baby showers
guests will be asked to contribute to the costs. (Since most of the attendees are friends of the mum to be this shouldn't be a problem....). It can turn into a tidy little sum when you consider that the organiser will have to buy invitations, stamps, food, a cake, decorations, goody bags, the hire of the venue... With a little ingenuity, however, costs can be reduced by emailing invitations and by asking everyone to bring a dish and drinks to cut catering/beverage costs.
What about presents? At a baby shower, presents are given to both
the mum to be and the baby. If the mum to be is in on the baby shower, it's a good idea if she provides a 'giſt list' similar to a wedding giſt list so that she can get the items that she knows that she will need. If, on the other hand, she doesn't know about the shower, then the organiser may draw up her own list and assign a giſt to each attendee, or distribute the list to each attendee and let them choose their own particular item.
What to serve? Although there are no hard and fast rules, a
“Te best time to hold a baby shower is some time in the last trimester, probably a month or two before the baby is due”
fulfilled. Or, the organiser will throw a 'surprise shower' for the mum to be, in which case invitations etc will be sent to family members and close friends without the mum to be knowing. If the baby shower is not a secret, then it's a good idea to ask the mum to be exactly whom she'd like to have at her party.
When? Te best time to hold a baby shower is some
time in the last trimester, probably a month or two before the baby is due. Having said that, it's also acceptable to hold the shower aſter the birth and, in fact, various cultures prefer it this way.
Where? In most cases a baby shower isn't held in the
mum to be's house, primarily so that she doesn't have to worry about getting the house ready for everybody coming, or about clearing up aſter everybody aſterwards! Te shower organiser will either organise an outside venue, will host it herself, or will ask around to see if anyone else is prepared to host the event in their home. If not, they will hire a room in a hotel or in a local venue.
Who pays? A tricky one... either one person - usually
the organiser - will take on the full cost of the shower, or, if this isn't an option, the
three-course meal is not the preferred option at baby showers. Tese events are intended to be primarily casual and 'guest friendly' and so it's best to opt for light appetisers and finger foods. With that in mind, sandwiches, pizzas, chicken goujons, chips, wedges are all highly suitable. Or, the food could be done along the American 'pot luck' dinner line and ask everyone to bring a dish. Going for that option means that the shower could end up with everything from a range of six soups to five curries, but that's part of the fun. As the event is being held in honour of
the mum to be, serving alcohol is perhaps not the best option. Soſt drinks or tea may be a better alternative, but wine or champagne could be made available for those who wish to have an alcoholic beverage. Te drinks should be cool and refreshing and are perfect if served up with umbrellas in cocktail glasses! It all adds to the idea of celebration! Aſter all - that's what a baby shower is
all about! „ Autumn 2016 MODERNMUM 21
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