Baby Shower Invitations for Something New
04/21/09
I have some good friends who are pregnant for the first time and due this next month. I really wanted to host a baby shower for them. They were a little wary at first. They are pretty non traditional and did not want to obligate people to buy them a lot of stuff. "So, you just send out baby shower invitations and people have to buy you things?" They asked. I understood their sentiment, as I too do not like the concept of the 5 bridal showers some brides throw that always seem to make guests fork out more than they are comfortable with. I also know that baby showers represent something altogether more fulfilling emotionally than the average greedy bridal shower. A lot of brides and grooms are waiting until later in life to get married. They have jobs and are usually combining the belongings of two households when they get hitched. Unlike when the bridal shower was first created, many couples do not need assistance with the basic things needed for a house. Couples should send out wedding shower invitations with the sole purpose of requesting guests to help them rejoice and party. Friends and family will always want to give gifts anyway, but you want them to feel unencumbered and inspired when doing so.
That brings us back to the baby shower for my friends. I assured them that guests receiving baby shower invitations would be the same people who were overcome with a desire to help as soon as they heard the news of the pregnancy. For couples who have never had children, the things that you need for a baby are not things you have on hand, no matter what your socio economic status. When you are expecting your first child, you have no idea what you need and where to start. Having a baby shower allows people who know what they are doing to lend a hand and give you some things they think will be special or helpful. I had no idea what a Boppy pillow was before our baby shower, and it turned out to be the thing I relied on most (next to my husband) for the year after we had our first child. Shower invitations will also be received by people who have no idea what having a baby is like. You have now given them an excuse to buy something adorably printed with little doggies from Baby Gap.
We decided to go with a theme that made my friends feel like they were not setting an expectation of lots of gifts. Their guests received shower invitations that asked them to attend a "Knowledge and Myths" party. Attendees were to bring a baby proofing item and a supply (diapers, wipes, baby thermometer). Additionally, ahead of time, I sent an e mail to all those who received shower invitations requesting that they send me their favorite bit of helpful parenting advice and the silliest piece of advice they ever received. I printed up and gave credit for all the input in two separate books (one for the good advice; the other, for the ridiculous stuff) for the couple to have. They loved the books and the fact that their friends and family offered such great advice and funny stories. They were, of course, now stocked with diapers, cream, magazines for labor and delivery, swaddling blankets, lullaby CDs, etc. The shower invitations did not leave anyone with an obligation to purchase anything beyond the theme. I think all the guests, however, happily brought additional baby gifts. But everyone seemed to enjoy offering support, advice and humor to the expectant couple. And that is the whole reason my friends wanted to get everyone together to help them celebrate such an exciting time in their lives.
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