Planning a baby shower is one of the most fun gifts you can give — and also one of the most overwhelming. Between choosing a theme, coordinating with the honoree, wrangling RSVPs, and figuring out what on earth a balloon garland kit even includes… it's a lot.
This guide walks you through every step of the planning process: when to start, what to do, and what to buy. Whether this is your first time hosting or you're a seasoned party planner, you'll find a clear roadmap here.
Most baby showers happen between weeks 28–32 of pregnancy — giving the honoree time to feel comfortable and enjoy the celebration before the due date. Here's your week-by-week roadmap.
8–6 Weeks Before
Lock In the Basics
- Decide who's hosting (single host, co-host, or committee)
- Set a preliminary budget — jump to the budget section ↓
- Choose a date (avoid holidays, check conflicts with honoree's schedule)
- Pick a venue or decide on a home party
6–4 Weeks Before
Send Invites & Choose Theme
- Select your theme and color palette — see theme options ↓
- Order a bundle or start collecting decorations
- Send digital or paper invites (3-4 weeks before is ideal)
- Create a registry list or share the honoree's existing registry
- Plan games and activities (2–3 games is the sweet spot)
3–2 Weeks Before
Confirm & Prepare
- Follow up on RSVPs — know your headcount for food and favors
- Finalize food menu (catering, potluck, or DIY)
- Set up playlist or audio (keep it background, not distracting)
- Confirm any help (set-up crew, clean-up crew)
1 Week Before
Final Prep
- Order any last-minute individual items
- Buy food and beverages (or place catering order)
- Print any game materials, name tags, or favor labels
- Do a dry run of balloon garlands and banner setup
1–2 Days Before
Set Up
- Pick up any perishables
- Set up all decorations (balloons, banner, table centerpieces)
- Arrange favor bags and gift table
Game Day
Celebrate!
- Arrive early to do final touches
- Enjoy the moment — the honoree will remember this forever
- Take photos throughout (hire someone or assign a friend)
🎈
Skip the Scatter Shop
Coordinating 8 different stores is how planning burnout starts. Our pre-matched bundles include everything — garland, banner, tableware, and favors — so you can order in under 5 minutes and move on with your life.
Shop Bundles →
The theme sets the tone for everything — invitations, decorations, color palette, and even the food. Here's how to choose (and what actually matters).
🎀
Pink & Blush (It's a Girl)
Soft, romantic, and unmistakably feminine. Think blush pink, rose gold, and soft whites. Works beautifully for tea-party style showers or elegant garden events.
🎈 Balloon garland🪧 It's a Girl banner🍽️ Blush tableware🎁 Favor bags
Shop Girl Bundle →
🧸
Blue & Navy (It's a Boy)
Strong, playful, and timeless. Classic blue palettes work with everything from safari to nautical to woodland themes. Versatile enough for casual or formal.
🎈 Blue balloon garland🪧 It's a Boy banner🍽️ Blue tableware🎁 Favor bags
Shop Boy Bundle →
🌿
Sage & Cream (Neutral / Gender Surprise)
Modern, clean, and universally elegant. Sage, eucalyptus, and cream create a natural atmosphere that works whether you're keeping the gender a surprise or just prefer a refined aesthetic.
🎈 Sage balloon garland🪧 Hello Baby eucalyptus banner🍽️ Earth tone tableware🎁 Kraft paper favor bags
Shop Neutral Bundle →
🎉
Pink & Blue (Gender Reveal)
The reveal is the main event. Everything builds to that moment — the confetti, the suspense, the reveal itself. Coordinate pink and blue throughout so the reveal pops.
🎈 Pink & blue balloon bouquet🎯 Gender reveal confetti cannons🪧 Boy or Girl? scratch-off banner📸 Voting board & props
Shop Reveal Kit →
💡
Pro tip: If you're keeping the gender a surprise, the
Neutral Hello Baby Bundle is your best friend — it looks sophisticated without committing to pink or blue. Add a gender reveal kit separately for the big moment.
