Babies are truly a gift to mankind. They’re innocent, pure, and represent everything that’s good in this world. If that’s not enough reason to throw them a party, then no one knows what is.
But celebrations are as much for the parents as they are for the babies. A party is a source of fun and therapy, which parents certainly need at this point in their lives. Whether you’re planning a baby shower or a birthday party, take a look at these eight simple steps that you can follow for the best way to celebrate your babies.
Pick a Date
The first step to throwing any kind of party is to pick a date for the celebration. Your baby’s first birthday is easy; the date is already chosen for you.
If it’s a baby shower, it’s usually held on the last two months of the pregnancy, and anyone but the expecting parents can host the party. One thing to consider as well is what the couple prefers. Some prefer to have post-birth showers, with their newborn child as the guest of honor.
Choose a Theme
A theme isn’t always required every time you throw a party, but it does make everything more festive. It may not seem much, but having a theme for your party will make all the difference. Ever wanted to throw a French-inspired or tropical luau party? This is your chance to do just that.
Pinterest is always a good place to start finding and building on ideas. But try to be out of the box in choosing your theme. Do away with the usual themes likes fantasy and fairy tale or spaceships and superheroes.
Scout for Locations
Baby showers and first birthdays are always an intimate gathering where only friends and relatives close to the couple are usually invited. For the venue of your celebration, opt for something small but spacious.
Take into consideration your party’s theme and how the decor will look like in your chosen location. Halls with bare white walls are always the safest choice because of their flexibility for design. Open spaces like a garden or a conference hall with a balcony are also a good option.
Send Out Invitations
Announcing to your loved ones that you have a baby on the way or just gave birth to one is always a joy for any couple. While a chat or phone call will do the trick, announcement cardsfor a celebration of your baby will signal how important the occasion will be.
How intimate the gathering will be is totally up to you. Pro tip: for baby showers and first birthdays, more isn’t always merrier. Send out your invitations at least three weeks before the date so that your guests can clear out their schedule and buy you gifts.
Curate the Menu
It’s not a party when there are no food and drinks involved. If you’re not hiring a caterer, craft a menu that is easy to prepare and equally easy to eat.
Tarts, sandwiches, pizza, and salads come to mind. A potluck is also a good idea for that good, old-fashioned communal vibe. This is a good way to have diversity on the table especially if you have a lot of multicultural friends. Just make sure to coordinate with everyone so you won’t have two of the same dish.
Decorate the Venue
Decorating the event space is always an enjoyable part in the planning process. This is where you get the opportunity to transform your venue and make it totally your own. Whether you’re hiring a professional or go DIY style with your friends, your decoration should reflect your theme.
Going for a rustic vibe? Get creative with string lights on your ceiling, make use of high-quality burlap fabricas table runners, and fill the table with herbs and flowers placed in mason jars. One design tip: create vignettes to highlight certain spots of the venue.
Play Games
Whether it’s a baby shower or a first birthday, the main event is always the opening of gifts. No one anticipates this more than the parents do, but in leading to this part of the party, you can pepper in entertainment or games to hype up your guests.
Think of cool activities that tie in well with your chosen theme, like hiring a clown or a magician to do party tricks for a circus-themed party. You can also try trivia games, which are always a hit. Put a fun twist by asking baby-related questions.
Have Fun
The purpose of throwing any party is to have fun and enjoy the company of some of your closest friends and family. At this point, you don’t have to worry about anything because it’s already the home stretch. Most of the legwork has already been executed to perfection.
Be a gracious host, and mingle with your guests. Let them have a moment or two with your newborn child. And take lots of photos, as you would want to remember this day.