How To Plan A Baby Shower
How To Plan A Baby Shower
6 Simple Steps To Planning The Perfect Baby Shower
Have you been tasked with planning a baby shower? If the thought of organizing decorations, food, gifts and games for 40 guests sounds daunting, you’re not alone! Fortunately, we’re here to help. Follow these simple steps to create the perfect baby shower for the mama-to-be!
(Featured Image: Baby Shower Cake by Alice Keeler)
Step 1: Find A Baby Shower Venue
First and foremost, you’ll need a space to host your event. Take into consideration the number of guests you’ll be expecting, what time of year it is, and what the guest of honor would enjoy for her celebration.
If you’re looking to host a summer baby shower, considering an outdoor venue can be beneficial for several reasons. Outdoor venues tend to encompass the natural elements that Northern Michigan has to offer. Hosting an event outside can also help control the spread of germs and viruses that an expectant woman will want to avoid.

Outdoor Shower by Julie Monday
Step 2: Plan Out The Food
Planning food options for a large group of people can be a daunting task! Food options for baby showers tend to be more casual than a meal that would be served at a more formal event, such as a wedding.
Baby showers most commonly feature a buffet style food setup. When planning a buffet, keep sanitation at the front of your mind! Having proper serving utensils and a sneeze guard option can help prevent the spread of germs at your event.
Some good buffet options to offer a baby shower include:
- Deli wraps
- Green salad
- Pasta Salad
- Mini quiches
- Breadsticks
- Fruit assortment
It is necessary to ask in advance for any food allergies or restrictions from your guests. Most people will include a small memo on the RSVP line of the invitation to please reach out if there is anything specific you should know about their dietary preferences.

Refreshments by Javcon
Step 3: Choose Games/Entertainment
Games can be a fun addition to a baby shower, but it’s important you ask the mom-to-be what her preference might be. Some games might focus on the expectant mother’s size or belly shape, such as “Guess Mommy’s Belly Size”. While some women are ok with this type of humor, others may feel offended by it.
Are you expecting some guests from an older generation? If so, it may be fun to incorporate a game that includes these guests being able to offer advice from their own experience as mothers. A new mom can use all the help she can get!
Other games that might be fun to incorporate into your celebration include:
- Baby bingo (bingo using baby items)
- Guess that candy bar (various chocolate candies melted in a diaper)
- Diaper raffle
- Don’t call me ‘baby’
- Baby trivia (based on mom or dad’s baby years)
- Pacifier hunt

Baby Shower Clothespin Game by Melanie Tata
Step 4: Shop For Gifts And Prizes
Most baby showers will include some sort of party favor or small gifts. Most often, these are incorporated into the games as a prize that people can win. This is not mandatory, however.
If the budget allows, it is customary for every guest to get some form of gift, even if it is quite small. Good universal gifts that are budget friendly can include things like body lotion, candles, or a small baked good.
A fun way to offer larger prizes and save money on decoration is to offer the table centerpieces as prizes to the game winners. Faux flower arrangements, potted succulents, or snowglobes can all make great centerpieces and prizes!

Gift
Hands holding a gift box isolated on black background
Step 5: Write It All Down
You’ve spent all this time creating a plan, now make sure you’ve written it down! Having a loose itinerary to follow on the day of your event can make things run much more smoothly.
Try to write things down in the order they will happen during the baby shower. Start with the arrival time, where people will place their gifts, when food will be served, when the games will start, and finally what time things will wrap up.
It is also helpful to have notes written down that can help you on the day of. Jotting down any special dietary restrictions for a certain guest, what prizes go with a certain game can make sure you’re feeling organized and prepared.

Notebook Notes by David Bares
Step 6: Enjoy It!
Inevitably if you’ve been tasked with planning this baby shower, you’re probably very close to the mom-to-be! Whether it’s your sister, daughter, or best friend – you should be able to enjoy this celebration along with the other guests.
This is easier said than done, but don’t take on too much! Just because you can make all the food yourself, doesn’t mean you should. There are many restaurants that can cater for a reasonable price in Northern Michigan, and they can take the food prep off your plate (pun intended)!
Task another close friend with taking the paper wrappings as gifts are opened, or ask another friend to help set up the buffet. It’s ok to ask for help from anyone, as long as it’s not the mama-to-be!

Baby Shower Cupcakes by Clever Cupcakes
Northern Michigan Baby Shower Venues
Have you been searching for the perfect venue for your baby shower? They’re hard to find up here in Northern Michigan! While many venues cater specifically to weddings and other large events, Bright Lane Gardens is the opposite – we cater specifically to small events!
Bright Lane Gardens is a beautiful outdoor venue that features a large waterfall terrace, covered pavilion, landscaped gardens, and koi pond. Nestled on several quiet acres surrounded by woods, our venue is the perfect space to host your closest friends and family in privacy.
If you’d like to inquire about open dates for 2023, please use the contact us form on our venue page. We look forward to chatting with you soon!