Congratulations – you’re expecting! And just as excited for you are the people you love most. While it can be easy to get caught up in doctor visits, prenatal courses, books, Amazon lists and baby shower gifts, gender reveal parties are a sweet way to step back and remember to celebrate each other, the miracle of your pregnancy, and the life of your soon-to-be son or daughter. And what better way to do all of this than by gathering all of your closest friends and family for an intimate party in your home.
Thankfully, you’ve still got plenty of time to baby-proof the house and ready the nursery. But what about readying the house for a gender reveal party?
We’ve got you covered. Here are some tips and tricks to throw a baby celebration your family and friends will remember forever.
First, decide how you’d like to reveal the baby’s sex. Sit down with your partner and discuss what would be the most fun for you. Are we cutting a pink- or blue-filled cake? Popping a confetti gun? Throwing darts at paint-filled water balloons? Gathering in the cul-de-sac so Dad can squeal his truck tires under brightly-colored exhaust smoke? Whatever fits your style, this is your chance to get creative and have fun with it.
Next, once you pick your idea, establish a game plan for what could go wrong. Remember Murphy’s Law? What can go wrong, will go wrong. You might not need to stoop to quite that dreary of a mindset, but the point is it’s always wise to anticipate certain hiccups. Paint could spill. Glitter can leave a trail. Cakes get dropped. You get it. You needn’t be the most Type A of planners; simply exercise a bit of forethought.
When stocking on supplies, check out Gender Reveal Celebrations. Its married co-founders, having failed disastrously with their first attempt at a gender reveal, envisioned something better for other parents. So, if you’re stumped with where to start, Gender Reveal Celebrations offers wonderful gender reveal ideas, product lines (parent tested and approved), and theme inspiration.
Then, think of your guests. Whatever your theme, the overall theme is still “hurray, baby!” Luckily, many edible items are some of the simplest ones to change colors. (After all, a little food coloring goes a long way.) Think themed cookies (in shapes like pacifiers, strollers, or baby booties), bowls of pacifier candy, and of course, a slice of sex-revealing cake. A donut wall peg board can offer pink and blue hanging donuts for guests to snatch up, beverage dispensers can pour out pink and blue lemonades, popcorn bowls can delightfully show off in different colors.
Or, you can serve burgers on the grill and call it a BaByQ. (Did I hear an amen from all the dads?)
The new mom and dad may get to pop the balloons, but there are plenty of ways to include your guests in the fun. Set out a bowl of clothespins, half painted pink, half blue. Have friends to pick from the bowl and “wear their guess” throughout the party. For the gambling enthusiasts, collect wagers and split the cash prize among those who guessed the baby’s sex correctly. Some parents keep a jar of slips of paper, encouraging their friends who are parents to write down pithy bits of advice for the first-timers.
Chances are likely some of your friends have children, too. If you have the space, designate a room in the house or part of the backyard for fun activities to entertain the kiddos per their age group. For youngsters, hired entertainment makes for great fun: magicians, clowns, game show hosts, or pet handlers for a petting zoo are awesome activities for kids. (For the messier themes involving glitter or confetti, or paint, kids love that, too. (Just be sure to warn their parents first!)
No matter the group size, season, or theme you choose, the joy of hosting such a personal celebration is one you’ll always cherish. Your home is where memories are made: bread gets broken, glasses are clinked to a hearty “Cheers!”, bellies are stuffed and laughter is everywhere. Remember to relish those moments you create, as you embrace those you love most under the roof of your favorite place: the comfort of your own home.