My little nephew is more than a month old and I’m finally getting around to sharing the last installment of the party we had in his (and his mom’s) honor. These tips can be used or modified for a bridal shower or any party, so don’t feel like you have to skip it if you don’t plan to throw a baby shower.
Activities
I’ve been to parties where some guests groaned over the announcement of “game time” and others where everyone is just looking to keep the activities going. It’s good to gauge your guests to see if they would want to do games or activities and if so, which kind. Overall, I find them to be a great ice breaker.
I tend to prefer doing short, uncomplicated games that encourage conversation. For example, at Megan’s bridal shower, we gave guests a paper plate, pen and a minute to draw the dress on the plate – on the top of their heads. Once everyone saw their “creations” they instantly compared and laughed. Megan quickly chose a winner and it was all done in five minutes. Another idea for a quieter group would be doing a raffle or guessing game that people can do at their leisure.
For an outgoing group or a group of people attending the event, maybe put them up to the task of providing entertainment: a skit, funny song, etc. If your guest is a good sport, consider putting them up to a fun test. Remember, the goal is to have fun, not to embarrass the guest of honor or to make them feel uncomfortable.
If games aren’t your thing, it’s still a good idea to find a way to encourage some mingling. At Sarah’s shower, my mom made sure that each guest had a name tag with their relation to the baby. In opening up the party, she had everyone go around and introduce themselves, and share a fun thought, story, or some family history. It was a nice segue into praying for the food and for Sarah and then we ate the yummy food.
Flow
While not one of the more “fun” parts of throwing a party, space planning and logistics are an important way to make a good event. You want to make sure there is a good flow for traffic and dedicated conversation areas.
Here's a rough sketch of the layout and flow of the party.
Above you’ll see a general layout of the space we were working with. We had some challenges when it came to outdoor accessibility and shade, and chair formation since we skipped the tables to save some money. For every few cluster of chairs (the small circles), we put up smaller side tables where people could set their drinks down. There were also several ways to get to the party area from the front of the house. It was a hot day and thankfully we had an area of shade. So just imagine that those circles representing chairs moved up under the overhang.
Here's the view from the party. It's the view from the lower left of the diagram, if that helps. And do you see Megan's cute bunting?
Tips
- Be flexible. As I said, it got very hot. We needed to move people into the shade and bring the drinks to them to make sure they stayed hydrated. Sometimes people show up late or you might forget something – really, it’s not that huge a deal. Being flexible will keep you sane and in a clear mind to solve any problems.
- Ask for help. If you go the do-it-yourself route, you’ll need extra hands. We had three of us working beforehand and ended up with a cleaning crew of about five. These people were invaluable and really moved things along.
- Move things along. Start with a basic schedule for the party and stick to it as best you can. The fun of a party can easily wear out once you feel you are stuck there for hours on end. They should stay because they want to, not because they feel obligated.
- Designate a photographer. I was supposed to be our photographer, but only got a few shots because I was so busy doing other things. If you want pictures, it usually best to ask someone ahead of time as a hostess doesn’t have a lot of extra time to do this.
- Be sure the guest of honor is comfortable. The best spot for Sarah to open presents turned out to be in the direct heat. Whoops. I made sure to keep her water glass full and she said she didn’t mind, but really we should have been sure to accommodate her better.
Poor Sarah and Megan are in the direct sun all day. Whoops!
- Don’t forget the veggies. To make sure all guests feel warm and welcome, be sure to accommodate their food preferences. Have a veggie option and maybe put those bacon bits in your pasta salad on the side instead of directly in it. You may also want to have guests make note of allergies/preferences when they RSVP.
Do you have any other party planning tips to share?
