planning a baby shower, even on a budget, is an exciting and fun time! There’s just something really special about celebrating the arrival of a new little life into the world. However, it can also be a strain on your budget if you don’t plan carefully. Luckily, it’s absolutely possible to throw an fantastic baby shower without breaking the bank, and it all comes down to four things: setting expectations, going digital, focusing on the necessities and getting personal.
I know we all see the elegant celebrity baby shower photos on our Instagram feeds, so I’m going to emphasize how crucial it is to not make comparisons. This day is really just about pampering and celebrating the mom-to-be. You can do that without going overboard or spending a absurd amount, I promise!
If you are planning a virtual Shower, head to our virtual baby shower Guide.
Set Expectations When planning a baby shower on a Budget
Perhaps the most crucial thing when you volunteer to host a baby shower (or you are asked to) is to be clear about expectations. If there are limited funds available to make this shower happen, be upfront about this with the mom-to-be. This might be as basic as making the decision to accommodate no a lot more than 30 guests, for instance. maybe you save money by doing a homemade cake or getting crafty with decor.
As hard as the conversation might be, just talk it out! You will probably find there are only a few things the mommy really cares about and you can focus on those and cut corners on other decisions.
Most importantly, if you don’t think you can meet the vision the mom-to-be has for her special day with the budget you have available, gently let her know that she may need to ask someone else. just because you are doing the planning doesn’t indicate all the costs must fall on you. reach out to other family members and close friends to pitch in.
Failing to do so can cause a disappointed (and hormonal) guest of honor and a depleted bank account for you. open communication upfront is the best way to avoid both!
Go digital for Your On-a-Budget baby Shower
The classic, printed baby shower invitations are adorable, but they’re absolutely not cost-effective. Stationary, printing, and postage add up quickly. Luckily, we live in the digital age! a lot of people won’t think twice about getting a digital invitation through Evite or Paperless Post.
Even basic Facebook invitations get the job done, and they’re quick, easy and free.
Focus on Necessities
Extravagant baby showers feature all sorts of special and expensive details, but those things don’t necessarily make the shower any a lot more memorable for the mama-to-be. focus on the necessities of venue, food, decorations, and favors. Then, execute them in ways that are cheap without looking like it. here are a few tips:
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Right now, you are probably planning on going virtual. This is a great way to get everyone together safely. Not to mention, it is completely free! check out all our ideas for hosting a virtual baby shower here.
When hosting a baby shower on a budget, the venue is one thing you shouldn’t worry about too much. There are dozens of options for complimentary venues! This is a necessity you shouldn’t have to pay for in any way if you think creatively and use other shower guests as resources. If you can’t throw the shower in your own home, ask family and friends if you can use their digs.
Other options for complimentary space are clubhouses at apartment or condo complexes when you know someone who lives there, church halls that are complimentary for members of the congregation, or restaurants that offer complimentary space if you use their catering. If you’re ready to pay a small fee for space, you can also find great options at public libraries and community centers. When the weather is nice, you can look into reserving a space at a park.
Any of these economical options can make for a fantastic soiree!
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As with a lot of parties, food can make or break a guest’s experience at a baby shower. Still, this doesn’t indicate spending big bucks on the fanciest caterer in town. get creative with your menu instead! If you can persuade a few other guests to help you, it’s absolutely possible to get ingredients in bulk and prepare the food yourselves.
Baby showers typically don’t feature anything heavy. So, a healthy spread of items like finger sandwiches, salads, and light snacks might be all you need. Plus, all these grazing items can be purchased inexpensively.
Complement this economical menu with a cake, cupcakes or cookies that are individualized for the baby & mom-to-be. check out our favorite cake ideas, including some humorous options, here!
Another economical way to think about food is to also use it as decor. Your individualized cake or sweets will look charming on the tables, but there’s a way to make snacking charming too; charcuterie boards! They are incredibly popular ideal now, and a fun way to tie in some blue or pink touches.
Just lie some butcher paper across a table and then fill the space with veggies, cheese, meats, candies, fruits, crackers, and sauces. below is a stunning example from our Rookie mommy Squad mama, Chrissy Powers!
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A post shared by Chrissy Powers, LMFT 🌈 (@chrissyjpowers) on Jan 29, 2020 at 9:23pm PST
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Speaking of decor, less is a lot more when you’re planning a baby shower on a budget. A few bunches of well-placed balloons can go a long way, and centerpieces made from plants you pot and wrap yourself are both stunning and cheap. call your local farmer’s market and ask if there are discounts for getting in bulk. If live plants won’t work based on time of year or the mom’s decoration preferences, craft paper flowers in basic vases are beautiful, too.
When it pertains to balloons, keep in mind, the a lot more you do yourself the more affordable it will be! here is an fantastic tutorial on glitter balloons and here is one on balloon garland (no helium required!).
If you’re planning an activity, like having guests decorate onesies for baby, you could also consider setting up the materials in baskets in the center of each table so that they can double as centerpieces, too. I recently made headbands at a baby shower for a sweet baby girl. It was a incredibly fun baby shower activity and the materials were budget-friendly!
Keep in mind that a lot of guests will also bring along gifts in beautiful wrapping paper. Their colorful paper and ribbons will add to the decoration in the venue, too. just set up a great table for everyone to set their gifts on and you’re set!
Party Favors
Most baby showers feature a small parting gift for each guest and, though they aren’t a strict necessity, a lot of guests will expect them. There are hundreds of diy ideas on Pinterest, but a lot of budget-friendly favors tend to be the edible variety.
I recently hosted a shower where we used succulents to decorate our tables & we let guests take them home after as a party favor!
Cellophane bags of blue, pink or gender-neutral Jordan almonds are easy to assemble, as are tea bags, Hershey kisses or popcorn (“Ready to Pop” theme, anyone?). For non-edible ideas, try to think of ways to make your decoration double as party favors!
Tailor the baby shower to the Parents-To-Be
When you’re planning all the above details, it’s crucial to focus on what’s a lot of important: making the parents-to-be feel delighted and supported on their special day. So, use their favorite things as inspiration in buy to create a memorable experience.
Here are some thoughtful baby shower themes!
If they’re outdoorsy, your venue can be a local park and your decoration can include the natural elements around you.
If the expectant mommy loves music, add special details like paper flower centerpieces made from old sheet music.
Maybe the vibe is meant to be less formal, so you select a donut tower in lieu of a standard baby shower cake.
At the end of the day, the shower must reflect the personality of the expectant family. Don’t forget to plan with them in mind!
Tips from the Rookie mommy Squad
Karissa, from our Rookie mommy Squad, has some awesome ideas for keeping your baby shower on a budget.
Keep the guest list small (check out her ideas for how to make the hard decisions on who to cut here!)
Use budget-friendly decorations, you never know what you might find at the dollar store or your local thrift shop!
Download free, easy to play games
Keep the thank You’s basic with things like candy or cookies
Click here to read all of her tips!
Throwing a baby shower on a budget doesn’t indicate a sub-par celebration. In fact, some of the most special and meaningful showers are those that are less about party frills and a lot more about meaningful connections and support for the expectant parents. With a bit of thoughtful planning, diy creativity and a willingness to set expectations upfront, you can plan an unforgettable baby shower without sacrificing your financial health.
אולי גם תאהב:
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