Today I’m sharing some easy ideas and inspiration for hosting a backyard couples baby shower like the one I recently attended.
Two weeks ago, Jim and I attended a backyard couples baby shower.
For Deanna, Tom, and big brother Carter.
Images in this post by Monica Vargas Photography
Deanna is my step-granddaughter by (former) marriage.
Let’s back up.
A few months ago Deanna’s mom, Donna, handed me a card containing a sonogram.
And announcing that I was being promoted from Grandma Juliet to Great-Grandma Juliet.
I was thrilled, of course.
And when she asked me to participate in planning a baby shower … well, I was delighted.
I’m even more delighted to share it with you today.
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IDEAS FOR HOSTING A BACKYARD COUPLES BABY SHOWER
Welcome to the Smith’s baby shower.
It’s a girl!
SHOWER PLANNING & SETTING
Deanna and Tom’s shower was held in a backyard, poolside patio setting. It turned out to be the warmest day of the year so far with temperatures soaring into the low 90’s. Wow, we weren’t expecting that. At the last minute there was a mad scramble to borrow additional patio umbrellas to create shade for the food and beverage tables … and luncheon seating.
Coordinating a baby shower is a lot of work so divide and conquer. Divvying up responsibilities among talented family and friends makes it easy and fun for everyone. Mentioned throughout the post are several of Deanna’s friends who shared their talents to create a beautiful and memorable afternoon.
Depending on the size of your shower you may need to rent a few things. Like tables, chairs, linens … and umbrellas! Chairs for Affairs provided the rentals for Deanna and Tom’s shower.
CHOOSE A THEME & COLOR SCHEME
‘Baby in Bloom’ was the shower theme with a peachy pink and dusty rose color scheme. Deanna’s friends Kaelen and Krystle ordered a balloon arch kit like this one from Amazon. And they assembled it themselves. Apparently Kaelen has a balloon pump! ‘I have little kids’ she said by way of explanation.
They secured the balloon arch to a fence around a gold Baby in Bloom banner. It created a beautiful focal point and photo backdrop.
Pro tip: Don’t wait until the last minute to build a balloon arch. Kaelen told me it took several hours to inflate the balloons and secure them to a plastic strip. She and Krystle assembled it a day ahead. Also, balloons tend to pop in the hot sun. We learned this the hard way. If possible, place in a cool or shady location.
THE PARTY STARTS HERE
Welcome guests with a glass of something festive.
This was an adults only shower and a splash of Prosecco Rose awaited arriving guests at the patio entrance.
Because it was a poolside setting, we used plastic, reusable champagne flutes that I found on Amazon.
Deanna’s talented friend Lisa made the charming welcome sign and all the pretty table signage.
Tom’s cousin Yvette created pretty flower arrangements in mason jars and little milk bottles for the tables, paired with succulents in terracotta pots and saucers and white fluted pots.
DESIGNATE A PHOTOGRAPHER OR HIRE ONE
If you have friends and family members who know their way around a camera, or iPhone, ask them to document the day. Or hire a professional … for just an hour or two to capture the beautiful setting, guests arriving and special moments with family and friends.
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- Deanna with the grandmother’s … both named Donna!
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- Deanna & her BFF, Amanda due within a month of each other!
Monica Vargas photographed niece Sammi’s baby shower several years ago and has taken photos for my blog ever since. She arrived 30 minutes before the shower started and stayed for an hour and a half. In an unexpected surprise, she had all these beautiful images edited and back to us the next day … in time for Deanna to enjoy on Mother’s Day. They’re such wonderful keepsakes to share with your guests.
Pro tip: Make a shot list of must-have photos ahead of time to provide to your photographer(s) … from the shower setting and details to group shots of family and friends. Try to capture the setting and detail shots before your guests arrive.
SET UP A TABLE, OR DESIGNATE A LOCATION, FOR GIFTS
Deanna and Tom’s gift table runneth over …
DRINKS STATION
Set up a beverage table or drinks station … and hide ice chests underneath. Make sure you have plenty of ice!
