Whether you’re planning a baby shower for yourself or in honor of a friend, sister or relative, you’re likely to be feeling the pressure. Not only do you have to plan and execute an event that’s fun, entertaining and memorable for guests of all ages, but you also have to do it without making yourself penniless in the process.
Luckily, by skipping some of the unnecessary frills, you can save yourself a packet without making it look like you’ve cut corners. Here’s how to become “the hostess with the mostest” and throw the perfect baby shower on a budget.
Stay Home
Instead of hosting your baby shower in a restaurant or event hall, why not hold the event at your home? If you don’t have space, you could ask the other guests if they can offer up their home or garden for the occasion. Opting out of a paid venue will save a hefty portion of your budget for other items on your party-planning checklist; plus you’ll end up with a more beautiful, personalized baby shower location.
Get Crafty
You don’t have to be an expert crafter to make the homemade theme work for you – these days there are tons of free materials you can download from the Internet or apps you can use to design your own. You can download printable baby shower invitations and decorations from the Pampers website, for example, or browse Pinterest for tutorials and ideas. The handmade touch always makes parties seem that bit more personalized, so don’t be afraid to put your inner crafter to work.
Let Nature Do the Talking
If the weather is warm, why not throw your baby shower outdoors? Nothing signals the welcoming of a new life like spring sunshine, green grass, and flowers. Hosting a party in a park or public space will save you splashing out on a venue, plus, you can decorate your garden or outdoor area for free: just use bunches of wildflowers for table decorations, string flowers or leaves onto pretty thread for bunting, and decorate trees with cheap paper lanterns. If you own some outdoor fairy lights, you can string these around to give the whole occasion some extra twinkle.
Embrace Your Inner Chef
Forget paying expensive caterers to feed your guests – instead, roll up your sleeves and get cooking. You can head to your local farmer’s market or grocery store to pick up cheap ingredients and create a modest spread. Even if your expertise only extends to sandwiches, cakes and finger foods, you’ll save money by not getting hired help, and the whole event will feel more personal. If you don’t have the time to cater for your guests yourself, ask each invitee to bring a dish for the buffet table.
A baby shower is a lovely way for expectant parents to anticipate their new arrival, but it needn’t be a time for stress, and there’s no reason you should blow your budget out of the water to make it happen. Embrace the homemade, get resourceful and let nature serve as your decor, and you’ll have a picture-perfect, memorable baby shower that everyone will enjoy.