Today we’re going to be covering a topic that some might feel is too taboo to ask in person… Who pays for a baby shower?
Perhaps you’ve got a close friend or family member who is on their way to welcoming a brand new addition to their family! As exciting as these times may be, you might also have a lot of questions.
Will there be a baby shower? Who plans a baby shower? Who pays for the baby shower? And most importantly, how much do baby showers cost?
Luckily, you won’t have to stress with questions for much longer, because we’ve got all those answers for you right here!
The One Who Plans It, Pays for It
To put it as bluntly as possible, when it comes to baby showers, those who are in charge of planning the baby shower are the ones who have to foot the bill.
Now, because every mama-to-be is different, this answer might be too cut and dry for her specific situation. For instance, perhaps she’s having multiple baby showers, or perhaps multiple people are in charge of her shower. Then who pays?
The Mom-to-Be with More than One Baby Shower
All women are unique, and so are their friend and family situations. Perhaps two sides of her family don’t get along, and therefore she’ll be having two baby showers: one from the future mom’s side of the family, and one from the future dad’s side.
In that case, the planners of each party would be expected to step up to cover their individual party’s expenses. If on her side her sister will be throwing the shower, she’ll foot the bill.
And if on her dad’s side the future grandma is the party-planner, then she’ll be expected to pay for her respective shower.
Although it’s certainly not expected that future moms have more than one baby shower, it often happens when she has multiple friend groups or sides of the family that don’t necessarily get along or know each other well.
The Mom-to-Be with a Baby Shower Planning Committee
The other trickier scenario you might run into, is a mom-to-be who’s having a baby shower that’s planned by multiple people. Because planning a baby shower can be a lot of work, it’s not out of the ordinary for a few women to team up to make this happen.
For example, the mom-to-be’s mom and aunt or a few of the mom-to-be’s closest friends might all be dividing the party planning responsibilities. If this seems to be the case, all the party planners would be expected to share the costs.
This is a discussion that should happen up front so every party planning member understands how much money they are each expected to spend. The last thing you want is for the baby shower to spark any disputes over cash.
…But should I help plan too?
As you read this, maybe you’re wondering if you should be the one to step up and plan the mom-to-be’s baby shower. This is a great question to ask yourself, especially if you’re rather close with the guest of honor.
The best way to find out if you should take on this responsibility is by doing a little research.
First, it is recommended that you reach out to others who you know are close to the mom-to-be. Her mother, aunts, godmother, besties, and close coworkers are a good place to start.
Casually ask them if they have any baby shower plans in the making. After all, it would be awkward for you to start planning one only to find out they’ve already had an extravagant one in the works for quite some time.
At any rate, do some questioning and feel the situation out. See if they look like they’ve got it covered or offer to help if you feel inclined.
Just remember, offering to help plan the party implies you’ll be willing to spend some money on the event.
If after reaching out to those main people it looks like there are no baby shower plans brewing, then it’s time to move onto step two.
If it seems like the responsibility of planning a baby shower isn’t being taken on by anyone else, then you might have just become lead party planner!
If this is the case, you can move onto phase two: ask the mom-to-be her baby shower vision. Perhaps the reason no baby shower is being planned for her is that she doesn’t want to make that big of a fuss. Or perhaps she really does want a baby shower but she has a specific invite list in mind.
Whatever the mom-to-be’s wishes are concerning the baby shower, listen to her with your full attention. Even though she shouldn’t have a hand in actually planning the event, it is important that she’s happy with the final result.
Because after all, this event is meant to be all about her and this new, exciting chapter in her life!
But How Much Do Baby Showers Cost, Anyway?
If after doing the suggested research above you find that you’re officially on the baby shower planning committee, make sure you realize what you’ve signed up for.
Just like a bridal shower or even surprise birthday party, this event can really add up in costs if you’re not diligent about planning from the get go.
Probably the biggest cost of a baby shower is the venue, if you choose to have it at one. In fact, for more insight into where to have your Baby Shower, click here. But for now, let’s break down that cost and others below:
Venues
Low Budget: In a home or backyard
This is a totally free option! Unless you decide to rent a tent or other outside vendors the biggest way to keep costs low is to use someone’s home that is close to the mom-to-be i.e. her mother, aunt, or a close friend.