Galvanized tubs filled with water, soda, beer, and ever-popular seltzer were kept under the covered patio. Jim manned the wine station. And at the last minute I made a refreshing Cucumber Mint Lime Presse in a self-serve drink dispenser. I shared the recipe here.
LUNCH IS SERVED BUFFET STYLE
A couples shower has twice as many people. Hungry people. Donna ordered the food from Los Panchos, a popular local restaurant and her husband, Ed, was dispatched to pick it up.
The amazing and crowd pleasing Mexican fiesta of tacos, burritos, chips and dips was served buffet style using paper plates and disposable utensils.
The utensils were wrapped in paper napkins tied with yarn and faux poppy stems and placed in these cute, sectioned baskets. This was also time consuming so don’t be like me and wait until (late) the night before to start wrapping.
The food arrived in foil catering trays. The tacos were individually wrapped so we transferred them to pretty, woven basket trays that I found at Target. Same with the burritos that we cut in half to serve. Somehow I neglected to get a photo of the taco trays. Ugh.
The bean dip (delicious!) was a little harder to wrangle. In hindsight we should have transferred it into serving bowls.
Coulda woulda shoulda. But let’s be honest, while I sweated it, the shower guests were busy devouring the Mexican feast and did not care one iota about the bean dip presentation.
Lisa, who made all the clever table signs, also created labels for the hot sauce bottles with Deanna and Tom’s baby pictures. Adorable!
TAKE A TREAT
And that brings me to my favorite topic. Dessert.
The dessert table was a decadent spread of cupcakes and cookies.
The cupcakes, from Cupcakin Bake Shop, were dropped into these pretty floral cupcake wrappers. Little pastry plates and tiny forks made devouring the cupcakes a little less messy. And, of course, we also set out plenty of cocktail-size napkins.
Recommended by my BFF, Jane, Kathleen of Sugar by Shone made the most beautiful, daisy shaped dessert cookies in two sizes. They were (almost) too pretty to eat.
Kathleen also made larger favor cookies, displayed in these water hyacinth baskets, for each guest to take home. Seriously, how cute are they?!
To create the pretty dessert table we used white porcelain serving platters and cake plates. My party supply cupboard is stocked with many sizes of porcelain platters from Target’s Threshold line that I use over and over again. I bought the large and small cake stands, stacked on one another, at Home Goods.
Corralling the cookie favors in these water hyacinth baskets gave the table a little color and texture variation.
Do you think there’s enough?!!!
Tips for Hosting a Backyard Baby Shower:
- Divide and conquer by enlisting family and friends to participate and share their talents.
- Rent tables, chairs, linens and other items. Basic rentals are surprisingly affordable. If you know someone with a truck you’ll save money on delivery.
- Start checking the weather forecast a week or more in advance and plan accordingly. If it’s going to be hot, make sure to provide plenty of shade to keep your guests comfortable. If you have a covered patio, great. But you’ll probably need umbrellas and lots of them. Borrow from friends and neighbors or rent them. You may need to consider a canopy or tent, even misters. If it looks like it’s going to be chilly, place throw blankets over the back of chairs … and consider patio heaters.
- If you’re expecting a larger crowd, consider a local restaurant to cater the food. Send someone to pick it up and save some money on delivery.
- Set up as much as you can the day (or days) before the event.
- Designate a photographer or hire one!
- You can never have too much ice, especially on a hot day. Buy more than you think you need and store it in ice chests under the drinks table or in the garage.
- Balloons pop in the hot sun. Place balloon arches in shady, cooler spots if possible.
So there you have it, ideas for hosting a backyard couples baby shower.
A big thank you to the Smith family for allowing me to share their special day.
It was an honor and a joy to be part of it.
And I can’t wait to meet their sweet baby girl.
Looking for more baby shower ideas:
Niece Sammi’s baby shower in a restaurant
Niece Sophie’s baby shower at a winery
As always, I appreciate your visit and welcome your thoughts in the comments below.
Cheers from Snowberry!
SHOP THE BABY SHOWER ~
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