BABY SHOWER INVITATIONS

Your Baby shower invitations are the first glimpse guests get of the party that's ahead.  Sometimes, the invitations are the first notice guests have that  there is a boy or a girl on the way or if the expectant parents have decided to keep it a surprise.   

Setting the Date and Time:  Determine a date and time when the mother/parents-to-be, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other important people in the child's life are free. There would be nothing worse than grandma not being able to attend or the dad-to-be having a scheduling conflict. 

Who's invited?  The size of the guest list will also be a determining factor in the location of the shower and the number of invitations you will need to order. Your venue will need to be large enough or cozy enough, a restaurant or a home, or anywhere but the home of the mother-to-be (she shouldn't have to clean her house for her own shower!)  As far as who to invite, that's as easy as asking the mother-to-be for a guest list. If you are having a surprise, you might have to enlist the help of the father-to-be, grandmother or sisters of the honoree to help. Are there any other showers planned? This can also determine if you are having the one and only, all inclusive shower or if there is an office shower, you may be able to cut down the guest list.

Invitations:  Once you have the date, time, location and guest list, it's time to order the baby shower invitations!  Don't be cheap and send digital invitations that are forgotten as soon as they're opened (provided they don't end up in spam) or invitations that look homemade and read like a laundry list mailed in an envelope that looks like another bill.  Show the mother-to-be and her guests that you care enough about her and the party you are planning to mail custom printed baby shower invitations.  There is a wide variety of styles and prices that won't break your budget and will help ensure a great turnout for your shower.

RSVP or regrets only? We're not a big fan of "regrets only" on party invitations. Today it is really difficult to get guests to call, phone or text they ARE coming, so asking someone to call that they are not coming doesn't make much sense.  How do you know how much food, drink, favors, party ware to buy? How do you stick to a budget? What if no one showed up to your party? I think you get the picture. Put RSVP on your printed invitations and give a cell phone number for guests to call or text, an email address or include a stamped, self-addressed RSVP card in with your invitation to make it easy for your guests. Make your RSVP date 7-14 days before your party date depending on how much time you need to give a final count to a caterer, a restaurant, to buy supplies or other deadlines you may have.

Gift Registry:  To include a gift registry or not on your invitations? The proper answer is NEVER list that information on an invitation. Etiquette dictates that when guests respond to the invitation, that is when, if they ask, the hostess can give out any gift registry, nursery theme, color preferences details or make sure grandma or aunts know these details if they are pumped for information.  But nowdays? Anything goes.  If you want to put these details on the invitation, they are usually included in small print at the bottom of the invitations under any RSVP information.

Whatever design, style, color or pattern you choose for your baby shower invitations, make sure they excite your invited guests.