If you have been tasked with throwing a baby shower, or if you are expecting a baby and you’re throwing your own shower, you may be looking for ways to save money. The party can be great without having to go overboard and blowing your budget.
The Cake
The biggest expense for a baby shower is going to be the cake. These days, though, there are many ways you can make great cakes (at home) on a dime. For example, bake a large, round cake and two smaller, round cakes. Then bake a small, rectangle cake. Put all cakes on one large platter and decorate the large, round cake to look like the body of a baby stroller. Use the smaller, round cakes as the wheels of the stroller. The rectangle cake should be sliced into a handle for the stroller. Arrange all pieces on the platter and surround it with baby rattles, rubber duckies, and pacifiers.
You can also cook three round cakes (one large, two small) and arrange them to be a pregnant torso. Write the baby’s name across the “belly” of the cake.
These are just two of the many ideas you can find online to make an inexpensive cake at home.
The Food
The best way to save money on baby shower food is to have a pot-luck. Ask a few trusted people to pitch in some dishes and feed each guest one serving of everything. You can also have an appetizer bar and host the shower after lunch. Fruit trays, vegetable trays, cheese and cracker platters, and a few other hors d’oeuvres make a cheap menu that is acceptable for that time of day. Mae the cake the centerpiece to give the table a full look.
The Decorations
Balloons wrapped in light tulle make cheap and fancy corner decorations to fill in the space. Cheap table cloths from party sections of any retail store can look great with tulle bows on the front of them. For other decorations, make them functional and cute. Visit a retailer that has baby items, or the the Dollar Store or even Dollar Tree (where everything is $1), and get baby items. Tie bottles with ribbon and place them on tables. Fill baskets full of diapers and place them on the floor by tables. Baby booties can go on the gift table, and rubber ducks and teddy bears can go on the food tables. All of these items can then be used by the mom-to-be later.
BONUS – The Games
Everyone loves a fun game, so don;t leave these out of the party. Do a “Measure the Belly” game and have someone bring a tape measurer to measure how big around the expecting mom has become. Have everyone write their guesses down on paint sample chips that you can grab at stores for free. The prize can be cupcake bought form a local bakery ($3-$6) placed in a pretty box (set of 2 for $3 at Target or Wal-Mart).
Another game includes naming a baby item for each letter of the alphabet. The prize for this can be some other sweet treat in the left over box you have.
For another game, have each person guess the baby’s weight, eye color, hair color, time and date of birth. Save all of these for the baby book and be prepared to let each person know if they were right after baby arrives.
Have you thrown a baby shower before? What are your money (and even time) saving tips?