Baby Shower Ideas Worth Borrowing
By guest STA MOM blogger, Tonya Creamer
As we are now discovering post-pandemic lockdowns, there are plenty of life event and milestone celebrations to attend. Whether you’re hosting for yourself, a friend or family member, planning a baby shower can be really fun. In the Oldest City, feting an expectant mother can be easy as well if you follow one rule: Keep it simple!
Who’s coming?
Nowadays, showers can be small or large, short or long in length and guests can include just a close group of friends or immediate family or even a partner’s friends and family. The best shower I’ve been to was an open-house style gathering with an open invite to all friends and family to pop in whenever they wanted. Whoever you’re inviting, make sure it’s a carefree, relaxed crowd that can have fun. After all, that’s the whole point of this party.
Where will it be?
In St. Augustine, we’re blessed to have a bunch of options. If your home is able to accommodate, why not make it easy on yourself - home doesn’t require reservations! If it’s a little too small for the gathering you have in mind, you might want to opt for something unique downtown at a restaurant in a private room such as high tea at The Chatsworth Pub (no clean up required). Most people in our town live in a neighborhood that has a clubhouse or something similar available for a small resident’s rental fee. Check that out as a close-to-home third option.
What will you eat?
There’s plenty of options for buying pre-made food if you’ve opted to host at home. Publix offers amazing party platters for all preferences, budget and dietary needs. Or, you can inquire with your favorite restaurant to see if they cater. I’ve personally enjoyed Moe’s, Panera, Mellow Mushroom and Purple Olive at parties. Finally, an option is the always crowd-pleasing potluck. One nice reprieve from too many presents and too much stuff could be to ask guests to bring a dish instead a gift if you’re already feeling maxed out on space (that’s probably worth another blog itself).
What will you do?
Best games, hands down, that I’ve played and are super simple to coordinate even if you’re not a game person: Guess the Baby’s Details, Draw the Baby and not opening gifts. Yes, you read that correctly. Don’t feel pressured to open gifts in front of everyone. Saves time so you can hang out with your guests, enjoy the food and the fun. Instead, ahead of time, place giant sticky paper to the wall with a list of all the unknown details about the baby that people can guess. Think: height, weight, eye color, hair color, boy, girl, DOB. Winner receives a giant apothecary jar of something you think most of your guests would like. (If you do this, keep in mind: the winner won’t be chosen until after baby’s arrival.) Draw the Baby only calls for parents’ baby photos and enough pencils and paper for all guests who want to play. After participants have drawn their best attempt at what the baby will look like according to the parents’ photos, an objective judge who you select should choose the best baby drawing. Easy and ridiculously fun!
How will it look?
Do you love a good theme like I do? If so, consider sharing that you’re “Over the Moon” and give out moon pies to your guests and decorate with a moon and stars motif. Gender-neutral? “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” works well for that. You can grab some cheap umbrellas at Party City on 207 and hang them upside down from your ceiling with fishing string. While you’re there, get some rainbow sugar straps - cut ‘em to length for a rainbow and adorn the top of store-bought cupcakes. No matter what theme you choose, keep it low-stress and have fun celebrating!