Entertaining Ideas
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
XP: Couple's Baby Shower -- Need Help!
I posted this on the bump baby shower board and am looking for more suggestions. Any help is appreciated.
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I am helping to host a baby shower for one of my friends. It is actually a rather large shower (50+ people, men, women, & kids) and I have no clue what type of entertainment we should have. I have never been to a baby shower before, but know that one option is to play games.
Any ideas on how to fill 3 hours? Given the amount of people, I am not sure if opening gifts would fly over well with the crowd since it will take forever. Any other suggestions?
Oh and the shower will be hosted at a friends house and not a hall or public space -- in case that factors in the suggestions.
Thanks!
Re: XP: Couple's Baby Shower -- Need Help!
That's a lot of people! I went to a shower where you had to give advice or a special message to the parents-to-be. I thought that was cute. Just did it on the way in. You're right, the presents might be too hard. But sometimes old people in my family have to see every present and card. A game might be difficult to pull off for the same reason? Unless it was a type of game where the guests didn't participate. (Like something just the mom did?)
Are people going to slowly come in or do you think they'll all get there at one time? That might be a concern in planning...
Thanks for the suggestion. I totally agree with the number of people
Given the number of people, I am not planning on having a captive audience. I also highly doubt that everyone will show up on time, so I will just plan to do something with the people that are present.
50 people invited, or RSVPed yes?
You could do a decorate a onesie station, where people use wash safe markers. Kids might like that, as well as adults.
For a party that large, I'd depend on food and mingling being the main "entertainment." Games are good to get people talking and mingling if they don't know each other well. But in general, treat it like a regular party--- the party IS the entertainment, you don't need special activities.
And it IS a shower, where people were expected to shower them with gifts. So, to that point, I think you need to have her open the gifts in public. Otherwise, it's kinda tacky, IMO. You could announce that she'll be opening the gifts, but say that folks are free to keep mingling outside, decorating onesies, etc. That way people aren't held captive the whole time. Maybe have the mom take a break 1/2 way through the gifts. (That way, people can say good bye if they need to leave.)
I might be helping to host a shower later this year that will likely have the same type of group: 50 women, men and kids. I think the important thing to keep in mind is to treat it like a *party* that happens to be for a parents-to-be, versus a *shower* where men and kids will attend.
I think you got some really good suggestions above.
I wouldn't do any organized games that involve most guest, it'll be too tricky.
I like the idea of a "station." Be it onsie decor or something else.
In every shower I've ever hosted, we set up a "station" with 4x6 cards where folks can leave well wishes. You can even put out crayons for the kids to participate. You can collect the cards in a basket and have a raffle with prize(s). I also buy the parents a nice photo album with 4x6 slots where they can keep all the cards and photos of the event!
I've never been a fan of gift opening, but that's just me. I understand that ppl can get offended if it doesn't happen. I think PP had a good idea above which is to make an announcement saying "mommy is going to be opening gifts now, those of you want to watch can join us in X area of the house." What will likely happen is that the women will attend, but the guys and kids won't. They'll be happy they weren't forced to do it.
Good luck! You're a good friend for taking on such a big party.