When throwing a baby shower, there are many details to plan for a smooth and enjoyable event that celebrates an expectant mother. From the tablecloths to the invitations, there are several parts of the planning process, which can cost a significant amount of money. To save money and still plan a beautiful event, there are several tips to follow when throwing a DIY baby shower.
When it comes to decorating the baby shower, the decor can end up costing five to 10 percent of your overall budget for the party. To combat these expenses, opt for buying in bulk rather than individually. Visit online warehouses for discounted rates, as doing so can end up saving you up to 50 percent of the cost of party decor. According to thebump.com, you can opt for using latex balloons instead of mylar, which are less expensive and still come in a variety of colors.
When picking out the tableware, opt for shopping at dollar stores where cups and dishes are available at a lower price. You can also use China that you may already own, or borrow it from a friend to avoid the overall cost of the tableware (without compromising on the quality).
For the tablecloths, visit secondhand stores to look for materials that will decorate the tables and are available at a low price. You can also make your own tablecloths by purchasing the material at fabric stores and sewing the product yourself, for unique pieces that are custom designed to match the theme of the baby shower.
Although it may be tempting to save money on the cost of your baby shower invitations by sending a virtual invitation through e-mail, it can take away from the formality of the event, and even result in fewer RSVPs (as many emails tend to get intentionally ignored, or even sent to spam folders). Fortunately, you can cut down on the cost of the materials by making your own instead of buying them prepackaged.
Buy construction or stock paper in bulk and recruit some of your closest friends to help create more affordable baby shower invitations for a smooth and quick process. Consider using dried wildflowers that can be found outdoors or dying newspapers in tea for a rustic style that looks creative and will allow you to stay within your budget. If you do not have time to create your own baby shower invitations, you can also look for more affordable solutions. There are lots of places that offer cheap baby shower invitations, you just have to look around.
As another option, practice writing in calligraphy, for a beautiful design that can include each guest's name on the invites. The invitations will look one-of-a-kind, and will show your guests how much you value their friendship.
The invites can also be mailed out as postcards to reduce the cost of postage and save on envelopes.
You may want to impress your guests with decadent, professionally made treats and desserts that are served at the shower, but this can add hundreds of extra dollars to the cost of the party. Instead, make your own treats, and recruit family members or friends of the expectant mother to make their best dish to save on what you pay for food. There are tons of great baby shower dessert ideas that are easy to make.
Look up recipes on Pinterest for delicious items that you can recreate, for a formal setting that will look great in photographs. You can also consider taking a cake decorating class at a local bakery or community center for a great way of enhancing your skill level and producing impressive treats that look as good as anything you’d buy from a bakery.