Having a baby can be one of the most emotional and exciting experiences you can experience. As an excited parent, you have a long list of things to prepare for the big day: the baby supplies, the nursery, and of course, the baby shower. Throwing a baby shower is a tradition that dates back to the so-called “baby boom” of the 1940s to 1950s. It was seen as an opportunity for the parent-to-be to celebrate with close friends and family. It was also seen as an exchange of parenting wisdom, as well as a chance to shower the parents-to-be with a haul of infant supplies fresh from a baby clothes boutique.
However, with the COVID-19 pandemic still being a reality and social distancing being implemented, you might have thought about canceling your baby shower. Just because parties are being discouraged as of the moment, it doesn’t mean that you cannot make it happen.
The most prudent way you can still have your soiree is to host it online. This way, you can have a digital gathering, right in the safety of your own home. You can also assure yourself that everyone, including your beloved Nana, will be safe and still be able to give you some parental advice.
What are the advantages of hosting a virtual event?
Although virtual parties have become popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not an entirely new concept. Those who have relatives or friends from far away have held virtual events even before the events of the pandemic, in order to connect with those friends and family who are from different countries or could not make it to the scheduled event.
Having a virtual event would allow you to host your party without the worry of travel restrictions. This way, you don’t have to worry about travel or booking a caterer so a bigger group can be invited and it is less expensive than hosting an actual in-person event. Here are some tips on how to plan and throw a successful baby shower:
1. Choose a “venue”
By venue, we mean which site you want to host the event on. While you have a variety of options- Skype, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger or Zoom, there are some things you might consider. You will have to choose a service that is easily accessible to everyone and could also provide easy navigation. Think of a service that your Aunt Geraldine won’t have a hard time using.
Zoom has become popular not only for holding online classes or meetings. It’s also an effective way to hold virtual parties, as you can have fun, customizable backgrounds. However, the free service of Zoom only allows you to have a 40-minute video call unless you opt to have a paid subscription.
2. Sign up for a gift registry and send out e-invites
Since your party is going to be online, send out your e-invites and include the link to your baby gift registry, as well. It’s always best to check out what baby supplies you still need to stock on, such as a car seat. You’ll also want to ask for the essentials, such as diapers or baby wipes. You can have all these shipped on your day. If you want, you may open your gifts during the virtual party.
3. Decorate your background
Just because you are quarantining at home doesn’t mean that you can’t jazz things up by decorating your place, even if it is just the background. Even a few decorations can certainly add to the mood of the event. Check out Pinterest for any baby shower decorating ideas that would go well with the theme you had in mind.
4. Liven up the mood with some fun activities and games
Who said that virtual events are boring? Games always liven up every event, so add a virtual spin on it so that your guests will be able to participate. You can try games of Trivia, guessing games, or What to Expect suggests that you try your very own version of The Price is Right, and hold up baby items, such as a rattle or a baby blanket.
You can give the prizes to the lucky winners via e-gift cards, a beauty treat from Sephora, or even an Amazon credit, and people would always want one of those.
5. Don’t forget to thank your guests with a thank you card
A small gesture of appreciation goes a long way and will remain unforgotten. Don’t forget to say thank you to your guests for coming to your event. There are available templates online that you can check out.
Having virtual gatherings may be the new norm for now, but that doesn’t mean that there is no element of fun to it. For now, you can bridge the gap of distance with just one click of a button.
