For decades, baby showers are held to honor and celebrate the arrival of the newest addition to a family. It’s a time to gather friends and family, and come together to celebrate and help prepare the mommy-to-be for her impending arrival.

The Baby Shower is meant to “shower” the expectant mother with gifts, items and supplies that she willneed not only for her but for the baby as well. In effect, apart from being showered with wisdom and pieces of advice from the well-wishers, a baby shower is a spectacle of gifts, fun and silly games as well as foods and beverages.

What helps create a unique party? There’s the theme for starters. Brainstorming a fun and unique theme can be a bit daunting at first. Think about the mommy-to-be and what her interests are. Is she is a sports fan? Does she love all things Hollywood? Is she an animal lover? All these little hints can help in determining a theme. If you prefer to not have a theme, but know the baby’s sex, then getting creative with blue or pink colors decorations can be just as festive.

Theme Ideas

Garden Tea Party – A sunny afternoon with just the right shade will definitely be a hit as you deck the garden with your choice of flowers and centerpieces. If you want a more personal touch, you could go with using the colors that you want. Imagine a garden adorned with pink and white flowers. Go with pink accessories from chairs to the tables, balloons and even the dress code. Even the cake and the beverages served can be inspired by hues of pink. Truly, this isa rather bold way of welcoming the baby.

Hollywood Inspiration – Take the baby shower to a whole new level as you emulate parties held for Hollywood personalities. You don’t need to invite a pregnant mother from show biz, all you have to do is to arm yourself with “a star is born” theme. Add a touch of glamour and fame by asking guests to dress creatively mimicking stars like Angelina Jolie or even Johnny Depp. Decorate ceilings and walls with an award’s night theme and you can even set up a red carpet leading to a photo opportunity booth.

Going Green – It’s not too late to save the world. The shower can ditch the balloons and disposable wares and just go for plants and flowers in small pots or vases as centerpiece or even wall and ceiling decorations. Baby shower invites can be expected to be mailed using eco-friendly, recycled products. In as much, presents are also expected to be made of organic and sustainable materials.

The Food

There are several options when it comes to the food. Depending on the theme, budget and location food can range from a formal sit down lunch, to a buffet of family recipes supplied by friends and family members in attendance.

If you choose to have the shower at a restaurant there are usually a few packages that you will be asked to choose from. Typically you can select a few different food options, along with a salad and a drink.The convenience of this is that you know what the menu will consist of and there will be a fixed price foreach person. Just be sure to inquire about what is and what is not included in the cost, such as tax and gratuity.

The Games

Games are a fun way to get everyone involved and having a great time. Guests can be entertained withan array of games from guessing games, door prize games or action games.

An easy game idea is to tape a photo of the mommy-to-be under a random seat at the table before theguests arrive. Once everyone is seated as your guests to look under their chairs, the lucky guest who hasthe photo under their seat wins a prize.

Another game idea is to take a large, clear jar and fill it with an array of baby items. Think of things that a new mom would need for a new baby, such as pacifiers, diaper cream, teething gel and baby lotion. Place these items in the jar and place the jar on the table. Let your guests get a good look at what is inside. Once they have had a chance to see the bottle and study its contents, take the jar away and ask your guests to write down all the items in the jar from memory. The guest who can recall the most items wins! Be sure to bring enough paper and pencils for each guest so that they can easily write down their answers.

This post was written by a guest contributor. About the Author:

Andrea Boley is a mom and freelance writer for Storkie. She is always happy to share her passion for life and experiences through her work.