Social gatherings are not what they once were. It’s easy to embrace technology and host a virtual party. Not only is it safer, but it also makes it possible to include people who ordinarily wouldn’t be able to join in person.
My mother-in-law and friend Susan Noble (founder of @BlessedEventsofgiving) hosted a virtual baby shower for me recently, and it was so much fun! I hope you’ll tap into your creativity and host one of your own!
Here are some tips to help you plan your own virtual baby shower!
Tips for a Virtual Baby Shower
- Send hand-written or digital invitations. Digital invites are the easiest way to incorporate your videoconference link so everyone has it at their handy convenience. Consider creating an online event page like Eventbrite which makes it easy to track RSVPs and pass along your virtual party link to others. For a lovely personal touch, my mother-in-law wrote personal notes to each guest.
- Think about the party setting and plan a theme. Where will the host be during the party? Yes, digital backgrounds are great, but you may want to plan for some decorations to make your event personal and festive. My hosts planned a beautiful shower that gently teased about the fact that our baby-to-be was conceived during the quarantine. Shawna Triplett Brockmeir designed a crown and Dolores Williams of A Piece of Cake baked cookies, which beautifully matched our nursery colors. Gorgeous flowers were inspired by Clay at Bunches florist in Rockwall, a lovely complement to the delicious naked cake created and baked by 15-year-old Charli Ann Joseph, owner of Charli Ann’s Heavenly Cakes in Rockwall. Charli Ann topped the cake with some of the same lovely flowers.
- Send a reminder to guests a few days before with the link to the virtual shower. I helped follow up via text, email, and Facebook – it’s always best to consider the mode of communication your friends use most.
- If you can, be sure to designate tasks. We expected the unexpected and prepared for the possibility of technical issues. Just as you might have one person assigned to greet people at the door, we had someone who admitted people to the chat. We had another person guide people through technical issues, another keeping track of which gifts came from which attendees-and even received and wrapped the gifts before the shower (another amazing thing my mother-in-law did for me!), and one person to take photos. My kids were huge helpers that day! I realize not everyone will have so many assistants, but perhaps recruit a relative or friend to help track the gifts and email the list after the party.
- Plan for games, catch-up, and plenty of time to oooh and ahh as you open your gifts. Free shower game ideas include baby bingo, nursery rhyme emoji quiz, and children’s book emoji quiz. Find them here.
- Favors and Thank You! Susan Noble of Blessed Events–The Gift of Giving found adorable measuring spoons to give as party favors. They were mailed out with the thank you notes from FavorFavorBaby.com.
We are so grateful to Martha Cuellar a local, who helped us plan a party that also supported the small businesses of Rockwall, keeping it local.
{Neighborhood Fave Five :: Rockwall, TX}
However you choose to customize your virtual shower, you’ll have a variety of options, and it’s becoming easier and more popular. In fact, military families, in particular, have been enjoying the benefits of virtual baby showers for years!
It was an honor for Blessed Events-The Gift of Giving to do this for the Bachman’s. Such a fun afternoon and so thankful for the collaboration of such amazing businesses.