Here's everything you need for a complete, Instagram-worthy setup. Separate the must-haves from the nice-to-haves so you can scale up or down based on your budget and venue.
🧱 The Big Three (Non-Negotiable)
✓Balloon garland — Instantly transforms any space. Goes behind the food table, photo backdrop, or entrance.
✓Welcome banner — Sets the theme immediately. E.g., "It's a Girl," "Hello Baby," "Boy or Girl?"
✓Tableware set — Plates, cups, napkins in coordinating colors. This is where the visual unity happens.
📸 Photo-Worthy Touches
✓Photo props — Letter board, baby-themed props, frames. Guests use them, and you get great photos.
✓Confetti cannons — The payoff moment for gender reveals or just for fun exits.
✓Backdrop stand — If your venue doesn't have a good wall, bring your own. Stretch fabric or streamers.
🍰 Food Table Setup
✓Tablecloth — Coordinate with your color palette. Cloth looks better than plastic.
✓Centerpieces — Balloons, flowers, or candle clusters. Keep them low so guests can see across the table.
✓Cake stand — Even a simple cardboard one covered in wrapping paper works.
🎁 Gift & Favor Area
✓Gift table — Label it clearly. Add a small sign thanking guests.
✓Favor bags — Pre-filled, matching your theme. Set on each seat or on a table near the exit.
✓Card box — A simple decorative box or basket. Don't skip this — cards get scattered otherwise.
🎁
All-in-one shortcut: Every ShowerPop bundle includes the big three (garland, banner, tableware) plus confetti, props, and favor bags.
Browse all bundles →
Everything matches. Everything ships together. No coordinating separate stores. Here are our four most popular options.
🎀
Best Seller
It's a Girl Complete Bundle
Garland, banner, tableware, confetti, props, favor bags — all pink and rose, all coordinated.
$59.99
Buy Now →
🧸
Best Seller
It's a Boy Complete Bundle
Everything in blue and white — garland, banner, tableware, confetti, props, favor bags.
$59.99
Buy Now →
🌿
Popular
Hello Baby Neutral Bundle
Sage, cream, eucalyptus. Perfect for gender surprise or anyone who loves minimalist vibes.
$54.99
Buy Now →
🎉
Fan Favorite
The Big Reveal Kit
Confetti cannons, scratch-off cards, pink & blue balloons, voting board. Built for the reveal.
$49.99
Buy Now →
Baby shower budgets vary wildly — from backyard potlucks to full venue rentals. Here's how to think about where your money goes and how to get the most impact per dollar.
Decorations (garland, banner, tableware)
$50–$90
Bundles are 20–30% cheaper than buying pieces separately
Food & Beverages
$80–$250
Potluck style with a sign-up sheet cuts this dramatically
Venue
$0–$500
Home or park = free. Community hall = $75–$200 rental
Games & Prizes
$15–$40
2–3 simple games. Prizes can be small (candle, bath bomb)
Favors & Packaging
$20–$50
Bundles include favor bags — only pay for the contents
Total Range
$165–$430
Host alone or split with co-hosts to reduce per-person cost
✨
Best value in the room: A complete bundle at $54.99–$89.99 covers your biggest visual expense (decorations) and your smallest (favors) in a single order. That's the highest-ROI purchase you can make for a shower.
The biggest budget mistake hosts make is underestimating the cost of coordinating individual items. A garland kit here, a banner there, tableware from one site, favors from another — by the time you add shipping and discover things don't quite match, you've spent more than a bundle would have cost and you're exhausted.
Bundles exist to solve this. One order, one color story, one shipping charge, one delivery to manage. That's real savings.
Ready to Start Shopping?
Every bundle ships in 5–7 business days. Orders over $50 ship free. Satisfaction guaranteed — if something's wrong, we'll make it right.