tutorials on “how to make your first diaper cake”, and it was surprisingly a lot of fun! Plus with the help of our friend, Sara, the next morning, we tied the cake together just in time for the party! We kept the diaper cake in theme with the party and ordered an Etsy Twinkle Twinkle Little Star cake topper, wrapped it with silk ribbon, and added glitter stars for a little sparkle. (Note: I recommend giving yourself more than 24 hours to finish a diaper cake, but I highly recommend making one for your shower!).
6 – Get Creative With The Guest Book
Rather than choosing a traditional “guest book” for party guests to sign, choose something a bit more unique that the mom-to-be can treasure. We chose a children’s book for guests to sign, so Blair can read it to Frances and remember her special day. Another option to consider is having friends sign a print like this that she can later hang in her nursery!
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7 – Consider A Group Present
One thing any new mom will learn is baby gear is expensive. From car seats to baby monitors to strollers, the price tag can be shockingly high! Since you’re already collaborating with a group of hosts, teaming up to split one big item on her registry is a fun surprise for her to open during her shower! Since our mom gave Blair a Joovy Qool Stroller and her mother-in-law gave her a Doona Infant Compact Stroller System, we got her this baby monitor and this compact travel stroller. She was so excited and has raved about all of these since Frances was born.
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8 – Order Flower Arrangements
Fresh flowers make any space feel joyful, so don’t forget to pick up some pretty arrangements for the party. One of the hosts texted me for photos of my house before the party to help with selecting the right amount, sizes, and colors, and it was such a thoughtful touch that made everything cohesive and pretty!
9 – Choose Someone To Write Down The Gifts When She Opens Them
Choose a host to write down which guest gave which gift to help the mom-to-be remember after the party. Not only will this help her with thank you letters after the party, she will treasure each gift knowing the thought that went into each present from each friend!
10 – Don’t Forget The Photos
Since a baby shower is such a sentimental occasion, the mom-to-be will definitely want to have photos from the party. Whether you hire a photographer, select one host to be in charge of snapping photos from the party, or set up a shared album where everyone can add their photos from the party, you want to make sure you have lots of photos from the event!
Whether you’re planning a baby shower or you’re expecting your first child, we hope these tips will help you plan a special day to remember! Let us know you’re favorite tips in the comments below, and stay tuned for more baby tips to come!
One thing to remember if you are the guest of honor, a little thank you gift for the hosts is a really sweet touch! Blair gave all of us a Nest candle with these adorable personalized tags attached after the party, and we loved them!
Shop Blair’s Hostess Gifts & Tags:
