Everything you need to know about organising a memorable celebration
A baby shower is a wonderful way to celebrate the parents-to-be before their little one's arrival and create lasting memories with family and friends. Whether you're planning your own baby shower or helping a loved one bring their vision to life, there are plenty of details to consider – from setting a budget and choosing a venue to deciding on food, games and decorations.
To help make the process feel more manageable, we've put together this baby shower planning guide, covering everything from venues and timings to themes, activities and common questions.
What is a baby shower?
A baby shower is an event held before a new baby arrives, where friends and family gather to support the new mum or parents-to-be. Traditionally, guests bring gifts to celebrate the new arrival, and enjoy some food, drinks, and games.
Although baby showers originated in the United States, they have become increasingly popular in the UK as a way to celebrate pregnancy and mark the exciting transition into parenthood.
When do you have a baby shower?
Most baby showers take place between four and eight weeks before the baby's due date. This gives the mum-to-be plenty of time to comfortably enjoy the celebration and allows some flexibility just in case the baby decides to arrive early.
How to plan a baby shower
Whether you’re already deep in the organisation phase or looking for inspiration and ideas, this checklist contains out top tips for hosting the perfect celebration:
1. Create your guest list
The first step is deciding who to invite. Your guest list will influence many other planning decisions, including your venue, budget and catering requirements.
Some baby showers are intimate gatherings with close friends and family, while others bring together wider friendship groups, colleagues and extended family members. Think about the atmosphere you'd like to create and who the parents-to-be would most like to celebrate with.
2. Set your budget
Working out your budget is another important step in early planning. Start by deciding how much you're comfortable spending overall, then break the budget down into key categories.
For example, you may want to allocate a larger portion towards venue hire and food, while keeping costs lower for decorations or party favours. If you've got a larger guest list, it can also be helpful to estimate a rough cost per person to ensure the event remains within budget.
Remember, baby showers don't need to be expensive to be memorable. There are plenty of ways to cut back on costs, including hosting at home or making DIY decorations.
3. Set a date and time
Next step: lock a date in the diary. To give guests the best chance of attending, it's worth checking for any major holidays, school breaks or family events that may affect availability.
Most baby showers take place between four and eight weeks before the baby's due date, allowing the new mum or parents to celebrate before the final weeks of pregnancy. However, some families choose to celebrate earlier depending on travel plans, work commitments or personal preference.
When choosing an event time, think about the type of celebration you’d like to host and how long you’ll need to set up on the day. Brunches, afternoon teas, and evening gatherings can all work well, but they each have different timings and setup requirements. It’s completely fine if you’re unsure on timings, too. Sending a save the date first ensures that guests keep their diaries free while you finalise the schedule.
4. Pick a venue
Your venue will help shape the atmosphere of the day, so it’s an important decision.
There are plenty of options to choose from, including restaurants, private dining rooms, community halls, hotel event spaces and family homes. If you're planning a larger celebration, venues that offer catering and event packages can help simplify the organisation process.
Before confirming your venue, think about accessibility, parking, public transport links and whether the space is suitable for any games, activities or entertainment you've planned.
Hosting at home can be a more budget-friendly option and offers greater flexibility when it comes to decorations, food and timings. It can also create a relaxed and personal setting for guests to enjoy.
Outdoor celebrations like park picnics and barbecues can be lovely too, but the UK weather doesn’t always hold out. For this reason, we’d recommend choosing areas with shelter or having a backup venue just in case. It’s also important to consider the practicalities of things like seating and toilet facilities, especially for a pregnant mum!
5. Plan the food and drinks 
Food is often one of the highlights of any baby shower. The menu can be as simple or elaborate as you'd like, depending on your budget and the style of celebration.
Afternoon tea, brunch spreads, grazing tables and buffet-style food are all popular choices. You could also incorporate some family recipes or pregnancy craving-themed snacks to add a personal touch.
Remember to double check guests’ dietary requirements when planning your menu and include plenty of alcohol-free drinks. No-secco, mocktails, fruit-infused drinks and speciality teas are good inclusive options. Serving drinks in baby bottles is also a fun way to honour the occasion, and provides a cute keepsake for guests too!
If you’ve got more budget to play with, you could go all in with a sit-down meal based on the expectant mum’s favourite foods. If you’re hosting at a restaurant, keep in mind that they may need everyone to pre-order food off a set menu, depending on the size of the group.
6. Choose a theme and decorations
While a theme isn't essential, it can help bring the event together and make planning easier. You can keep it simple with a pink or blue based on the baby’s gender, or get more creative with seasonal themes, a children's book, a garden party aesthetic or a more elevated colour palette that ties everything together.
The next step is to think about how you'll reflect it through your decorations. Fresh flowers, balloons, bunting, themed table settings and personalised signage can all help create a cohesive look, while also making the celebration feel more special for the parents-to-be and their guests.
For a more personal touch, consider incorporating baby scan photos, family photographs or a memory display celebrating the journey to parenthood so far. These thoughtful details can help make the event feel unique and create meaningful talking points throughout the day.
Top tip: If you're struggling for inspiration, creating a mood board on Pinterest can be a great way to gather ideas and visualise how different colours, decorations and styling elements will work together.
7. Send your invites
Once all the key details are confirmed, it's time to invite your guests. Sending invitations around four to six weeks before the event will give your guests plenty of notice.
Digital invitations are a convenient and budget-friendly option, while printed invitations can add a more personal touch. Be sure to include important information such as the date, location, timings, RSVP details and any gift registry information if applicable.
8. Organise games and activities
Games and activities are a great way to bring guests together and create lasting memories for the parents-to-be. While traditional baby shower games remain popular, many hosts are now opting for more personal activities that double as keepsakes.
Popular baby shower activities include:
- Baby predictions cards, where guests guess baby's arrival date, weight and eye colour
- Advice cards, allowing friends and family to share words of wisdom with the parents-to-be
- Memory books, filled with messages and well wishes to look back on in years to come
- Guess the baby photo, where guests match childhood photos to attendees
- Baby shower bingo, which can be played when gifts are being opened
Top tip: When planning activities, try not to overfill the schedule. Leaving plenty of time for guests to chat, enjoy food and celebrate together can help create a more relaxed atmosphere.
Frequently asked questions
What usually happens at a baby shower?
Most baby showers include food, drinks, games, gifts and time for guests to celebrate the parents-to-be. Some are relaxed gatherings at home with afternoon tea and conversation, while others include organised activities and entertainment.
Who organises a baby shower?
Traditionally, a baby shower is organised by a close friend, sibling or family member. However, there are no strict rules and many parents-to-be now choose to host their own celebrations. The most important thing is creating a day that reflects the guest or guests of honour, and gives loved ones the opportunity to celebrate together.
Who normally pays for a baby shower in the UK?
There are no set rules of etiquette when it comes to covering the costs. In many cases, the host pays for the event, although friends and family may also offer to contribute towards the venue, decorations, food or activities.
If you're working with a more conservative budget, hosting at home and opting for homemade food, decorations or favours can help keep costs down without compromising on the experience.
Is three months too early for a baby shower?
Not necessarily. Many baby showers take place four to eight weeks before the due date, but some families prefer to celebrate earlier, particularly if travel or scheduling may become more difficult later in pregnancy.
What do you take to a baby shower?
Guests often bring gifts for the parents-to-be or baby, alongside a card with a personal message. Practical essentials, keepsakes and thoughtful gifts are all popular choices.
It’s common to bring a gift for the baby, like a teddy, blanket or little outfit, but sometimes parents need a little love too. For example, you could treat the mum--to-be to a gift like a candle or pamper care package to help her relax and unwind before her due date. Some gift sets include pre-and post-natal products like stretch mark cream, soothing balms, or essential oils.
Whatever you choose, a heartfelt card with a personal message is often just as meaningful as the gift itself.
Do you need to provide party favours at a baby shower?
Party favours are a lovely way to thank guests for celebrating with you, but they're by no means essential. Simple treats such as personalised biscuits, mini candles, seed packets or tea sachets can make thoughtful keepsakes without adding too much to your budget.
