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Plan the Perfect Baby Shower
Planning the Checklist 
The day of the birth is fast approaching and its now time to plan the baby shower. As every busy person knows, your greatest asset is forward thinking. However, if you are anything like me, the temptation to procrastinate is all too great. Fortunately this is a habit that can easily be avoided simply by planning ahead and ensuring you give lots of time to prepare. Horror stories about sunken cakes, or tales of events without venues tend awaken us to the reality that there’s far more to a baby shower than it appears. I will not go in to detail about the similar stories I have received from readers, but lets just say, that I too am aware of this simple fact - be prepared. Importance of the Checklist The perfect baby shower requires the attention of a military operation. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but if you want the shower to be remembered by all the guests as having been a fully enjoyable experience, the baby shower checklist is an ideal tool. Think of the checklist as the ultimate baby shower companion - it takes only a few minutes to prepare, but will be a resource that you can refer back to over and over again. The checklist should be one of the first items that you prioritize and should be done before you take on any of the larger tasks. Ideally, this would be between two weeks and one month before the due date of the mother to be. Start thinking about... At this point you need to consider the exact date you want to hold the shower and who you want to be there. If there are any particularly important guests whose presence is an absolute must, you might have to take their diaries into consideration. At this stage it’s also worth thinking about the timing of the shower – whether you want to have an after lunch event that incorporates afternoon tea and finishes by early evening, or if you’d prefer a stylish evening affair that starts with canapés and ends with coffee and chocolate. Remember to think about whether some of the guests are bringing children and the average age of the crowd – kids running around could ruin a sophisticated evening do, but would fit in well at a picnic in the garden. Other Considerations When You Plan the Perfect Baby Shower Another important concern that will affect the rest of the baby shower checklist is your budget. It’s always a good idea to share the costs unless you’re feeling especially generous! Baby shower guests always seem happy to turn up bearing contributions of pudding or wine and most people are happy to help out with the clearing up or in the kitchen – it’s that kind of communal occasion. As the baby shower gets closer you need to pick and confirm a venue and decide what the theme will be. There are important invitations to consider and decisions concerning baby shower décor, as well as managing the baby shower gifts. Do you use a baby shower registry, produce a gift list of your own or simply ask guests to bring whatever they please and risk ending up with twenty-five diaper cakes? Some Final Thoughts The number of decisions involved in pulling together an event like this might seem overwhelming and endless. But with the help of the baby shower checklist you can stay calm and cool and oversee the kind of baby shower you’ll be thinking back on proudly for years to come. Now you know how to plan the perfect baby shower! Go to our checklist section for a more detailed look at the subject. Other helpful articles From Plan the Perfect Baby Shower to Trendy Baby Shower Ideas Home |
