The baby shower has some pretty strong traditions that haven’t really changed over the years: either a pink or blue theme with the standard steamers, clothespin game, and obligatory assortment of snacks... but not to worry, because 2019 is bringing in some new baby shower trends to make the biggest change in one’s life a true celebration! There are so many ways to celebrate to match any budget or taste, and you’re not limited to pink and blue anymore.
Some of this year’s baby shower trends are:
Sip and see - This post-baby party is an opportunity for friends and family to come see the new baby and partake in some adult beverages (it’s kind of based on the old school ‘Open House’ concept where people can come and go during a pre-set time frame). The Sip and See is a casual environment with tasty appetizers and bubbly to celebrate the birth of the baby. If bubbly isn’t you or your guests’ thing, create a non-alcoholic signature cocktail for your guests to enjoy. Sip and Sees are all-inclusive, so everyone is welcome!
Co-ed - Co-ed Baby Showers are the next step up from the Sip and See. They are a little more involved, likely with a theme and an activity or two. Barbeques, pool parties, or even your own version of a High Tea could be a fun way to celebrate the arrival of the new bundle of joy.
Décor
This year, décor is off the charts for baby showers, mainly due to a variety of trending themes. Décor for the shower ranges from simple, all the way up to Kardashian- level intensity. Balloons have had a huge resurgence, and they are the perfect and inexpensive way to create a beautiful backdrop for the party. Arches, clusters, and even garlands of monochromatic or colorful balloons fill a lot of space and are easy to put up, so don’t overlook them when planning the shower.
Over-the-top themes are also becoming more popular this year. For these types of extravagant themes, décor is key! This year’s trend is to create the entire environment in your chosen theme to transport your guests into another world. Of course, coordinating food and party favors with your theme are a must, too! Creative, beautiful food is continuing to trend this year. Ensuring your party snacks look as good as they taste will please all of the foodies in your life.
Themes
This is where it gets fun! Do away with the ol’ pink or blue theme and go for something totally off the wall. To start, just look to your intended guest(s) of honor for inspiration: What do they do in their free time? What are their favorite hobbies, vacation spots, TV shows, genres of music or bands, or what are their favorite movies? Create a theme around any of these likes and you will have a home run!
If you are still stuck choosing a theme for the baby shower, here are a few suggestions to help you out:
Vintage Chic - For the thrift-shopping parent who likes to DIY, vintage chic is a great theme that will most likely not hurt your pocket book either. Hit up your local thrift shops to find ornate picture frames, interesting fabrics or lace, and even old jewelry that you can deconstruct to create unique décor for your baby shower. If you are looking for more neutral décor, keep your eyes peeled for old books, suitcases, hats, or even old toys.
Mermaid - Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably seen the boat load of mermaid-themed children’s clothes, dolls, swimming lessons, decorated cupcakes, and even fake appendages! This theme is fun, playful, and - quite frankly - easy. You should not have any trouble finding all sorts of stuff in a mermaid theme: plates, napkins, decorations, and even food.
Outer Space - This is an awesome gender- neutral theme. It’s starry and colorful and celebrates the arrival of your out-of-this-world delivery! You can use items you already have in your home. Use a glass to cut circles out of your favorite rolled cookie dough and then decorate them like planets. Use tin foil as a tablecloth or placemats, serve your food in tin foil pie plates, and cut out stars out of tin foil (basically a lot of silver through the beauty and ease of tin foil!). Add color through planets made from construction paper or bright beach balls or paint your own Styrofoam or paper-mâché ball.
Want some out-of-the-box ideas? Give these a whirl:
The Child’s Name - If you know the name of the child, research the name’s origin and create a theme based on the cultural or historic significance of the name. Fun, educational, and unique!
Circus Sideshow - A playful theme with more tongue in cheek for those with a good sense of humor: “See the bearded man put together a baby crib,” for example. Create the circus sideshow décor with red and white striped fabric, serve popcorn, candy apples, and hot dogs. Balloons and streamers would be an inexpensive and colorful way to keep with this theme. If you are choosing to do a traditional gender reveal, have a balloon artist create a balloon animal in the gender color to reveal to the circus-goers.
If you are looking for a more generic baby theme, the hot trends for 2019 are:
Clean and simple - Inspired by nature, use greenery and twigs to decorate and create wreaths or centerpieces. A naked cake, which is still a hot trend, is the perfect confection for this theme and can be decorated with simple greenery or flowers. White and pastel colors are the best complements to this theme.
Clouds - Ethereal and pretty, the cloud theme could be quite lavish or be more DYI, depending on your budget. Choose the color combination of white and gold or white and silver for your balloons, and get cotton batten and batting to create those fluffy clouds. There are so many food options as well for this baby shower: Marshmallows, whipped cream, cotton candy (maybe throw in some cauliflower to balance out the sugar but keep with the white theme).
“Got Milk?” This famous slogan can be turned into a fun theme with all things milk! Milk cartons and jugs, cookies and milk for dipping, white fabrics and balloons even a photobooth with the “Got Milk?” word bubble. No matter what theme you choose to celebrate the arrival of 2019’s newest bundles of joy, creating fantastic photo opps that people want to share on blogs, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest is the goal for most, which can be fun, inspiring, and a great way to spread the news! But remember, ultimately, it’s about getting together with friends and family and celebrating life!
Tanya is the Head Curator at Menagerie Parties & Cakes, handcrafting boutique party experiences through custom décor, engaging activities, and show-stopping sweets for people living full, productive lives wanting to celebrate life to its fullest. It’s a Party in a Box! For more information, visit menagerieyyc.ca and follow her on Facebook and Instagram @menagerieyyc.
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