Planning a baby shower on a budget can be easy with a little planning. A baby shower is an event hosted to ‘shower’ the new mom-to-be and their little one with love. Planning in advance can help a potentially stressful event become one filled with memories which last a lifetime.
Cheap Baby Shower Venues
When considering where to host a baby shower on a budget, consider a few different factors including: the amount of people invited, party favors, time of year and location of the event. For the cheapest option and to avoid paying for room rental, consider hosting the baby shower at home.
Enlist the help of others and make your event special (without breaking the bank). Other cheap places to host a baby shower on a budget include: hosting the event outdoors, at a church, in an apartment complex, club house or community center, at a city halls and of course, a restaurant dining hall (just make sure to give them a heads up!).
If the baby shower will be hosted at a venue, consider the location and time of year. While time of year is not something one can change based on when the one little one is coming, it can impact the price of a venue if there are holidays surrounding the date.
For example, hosting a baby shower around the holidays may be more expensive due to other events occurring during the specific season. The peak of seasonal events which drive the cost of venues include mid November until the end of the year.
Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years eve all fall around this time. Throw in holiday and company / corporate celebrations, and venue prices are sure to be expensive.
Additionally the cost of a venue can rise based on day of week. Seek deals for evening weekdays or Sundays.
Outside of room rental, there may be an additional charge for food and beverage. Some meeting spaces, like wedding venues or hotels, charge both room rental and food and beverage minimums to encourage internal catering services.
Virtual Baby Shower
To host a baby shower on a budget, consider a virtual event! Hold a virtual party via an online platform like Zoom, Webex or Microsoft Teams. When hosting a virtual baby shower, the gifts are sent to one central location (I.E. the mom-to-be’s home), everyone joins the virtual baby shower at a specific time and people celebrate from a distance.
The gifts are opened on camera and everyone gets to celebrate within the comfort of their home. Though this type of event lacks seeing everyone in person, it can encourage people to spend more money on gifts because they do not have to factor in the cost of travel to an event. Overall, no matter your choice for the venue – the event will be a memorable moment!
Cheap Baby Shower Invitations
When planning a baby shower on a budget, it is important to consider the method of baby shower invitations. Baby shower invitations are important because they give guests a way to know the date of the shower, where to find a baby registry, and how to RSVP to the event.
Firstly, for a budget friendly baby shower invitation idea, consider sending out digital invitations. Consider using pre-made baby shower invites from popular options like Canva. Send baby shower invitations via email or through a free invitation website.
Try a site with free digital invites like paperless post. For example, Paperlesspost (free for up to first 50 invitations / flyers) or Punchbowl (free for 7 day trial). Alternatively, send a text or email directly to the guests. If everyone is on facebook, ‘host’ the RSVP on this site.
If you are sending baby shower invitations via mail, consider signing up for ‘first time customer’ discounts on a website. Other invitations discounts occur when items are bought in bulk. Be sure the baby shower invitations come with free envelopes and that the envelopes are a standard size, or you may have to buy additional postage to send them in the mail. Because of this, stamps are the only additional cost. If RSVP’s are completed via phone, return stamps and envelopes do not need to be purchased and included in the initial invitation.
Baby Shower Decoration Ideas on a Budget
Firstly, for baby shower decor, keep things simple and cheap. Avoid the balloon garland and focus on items you can get at a reasonable price. If there is a timeline around a holiday, consider visiting the dollar store. For example, a love themed baby shower can do with ‘sweet little baby’ or anything love/ heart related with a pink or red color scheme. This can be purchased around Valentines day.
Clearance sections of stores like Meijer, Target, HomeGoods and TJ Maxx can also be a great place to search for baby shower decor.
If you are renting a venue, ensure you consider table covers and chairs. Consider the size of the room and plan table pieces accordingly. A cheap and effective way to have table decor is by providing the ‘thank you gift’ right at each place setting. Another easy way to decorate is by making a diaper cake as the centerpiece arrangement for a gift table.
Additionally, cheap baby shower decor ideas include in season flowers and of course – balloons. Consider asking friends if they have leftover baby shower items or hit up a local Goodwill.
Baby Shower Timeline
We are fans of hosting a party (especially first birthdays) between ‘main’ meal times: I.E. breakfast, lunch and dinner. This allows the host to serve snacks, simple appetizers or mini desserts. Try scheduling a party between the following times to avoid main meals: 10AM – 12PM, 2-4PM and 3-5PM.
An example of a baby shower timeline of events based on a 10am-12pm timeframe is:
- 8-9:30AM – Setup of space and final touches at venue. Food and beverages are ready.
- 9:30- 10AM – Relax in preparation of early guest arrivals
- 10-10:15AM – Guests arrive hosts welcome.
- Place gifts at ‘gift table’
- 10:15 – 10:45AM – Guests eat and mingle
- 10:45AM – 11:00AM – First game occurs
- 11:00AM – 11:45AM – Mom-to-be opens gifts
- Can include a ‘break’ for a game in the middle
- 11:45 – 12:00PM – Thank you’s and guests depart
Alternatively, the timeline could change based on when the mom-to-be opens gifts. People can depart when they like if the mom-to-be opens gifts right away. This can keep the event short and simple.
Baby Shower Food and Beverage Ideas
Firstly, baby shower food and beverage depends on the time of day the event is occurring, how many people are attending and the location of the event. Consider purchasing items in bulk at a local grocery store like Sam’s Club, Costco, or GFS.
Buying in bulk can be a great way to keep food costs cheap, while providing options for both smaller groups and large groups of people. Alternatively, food can be homemade. If you are hosting an event at a venue consider if food and beverage needs to be provided by a licensed caterer or bakery. And rather than providing a full meal, try a fun idea like fingers foods!
