Baby Shower Invitation 101

If you are planning to host a baby shower, there are many elements to consider, such as budget, theme, location, and date. Most importantly, the celebration starts with a baby shower invitation. With a few easy tips, you can choose the perfect invitation for ringing in the special event.

Why Baby Shower Invitations are Important

Baby shower invitations set the tone and theme for the party, as well as the degree of formality, based on the stationery’s design and presentation. For example, if you’re hosting a more formal tea at a nice restaurant but send very casual baby shower invitations, some guests will attend in blue jeans when everyone else is dressed in their Sunday best.

What to Include on the Invitation

It is essential to include all of the details on the baby shower invitation to ensure there is no confusion about the date, time or location. You should clearly state the fact that the celebration is a baby shower for [insert name of mother-to-be]. If you omit the honoree’s name and most of the guests don’t know you, you are likely to have very poor attendance.

If you’re planning a couple’s shower, then the husband’s name should also be included in the title of the baby shower invitation. You should also clearly indicate that men are invited as well.

Then list the date, time, and location with address, plus your name (or all the hosts if there are more than one) and contact information with a RSVP deadline.

Baby shower invitations need to be mailed four to six weeks before the shower to ensure that recipients have ample time to put the event on a calendar. When choosing a RSVP deadline, select a date two weeks prior to the party, which ensures you have enough time to contact the guests who fail to respond.

Baby Shower Invitation Options

There is a baby shower invitation to suit every budget. If you are working with a limited budget, you might consider fill-in invitations or printable baby shower invitations. These options can still incorporate just about any theme and will still look fantastic without costing you a lot of money. If you order fill-in invitations, consider asking a friend with excellent handwriting to fill them in and always buy extra because you will most likely make errors.

If your budget has more room, you could choose custom baby shower invitations. These give you room to choose your paper, ink color and font, message, and design. Not all custom invitations are expensive, although they will cost more than a printable one, for example. If you can order custom baby shower invitations, you might consider a shape like a baby bottle if the shower will be casual. For a ritzier celebration, consider a tri-fold, z-fold, or pocket-style format.

Finally, you could choose a photo baby shower invitation, which tends to fall in the middle of budget ranges. If you have a nice photo of the honoree, you might want to create the invitation around her glowing face, especially if you’re planning a surprise baby shower. Whatever type of invitation you choose, it will be a keepsake for the mother-to-be!