There’s no need to spend a lot of money. Find out how to plan a baby shower on a small budget using theses 14 top tips.

Throwing an Beautiful Baby Shower On a Budget

So there is a baby on the way and you want to throw the mama-to-be an extravagant baby shower. There’s only one tiny obstacle. You’re on a budget and you don’t know how you’re going to pull this off.

Don’t fret, At Jenny’s place has your back. By the time you’re finished reading this you’ll have all the tips you’ll need to throw a baby shower that won’t break the bank but is guaranteed to make the new Mama feel extra special and loved.

Consider Opting Out Of Doing…

Baby showers can be expensive but they don’t have to be. There are a few commercial traps that if avoided, will help you keep those costs down.

So consider skipping:

• Fancy invitations made in a fancy print shop.
• The mimosas. Sure it’s a nice touch but if it’s not in the budget it won’t be missed.
• Store bought, over the top backgrounds, centerpieces, and photo booths.
• Expensive catering costs. Get creative with the food. A little fore thought and prep goes a long way.
• A bakery fancy cake and/or themed cookies.
• Buying brand new costly and gimmicky decor. Learn to limit the party store purchases.

Now, if you are slightly hyper ventilating and thinking, ” Oh my goodness, this shower is going to be so sad!” It’s OK, please try to relax. Below I have some awesome alternatives that I know you’re going to love!

15 Best Tips for How to Plan A Baby Shower On a Small Budget

With a little creativity and planning, you can easily host a special event with little money. Here are some tips to help you plan the perfect baby shower on a small budget:

How to Plan a Baby Shower on a Small Budget: Getting Started

#1 Choose an inexpensive venue

One of the best ways to save money on a baby shower is to choose an inexpensive venue. Outdoor locations, such as parks or community centers can often be free or next to free to use.

You could also try hosting the baby shower at your own home or in your backyard. If you don’t have the space ask a close friend or neighbour who does.

#2 Keep the guest list small

Another great way to save money is to keep the guest list small. A smaller guest list means you’ll have to buy less food, favours, and decorations.

If you are comfortable with it, you could also ask close friends or family members to help with some of the costs, such as food or invitations.

#3 Make your own invitations

Instead of buying expensive invitations, make your own. You can find great templates online or at your local craft store. Another option is to go virtual and send out e-invitations.

How to Plan a Baby Shower on a Small Budget: Food

#4 Choose a simple menu

Get creative with the food. There’s no need to spend a lot of money on food for a baby shower doesn’t have to be a huge feast.

Instead:

• Serve simple foods that are easy to prepare and won’t cost a lot of money.
• Finger foods, like sandwiches and appetizers, are always a hit.
• You can also ask guests to bring a dish to share. This not only saves you money, but it’s also a great way to get everyone involved.
• Make it colourful. Use multi coloured breads and spreads for tasty mini sandwiches, offer several colourful dips, or serve fruit kabobs.
• Details make things appear fancy. So add inexpensive paper embellishments, toothpicks with patterned flags, or line trays with paper doilies.
• Name it. When you name foods they just seem higher end. Make sure you leave a little card or sign that let’s everyone know the cute names assigned to each food. Don’t be afraid to get funny and punny!
• Shop for bulk. Stores like Costco are a great place to find a lot for a little.

#5 Dessert Table

A dessert table is an important part of any baby shower. It’s a great way to show off your theme and impress your guests.

When it comes to the desserts, you can:

• Get creative and make them yourself. Pinterest has tons of great ideas
• Have them made for you but for a lot less. Kijiji is a great place to find local, new bakers who are selling their creations for next to nothing so that they can expand their portfolio and name recognition.
• Shop the Dollar Tree for cupcake liners, paper embellishments, and edible decorations.
• Ask each guest to bring a dessert to share. This not only saves you money, but it’s also a great way to get everyone involved.
• You can also get creative with the presentation. For example, you can use plastic baby toys, baby clothes, or mini books to decorate the table.
• Desserts don’t have to be complicated or expensive. Simple finger foods, like cookies or cupcakes, are always a hit. Get creative and have fun!

