When organizing a baby shower party, there are several things you need to decide: the date, the place, the guests, the menu and the decorations. Also, you have to pick the time of the day that is suitable for the guests and for the mom-to-be. Most of these events take place in the afternoon (2 PM – 5 PM) or in the evening (from 5 or 6 PM to 9 or 10 PM). Organizing baby showers late at night is really uncustomary, but baby shower brunches are quite a trend lately. However, most or the baby showers are organized in the afternoon or in the evening.
There are advantages and disadvantages both for afternoon or evening parties. Before printing the invitations, make sure you check the hour with the mom-to-be and with important guests (close friends and relatives of the mom-to-be). Also, it's better to pick a weekend day for the party, since during the week everyone works and they might not have time to come to the party.
Afternoon party is a great idea, because pregnant ladies get tired pretty fast and they might want to be in bed by 9 or 10 PM. Afternoon baby showers are the right choice if you plan to invite families with children to attend to the party. Another great thing about afternoon parties is that they offer the pretext for special themes, such as afternoon tea. You can organize a truly special afternoon baby party, with tasty sandwiches, biscuits and cakes, strawberries and whipped cream and delicious teas. If you plan the party to start around 2 or 3 PM, your guests will have enough time to talk, to play games, to eat the delicious snacks you prepared and you don't have to worry about the mom-to-be being exhausted. On the other hand, most people are busy during afternoons, even weekend afternoons, and for some of the guests getting to the party could be a challenge.
Evening baby shower parties start around 5 or 6 PM and, since the party will last at least three or four hours, the party will be over around 9 or 10 PM. It's not that late and, if the mom-to-be isn't really close to the delivery term – like a couple of weeks close – she will be able to attend to the party without any problems. A big advantage is that in the evenings, people are usually free, so your guest will get to the party without any problems. If you're organizing an evening baby shower, you can choose any day of the week, not only weekend days. Since it's evening and people have dinner at that time of the day, you might consider serving not only snacks, but something that looks more like a meal. You don't have to set up a formal dinner – after all, it's an intimate party, with friends and family. A buffet with two types of meat, some side dishes and salads will do.
Remember, your most important goal is to keep the mom-to-be comfy and happy. So, check with her to find out when she prefers the baby shower to be held.
