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40 days
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Ask your friend and mother-to-be what date would suit
her for a Baby Shower Party and start planning around six weeks before
the baby shower. If you are arranging a surprise shower, make sure
you arrange a convenient time and the right guests. |
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Before you start - 'Know your limitations' - both of
budget, location and money. We cannot all throw an "Oscar's night
party"! Set the Baby Shower party on a scale that you will enjoy
organizing and everyone else should enjoy it as well. Do not invite
stress! |
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Choose a location - OK so that is probably
going to be your house! But make sure you accommodate the needs of
the party and not be overcrowded. Consider ease of access or parking.
Reserve location if in a restaurant or hall. |
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Select a suitable time of day and week for most of the
guests. It's not much good if most potential guests are doing the
'school run' or the mother-to-be falls asleep for her daily nap'! |
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Finalize the Guest List with the parents-to-be. Get
phone numbers, mail and email addresses. Decide on whether the Baby
Shower Party is going to be women only or mixed sexes. Are children
coming? If so make arrangements (video upstairs?) and other ideas
to amuse them. |
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Set a sensible budget for how much the baby
shower party will cost based on the number of guests, the food, the
party favors and how many game prizes you will need. Recruit another
friend to help share the cost (and provide recipe ideas) if it looks
too expensive. |
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Set a theme
for the Baby Shower Party. Themes can really add to the occasion and
be great fun .Choose a menu
which should reflect your theme but also be appropriate for the time
of day and the number of guests. Do not forget to find out any special
dietary requirements of any guests. decide whether you can cope with
the catering or recruit help from friends or outside caterers. Employ
some help serving food and drinks if required. Arrange to hire or
borrow more cutlery, crockery, glasses, linen, tables, chairs..etc..
as needed. |
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Choose beverages. Obviously this depends
on time of day and the type of party you want. Although a traditional
non-alcoholic punch is usually best, there are certainly many guests
who find parties easier with the help of a glass or two of alcohol!
It also influences the types of Baby Shower games guests will be prepared
to play with full gusto. As always, ensure drivers have no alcohol
or organize Taxis. |
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28 days
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Send out the Invitations
which can either be by a phone call, email or a formal printed invitations
Do not forget to include Time, Date & location of party and your
reply telephone and email addresses. Remember to include details of
any games that need pre-organising. |
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14 days
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Plan all the Baby
Shower Games that you want to play and make sure you buy the required
items for them to work smoothly. |
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Purchase and wrap up the required Favors
and Prizes for games. Don't forget to buy your gift. |
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Purchase everything you need for decorating the baby
Shower Party room |
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Buy some camera film and arrange a guest to take photos
at the Baby Shower Party which will be a great memento of the occasion. |
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7 days
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Finalize numbers of guests and chase up anyone who has
not replied (there's always one!) |
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Clean the house (assuming party is at your
home). Make sure bathrooms have special soaps and lotions. |
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Make shopping list and buy ingredients for
meal. Arrange seating plan or make sure there are is enough room for
everyone to eat sitting down if you plan a buffet. |
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Prepare any food that can be frozen. Arrange
to use a neighbor's freezer if you do not have enough space. |
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Arrange someone to pick up the mother-to-be
so she can be totally relaxed. Also any other guests who need a lift. |
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1 day
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Decorate Baby Shower Party room. Consider
lighting and music to set atmosphere. |
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Ensure Food and beverages are all organized. |
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Have a footstool and pillow handy for the
mother-to-be's comfort. |
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Party Day
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Remember to get food out of the freezer
on time! |
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Be the perfect host so that the mother-to-be
can relax. Introduce guests to each other. A good way to break the
ice is to provide personalized name tags with notes like, 'I was a Mom's best friend in Year 8'. Keep your guests glasses full and offer finger food if planned |
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Remember to enjoy yourself as well! |
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Next day
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Persuade some friends to help with the clearing
up! or get contract cleaners in. |
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Congratulate yourself on your ideas and
for hosting a great Baby Shower Party |
