A baby shower is often a family’s first opportunity to bring together loved ones for the celebration of their baby. Though we see the lure of rainbow balloon arches and lemondrop-colored decor, not everyone wants to follow baby shower etiquette (or be the center of attention – especially while pregnant).
If you aren’t a fan of a traditional baby shower, but need to plan one anyway, all is not lost – you’re in the right place! Keep reading for inspiration and easy low-key shower ideas to celebrate the Mama-to-be in your life.
Simple Ways to Host a Fun Non-Traditional Shower
There are many unique ways to shower the Mama-to-be with support and love while making it fun for everyone. A non-traditional baby shower is an opportunity to gather people in a casual way to celebrate and support the expecting mom. Follow along for some ideas to plan the perfect party, without the stress and financial investment of a traditional shower.
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Host a Friends Gathering At a Favorite Place
Instead of gathering at a home or meeting place, consider celebrating the Mama-to-be at a place that serves as both entertainment and an experience. This could be a favorite restaurant with an outdoor patio, a botanical garden, or a local brewery, depending on the expecting Mother’s personal interests.
Gathering somewhere else other than a home means you can let go of any pressure to order hefty decorations or plan a menu for guests and simply focus on bringing people together who want to be a part of the celebration. This also takes the attention and pressure off of the process and the expecting Mother.
To integrate shower elements, you can count on WebBabyShower to help you keep everyone engaged all in one place. Whether you want to send announcements to your guests, upkeep a blog, share sonogram photos, or create an online registry, the extra details are easy ways to ensure the expecting Mama will be sprinkled with love and gifts from afar and in-person.
A Beautiful Babymoon With Your Best Friend(s)
When getting ready for a baby, a couple often goes on a babymoon, a celebratory vacation before the birth of a new baby. Have you thought about celebrating the Mama-to-be with a friends’ babymoon? Sounds really sweet, no?
As with any big shifts, relationships and lives naturally change. This intimate experience will not only offer the expecting Mama new memories with her best-of-friends, it can also strengthen the bond between the circle of women that will surround the new baby for years to come.
Consider somewhere she has always wanted to go. No judgment about a night in Vegas 🙂 but we’re thinking a bit more personal, say a home, place and duration where relaxing and exploring comes easy. It could even be a babymoon slumber party at a bestie’s home.
Not only can your expecting Mama share the joy of her pregnancy journey with her closest people, she can vent about some hard truths, something that doesn’t always fit into the agenda of a traditional party-style baby shower.
Board Games Over Baby Games
We all know the baby games. The onesies-decorating, the diaper-changing races, and the pinning the diaper on the baby. We at WebBabyShower have been helping families come together for years to celebrate this special milestone and we’ve learned that not everyone loves these games.
Like us, maybe you’ve seen too many games with friends measuring the circumference of the Mama-to-be’s belly. Some are hilarious, but some are, you can admit it, lame! What we’ve seen on the rise are board games – and we think there’s a game for everyone.
Have guests gather at a home or a local brewery and ask them to bring their favorite board game. Play a list of the Mama-to-be’s favorite songs and order the foods she’s currently craving. To make this gathering even more fun and casual, let it be a co-ed get together and make it clear to guests that partners are welcome to come.
To add a touch of shower elements, you can still have an online registry and share announcements up to and after the celebration. Though we like encouraging guests to ship gifts directly to the house, if guests bring gifts to the gathering, think about opening the gifts as guests arrive. Not only will this be a personal moment with each guest, it can also add to the casual vibe of the gathering for everyone – most importantly, the expecting Mama.
Sip-and-See: Meet the Baby After Birth
A Sip-and-See is a casual event where friends and family meet the baby after birth. This gathering allows loved ones to see the newborn while the new parents can relax and enjoy adult conversation. Unlike traditional showers, it’s less about games and gifts and more about the joy of sharing this new phase with those closest to you.
Couples’ Baby Brunch: Inclusive Celebrations
A Couples’ Baby Brunch invites both parents-to-be’s friends and family to enjoy a late morning meal together. This alternative makes it a co-ed affair, encouraging both partners to partake in the celebration. A brunch setting offers a laid-back atmosphere with delicious breakfast foods, creating a warm and inclusive environment.
Meal Train: Supporting New Parents with Cuisine
Organizing a Meal Train involves setting up a schedule for friends and family to provide home-cooked meals, easing the transition for new parents. This practical gift ensures they have nourishing meals during the challenging early days with a newborn, showing love and support through thoughtful, tangible help.
Crafting Party: Creating Keepsakes Together
A Crafting Party allows guests to engage in creating meaningful keepsakes for the baby. This may include decorating onesies or making a scrapbook. It’s a creative and hands-on way for guests to contribute something unique, fostering a sense of community and creating cherished mementos.
Picnic in the Park: Relaxed and Nature-Friendly
Hosting a picnic in the park provides a laid-back, scenic setting for a baby shower. Guests can bring blankets and baskets filled with goodies to share, making for a delightful and informal gathering. The beauty of nature adds to the experience, creating precious memories in an open-air locale.
Book-Themed Gathering: Building Baby’s Library
A Book-Themed Gathering encourages guests to bring a cherished children’s book instead of traditional gifts. This thoughtful approach not only helps build the baby’s library but allows attendees to share stories that hold personal importance, creating a meaningful start to the baby’s reading journey.
Low-Key Tea Party: Elegant Simplicity
A Low-Key Tea Party offers a charming and subdued celebration with a selection of fine teas, dainty sandwiches, and pastries. The elegant simplicity of a tea party creates a calm, relaxed atmosphere that allows for intimate conversations, perfect for sharing advice and stories in anticipation of the baby.
Spa Day for Mom: Pre-Baby Pampering
A Spa Day focuses on pampering the mom-to-be with massages, facials, and relaxation techniques. This time of self-care before the baby arrives is a thoughtful way to help her unwind and feel appreciated. It’s a tranquil gift of peace and wellness amidst the anticipation of new responsibilities.
Minimalist Gift Exchange: Emphasizing Thoughtfulness
A Minimalist Gift Exchange emphasizes quality over quantity, encouraging guests to bring one meaningful gift. This approach helps avoid gift overload and focuses on items that will truly benefit the new family, celebrating the thoughtful intentions behind each present.
Movie Night with Family: Cozy and Casual
A Movie Night gathers close friends and family for a cozy evening watching films. With popcorn, snacks, and a selection of sentimental or light-hearted movies, this low-key gathering is about enjoying each other’s company in a relaxed setting, creating a memorable and comforting experience.
Backyard BBQ: Casual Outdoor Celebration
Celebrating with a Backyard BBQ makes for a fun and casual affair, bringing guests together over grilled meals and outdoor games. This approachable setting allows for easy interaction and a festive atmosphere, eliminating the pressure of formal events while celebrating under the open sky.
Theme-Free Gathering: Focus on Connection
A Theme-Free Gathering strips away the pressure of décor and elaborate themes, concentrating on building connections. Guests can simply enjoy spending quality time together, sharing stories and advice, placing value on the relationships that will support the new baby’s life journey.
Potluck Dinner: Sharing Diverse Flavors
A Potluck Dinner invites guests to bring their favorite dishes to share, fostering a sense of community through a shared culinary experience. This diverse spread of flavors celebrates the coming together of loved ones, bringing a feel of home and warmth to the celebration.
Plant a Tree: A Living Symbol of Growth and Nurturing
Planting a tree as part of the celebration serves as a living symbol of growth, life, and nurturing. Participants can collectively engage in an act that will grow alongside the child, representing the loving support system the baby will have throughout its life.
Throwing a Low-Key Baby Shower to Celebrate the Expecting Mama
The time before the baby comes is a crucial and exciting period for the Mama-to-be. There are many ways to celebrate this milestone yet traditional baby showers are sometimes just a bit too much pressure and attention on the host and expecting Mama.
We help expecting Mamas and their loved ones get excited about hosting intimate baby showers! With over 20,000 successful virtual baby showers on WebBabyShower, we know that there is more meaning to this celebration than going all out on pricey decorations and jungle themed-everything.
Hosting a get-together at a favorite restaurant, planning a bestie’s babymoon, and doing board games night at the local brewery are just a few ways to celebrate the Mama-to-be. These anti baby shower ideas are casual, fun, and unique ways to be together for the pregnancy.
Ready to start planning? Check out our demo to see how WebBabyShower can help you confidently plan the perfect day
People Also Ask
What can be done instead of a baby shower?
Instead of a traditional baby shower, consider hosting a small and meaningful gathering such as a family movie night, a picnic in the park, or organizing a meal delivery service to support the new parents during their first few weeks at home.
How to have a non-traditional baby shower?
Opt for an activity-based celebration, like crafting baby items, attending a cooking class together, or even hosting a virtual get-together, which allows for inclusion and interaction without following traditional baby shower norms.
What are some ideas for a small, intimate baby shower?
For a small, intimate baby shower, consider a theme-free gathering at a cozy café, a tea party with close friends, or even a simple brunch at home, focusing on personal connections and shared stories rather than elaborate setups.
How to do a low-key baby shower?
Keep it low-key by minimizing decorations, opting for simple finger foods, and planning casual, no-pressure activities like board games, a photo slideshow, or a meditative session, ensuring a relaxed and stress-free atmosphere.
