Who doesn't love a baby shower?! But when you're the one tasked with planning the occasion, the infinite Pinterest ideas and celebrity Instagram posts can make it all seem a bit overwhelming.
Well, there's no need to worry, because our Memory Makers have rounded up their top tips for hosting a truly memorable and, most importantly - Instagrammable - baby shower for the parent-to-be.
And don't forget that Marriott function rooms for special occasions are fantastic Instaworthy baby shower venues, because whatever excitement you decide on for the big day, our Memory Makers have got you covered!
1. Choose your theme
A pink or blue baby shower theme is an obvious choice, so why not go for something a bit more unique like a teddy bear, cloud 9 or – big for 2022 – celestial theme. Our favourites are ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star', ‘Hello sunshine' and ‘To the moon and back'. Once locked in, keep the theme in mind for every decision you make – from your invitations and centrepieces to guest favours and more – as concentrating your theme in a single area will create a real wow factor.
Marriott hotel function rooms for special occasions are ideal for getting creative with your theme. We love a really memorable photo backdrop – think asymmetric balloon arches, personalised acrylic signs, and geometric podiums to display the baby shower cake and other sweet treats on.
2. Let them eat cake! Food and drink to impress
Our hotel baby shower function rooms are a perfect option when you want everything taken care of – especially the food and drink!
Sticking with your theme, get the event started with a personalised welcome drink as the guests arrive. Think about using a colour, flavour or name to tie into your theme, and add some extras to make it even more special, such as a themed straw, glass or decorative stirrer.
Considering hotel baby shower venues to hold your event in means you'll have access to some really great food options. You could opt for a more traditional afternoon tea set up, or maybe even go with a modern grazing table. Or if you can't decide between the two, why not include elements of both to create something truly unique?
At Marriott, our baby shower function rooms and packages allow you to access our Memory Makers, so it's easy to add in those extra-special ‘wow' elements. Don't be shy to ask about those Pinterest ideas you've seen, either – think mocktail bars with themed drinks or a donut wall with pink or blue iced donuts.
3. Get guests involved with some entertainment
Everyone loves a baby shower game, so put the parent-to-be front and centre and get ready for some fun!
If the gender of the new arrival hasn't yet been revealed, you can add a fun ‘guessing game' element to the entertainment by hiring a manicurist to paint guests' nails pink or blue depending on what they think the baby will be. Other fun baby games that will get everyone talking include guess (and measure) the size of the bump, guess the owner of the baby photo, and taste and guess the flavour of the baby food.
Hotel baby shower venues usually have plenty of room to set up activities and games, so get researching and let your imagination run wild.
4. Make it even more memorable
As the baby shower comes to an end, it's lovely to farewell guests with a gift or goodie bag to keep the fun going. Cute table favours like ‘ready to pop' popcorn boxes, personalised sweets with customised wording or meringue kisses can be eaten at the event or kept for later.
Ideas for gorgeous gifts to take home include mini succulents so you can ‘watch me grow', 10 little fingers and 10 little toes nail varnish, and mini Freixenet bottles to ‘pop it when she pops'.
So, when you're tasked with hosting the baby shower of the year, don't feel daunted – get in touch with our Memory Makers to help plan the perfect day. With our 45+ function rooms for special occasions across the UK to choose from, and baby shower packages that can be customised using our Wish List of added extras, hosting an Instaworthy baby shower really is child's play. And rest assured knowing you can celebrate with confidence with our commitment to clean – find out more at clean.marriott.com