#6 Save On Drink

This is a baby shower so feel free to skip the booze. If this suggestion makes you gasp in horror then absolutely do what you prefer but before you do consider my reasoning:

• It costs a lot to supply alcohol.
• Mama and baby can’t drink and it is about them afterall.
• Baby showers are often held during the afternoon when booze often isn’t expected.
• There is likely going to be small children around and we don’t want a whoopsie!

Instead think about offering one or more of these lower cost, non alcoholic beverages that look and taste great:

• Punch
• Orange juice and fizzy water
• Ice Tea
• Lemonade
• Mocktails
• Water with cucumber, lemon, mint, or fruit added
• Tea and coffee

How to Plan a Baby Shower on a Small Budget: Decor

#7 Choose a simple colour pallet

A simple colour scheme can help you save money on decorations. Stick to two or three colours and use them throughout the shower, from the invitations to the tablecloth to the balloons.

#8 Use dollar store finds

The dollar store is a great place to find cheap materials that can look high end. Look for items such as vases, candles, and picture frames.

For more dollar store party decor ideas you’ll want to look over my blog post on Dollar Store Party Supplies Worth Getting. It’s jam packed full of ideas for DIY party decor materials that you’ve likely never thought of before but will be happy you now know about.

#9 Turn to your garden

Save a little money by using flowers found in your very own garden. Flowers with long lasting blooms are the best. Avoid flowers that are too delicate. Large clusters of blooms make a big impact with only a couple stems. Think: hydrangeas, peonies, or dahlias.

Don’t have a garden ? Ask a friend who does. Or in an extreme pinch try Costco.

#10 Get it second hand

Remember before when I told you to skip the expensive party stores? Did day dreams of charming baby decor suddenly feel out of your grasp? No need to panic. You can still have that fancy decor. You just don’t need to pay a super high cost for it.

Try shopping for those coveted decor items on Kijiji, Ebay, Etsy, or in your local thrift stores. Or try asking your friends for decor items that they still have lying around from their baby shower.

For a shower we hosted this summer, I managed to find those clear, letter blocks on Kijiji. They ended up only costing only a couple of dollars each but the impact was awesome!

#11 Repurpose items you already have

Before you go out and buy new decorations, take a look around your house to see what you already have that you can use. You might be surprised at how many items you already have that would be perfect for a baby shower. Consider using items like vases, candles, or even old baby clothes as decorations.

How to Plan a Baby Shower on a Small Budget: The Fun!

#12 Party favors

Favors are not necessary, and they can be expensive. If you want to give favors, try making them yourself or choosing inexpensive items like DIY personalized candy bars, home baked goods, or seed packets with a thank you card attached

#13 Entertain the Masses

If you’re looking for entertainment that won’t cost a lot of money, look no further than games. Games are a great way to get everyone involved and can be customized to fit any theme. You can also ask guests to bring their own baby- themed games to the shower.

#14 Gifts

One of the biggest expenses associated with a baby shower is gifts. If you’re on a budget, try asking guests to bring secondhand items or items that can be used for more than one purpose.

For example, instead of buying a new blanket, ask guests to bring a gently used one from home. You can also ask guests to make a monetary contribution to a college fund or diapers and wipes fund. Or make a diaper cake out of diapers and baby wipes.

To start a baby gift registry for the new Mama consider using Amazon. There you can find everything the new parents could ever need.

Jenny’s Finishing Thoughts on How to Plan a Baby Shower on a Small Budget

Planning a baby shower doesn’t have to break the bank. With the above tips and a little imagination you too can easily create an extravagant looking shower on a very small budget.

So get creative and have fun! With a little planning, you can easily create a beautiful and budget-friendly baby shower.

If you are looking for more budget friendly party planning and decor ideas you’ll enjoy my Guide to DIY Party Decor For Beginners where I cover all the basics you need to know to throw epic parties on a budget.

And if you have any more great ideas that you would like to share please leave them in the comments below. We all benefit from learning from each other and I love to hear all about your ideas.

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Dollar Store Party Supplies Worth Getting

Guide to DIY Party Decor For Beginners