Choosing a baby shower theme makes the rest of the planning a (relatively) easy task. A theme gives any party a starting point and provides a way to narrow down the choices of everything from the color scheme to the location.
What belongs on a baby shower invitation, when to send it, and how to handle gift list details without the invitation reading as a request for presents.
The guest list decides the budget, the venue and the character of the shower, so it is settled early and rarely by one person alone. Who to include, what to record, and how to handle the difficult invitations.
Whether to hold a baby shower at home or hire a room, what to check before committing, and the terms worth agreeing in writing before any deposit is paid.
Custom once reserved the hosting of a baby shower for a close friend rather than a relative. That rule has largely dissolved, and what remains is a practical question about who has the time, the money and the inclination.
A surprise baby shower can be a lovely gesture or an unwelcome one, and the person planning it cannot ask. What tips the balance either way, and the middle option that suits most people.
Ten practical steps for planning a baby shower without the stress, from setting the date and sending invitations to ordering favours and recording who gave what.
