One
big thing that needs to be thought about prior to throwing a shower is the
location. If you are throwing a baby shower in a house you have a lot more free
reign to decorate than you would if you were throwing it in a restaurant. For
example, when I co-hosted my sister-in-law Wendy’s baby shower it was in a home
and I was able to string up baby onsies and pictures of my newborn niece throughout
the house as decorations. I highly doubt that the restaurant we will throwing
my sister-in-law Krystal’s shower in will let me go tape crazy with strings and
onsies.
Each
location comes with pluses and minuses. The big one to consider is cost. Throwing
a home shower is free, while a location shower usually comes with a deposit for
room rental or a minimum purchase package requirement – each place is
different. While a home party you have the option to cater or make your own food;
a restaurant will take care of all of the cooking, preparation, dishes and so
on for you but may be a bit more expensive.
So
what can you do for decorations when throwing a shower at a location? Well…
each location is different in what they will and will not allow. Some places
may not care if you tape up a streamer or two, but my guess is that most places
won’t allow it. If the walls and ceiling are off limits the next place I look
to make a statement is at the tables and party favors.
I
ran across these double bubble balloons with tulle instead of ribbon and I fell
in love. If they have enough tulle for the tie then they can float over everyone’s
heads without blocking people from talking across the table {huge pet peeve of
mine} and still create a really pretty look for the shower. I bet you could
even weight them down with candy filled baby bottles in corresponding colors or
wooden letters wrapped in tulle.
Double
Stuffed Balloon Source: Caesars Party
Another
idea is the topiary route. I love topiaries. I think they are classic and this
rendition is pretty and simple. I doubt it would be hard to make and I bet making
it would be pretty inexpensive.
Topiary
Centerpiece Source: New Centerpiece Ideas
For
my sister’s wedding shower I made Cinderella centerpieces with leftover scrapbook
paper, glass vases from the dollar store, little glass slippers, and picture
frames with quotes in them. For a baby shower I would use corresponding paper from
the invitation to decorate the vases. I would go with a purple flower and
inside the picture frames I would put pictures of the mom to be {baby bump
shots} or of the couple {both of the parents to be}.
I
saw this idea and thought it would be great – as it serves double duty. You can
create these little party favor cupcakes with the candy of choice {probably
matching color theme} and then place one above each place setting creating a
circle of cupcakes at the center of each table. At the end of the shower inform
the guests that the cupcakes are delicious party favors and to please take them
as they leave {less clean up for the hosts as well}.
Party
Favor Cupcakes Source: Parents.com
I
love this welcome sign and think that it would be great on a gift table as a welcome
sign that lets people know where to place the gifts. I think I like this
because of the chevron… I am totally on a chevron kick lately. Between that and the mixed vases all painted the same color I am sold!
Welcome
Sign Source: Anthony and Stork
I
will be working hard on creating centerpieces and décor for my sister-in-law
Krystal’s baby shower that is coming up. Her invitations were Purple and Teal
chevron and I will probably be using some of the scrapbook paper to make favors
or decorations. I will be sure to post about it once everything is said and
done. Until then, I am having a blast getting ideas and making plans. Next up
on the agenda will be baby shower games.
Been to a baby shower lately? Did you
have a baby shower? If so, what is your favorite baby shower decoration?