And aside from being the cheapest option, it’s also the best option for not being limited on time. While at a venue you’ll be politely escorted out once your paid for amount of time is up, someone’s home is typically less strict on this sort of time constraint.
Medium Budget: In a local hall
Approximately $500 for 4 hours. While this price will certainly range depending on where you live and the type of halls you intend to check out, local halls such as the VFW or a church annex typically cost about this much. Consider that 1 hour for set up and 3 hours for partying. It’s certainly not a bad option if you have a lot of guests (30+) and want room to spread out for gifts and games. Just remember, that price doesn’t include food or decorations and limits you to a strict time limit.
High Budget: In a private restaurant or hotel event room
This cost varies from approximately $35 to $60 per head. Likely this is the most expensive route, however remember this price also includes food and drinks. Like booking in a local hall, you’ll likely be constrained to a certain time limit, but odds are you’ll need less decorations since the interior of a private event room is likely to be aesthetically pleasing as is.
Food
Low Budget: Cook yourself!
If you or someone close to the guest of honor is comfortable cooking for a large group of people, this will be the most budget friendly option. While you still might find that this costs a few hundred dollars in groceries, it’s certainly a good option for the DIY party planner who wants to save a few bucks.
Medium Budget: Cater food In
The exact cost here varies as some eateries charge by head and some by food tray. Either way, catering in food leaves you with a lot of options. You can choose the mom-to-be’s favorite local deli and enjoy some delicious, lower priced options. Or, you can go as extravagant as using a catering company that provides servers for the food as well. Overall, catered food is a cost you should research to get an accurate price point in your area. And remember, food can be catered to your home or a local hall as well!
High Budget: In a private restaurant event room
While we discussed this per person cost above already, it might not necessarily be the most expensive option when you find out what is included in the price. Should alcoholic beverages and dessert be included, then you might actually get a little more bang for your buck with a private restaurant room. And remember, cost often varies given the time of year, time of day, and day of the week.
Decorations and Favors
Low Budget: DIY
If you enjoy getting crafty, then you might be able to make decorations and favors for next to nothing! Create picture collages of the mom-to-be as a baby, make a “cake” display out of diapers, or bouquets of flowers out of baby bibs and onesies. Favors can be as simple as home baked goods, little containers of candy, or a homemade beauty product with a personalized tag. Find some cute DIY baby shower favor inspiration here: https://www.diys.com/baby-shower-party-favors/
Medium Budget: Hit up your local party store
The cost of streamers, helium balloons, banners, tablecloths, and themed silverware and plates (if needed) can certainly add up! Research your local stores for the best prices, but odds are you can get away with plenty of store bought decorations for $100 or less.
High Budget: Personalized decor and favors
If you’re looking for a wow factor and the sky is the limit with your budget, there are plenty of amazing decoration options out there. From balloon arches to getting a personalized photo backdrop with the baby-to-be’s name and due date, you can find plenty of decor to impress your guests. For favors, you can even get candies or baked goods personalized for $2-$5 per person.
Games (and prizes)
Low Budget: Make them yourself!
As far as baby shower games, there’s no reason you can’t research some cute games and recreate them yourself. If you’ve got a working printer at home, odds are you can design and print out game cards or set up some low cost games for practically nothing!
Medium Budget: Order games from Etsy.com
You probably already knew that Etsy was a great website for purchasing homemade goods, but did you know many sellers provide baby shower games too?! For $50 or less you’ll likely be able to get enough game cards to match your desired baby shower theme and entertain your guests.
High Budget: Splurge on prizes!
It’s true, many guests will expect a prize if they win a baby shower game. While this can be something as simple as a bottle of nail polish or cozy socks from the dollar section, feel free to splurge if you’d like! Gift cards to Starbucks, Target, or a movie theater would certainly be appreciated by your guests if your budget allows.
Overall, while we can’t give you an exact number for budgeting since costs greatly vary by your location and guest count, we hope this gave you a better idea.