Breakfast ideas:
- Quiche
- Breakfast pastries
- Breakfast desserts (like these sourdough cinnamon rolls)
- Fresh fruit
- Yogurt parfaits
- Beverages: water, orange juice and coffee
Lunch Ideas:
- Mac and cheese
- Soup / Salad / Sandwich bar
- Dessert: cupcakes, cookies, mini pies, an ice cream bar, or pastries.
- Beverages: water, lemonade, iced tea, water, and coffee
Dinner Ideas:
- Soup, salad, soup, sandwich bar
- Pasta Bar (I.E. Meat sauce, white sauce, alfredo, meat options – chicken or beef)
- Taco bar (Ground beef or chicken, taco toppings)
- Dessert table: cupcakes, cookies, cheesecake
- Beverages: water, lemonade, iced tea, and coffee
Baby Shower Gift Ideas (For the mom-to-be and baby)
Making a baby registry can be so overwhelming. This list provides tried-and-true items which I have utilized for my first little one and will use for my second child (and any additional, lord willing).
For the mom-to-be, it is important to consider creating a baby registry which will reflect the entire first year of the little one. So much happens developmentally from birth to the first taste of solid food, to first words and even first teeth!
What is the average cost of a baby shower?
The average baby shower cost ranges from $200-$1,000. The cost is generally $20-30 per person. Items which influence the cost of a baby shower include how many people are invited, food and beverage, games, where the location is, and the price of baby shower gifts.
What are good baby shower themes?
There are endless themes for a baby shower. The baby shower theme can be by gender, time of year or something special to the family. Take ideas from websites like Pinterest which show you how to make an amazing baby shower for cheap. Google also has some great lists of baby shower themes. 15 popular baby shower themes include:
- A new hatchling is among us (Under the Sea Themed)
- (Woodland Themed)
- Mother to Bee (or) Sweet as can Bee (or) What Will I be? (Bumble Bee/Honey bee themed)
- Oh Boy (or) Once in a Blue Moon (Baby Boy; blue decor)
- Sweetest One (or) Pretty in Pink (Baby Girl)
- You are my Sunshine (or) Here comes the sun (Yellow / sun themed)
- About to Pop (Bubble Gum / champagne / celebration / pink themed)
- Over the Moon (Night / moon and star themed)
- I love you a latte (Coffee / cafe themed)
- Little Cutie (Clementine / orange themed)
- Baby, it’s cold outside (Winter wonderland / blue themed)
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (or) I love you to the moon and back (Galaxy / night / moon themed)
- Our greatest adventure (mountain themed / Winnie the Pooh)
- Showered in Love (Rain / Spring themed)
- A little pumpkin is on the way (Fall / Orange Themed)
Are thank you gifts required for the attendees of a baby shower?
Providing a gift to those who attend the baby shower is not essential. However, it can be a great way to give back thanks to those who are providing love and showering the mom-to-be and little one.
This can be as simple as a thank you speech at the baby shower or as complex as grab bags or baby shower themed cookies. Overall, keep it simple and share from the heart! It i s possible to provide a thank you gift without spending much money.
Who plans a baby shower for the mom to be?
The mother or mother-in-law of the mama to be typically plans a baby shower. Aunts can also plan the baby shower. If family is not in the picture, a mom to be can throw a shower for herself or friends can always throw one for their mom-to-be.
Who is invited
Invite family and friends to a baby shower. This could include parents, grandparents, aunts, siblings, cousins and close friends. Baby showers can be exclusive to the women of the household or can include the entire family. To keep in line with a tight budget, keep the invite list small by capping the number of guests.
For those who have family on both sides of the mother and father, there is the option to have a combined (hybrid) baby shower or separate. If there are separate showers, consider asking the opposite mother, or mother in law, to attend the other shower.
For example, if a mother-in-law is throwing a shower, the mother of the new mom-to-be would be invited to the shower. By combining showers it can be easy to spend less money and reduce the stress on the new parents who only have to travel to one location.
What are inexpensive baby shower games?
The most inexpensive baby shower game is to have none at all! Seriously, these games can be repetitive and drag on the day. But for those who would like to have a baby shower game, consider free printable on line (I.E. a word scramble) or a ‘guess the cost’ game.
The ‘Guest the Cost’ game begins with a series of items that everyone has to guess the cost on. The one who has the closest guesses on all the items – wins!
As the group sees each item, the mom-to-be receives it as a gift. For example – a pack of diapers – $12, a 3 pack of onesies – $10, and so on.
A fun way to keep the mom-to-be engaged and showered with gifts, is to have her open a gift every time someone else from the games receives a gift. Overall, keep it light and simple.
Who normally pays for a baby shower?
The host of the baby shower pays for the items used to throw the party. This includes the cost of space rental (if utilizing), decor, gifts and food/beverage for the attendees.
Occasionally, other family members split the cost and responsibilities of the baby shower. For example, if the meals are homemade, attendees can chip in with a dish to pass or bring items to serve the food on (I.E. plates, napkins, utensils).
Additionally, one could cover the cost of the venue and another could cover the cost of the decor. It depends on the dynamics of the family and who is throwing the party. Overall, the mom-to-be is not footing the cost of the bill.
What is a baby sprinkle?
A baby sprinkle is a baby shower for a mom of multiples. It is often utilized when one has multiple genders, babies or has space between their children (and is starting from scratch with baby items). A sprinkle, just like a baby shower, is not a requirement for a successful start to parenthood.
Do you have a mom-to-be who you think could benefit from this article? Share it with them below!
