OC Expert's Tips For Planning A Baby Shower

Baby showers are filled with cherished, memorable and delightful moments where loved ones, friends and family gather together in anticipation of the expectant mother and father-to-be in welcoming their little bundle of joy. With all of the tedious details involved in planning for a baby shower, sometimes organizing the event can prove to be an overwhelming and stressful ordeal. That's when pregnant moms in the OC go to the experts. Jaymee Stocks is one of Orange County's top planners, having planned numerous events including baby showers. We asked Jaymee for some helpful tips to help lighten the load of hosting a baby shower.

Tip 1 - Choose a theme

 
Every good party usually begins with a theme. The theme does not have to be extensive or elaborate, but it should give you a focus for what you want your event to look like. Choose your color palette, decorations, food, flowers, etc. to coincide with your theme. Your theme can be whatever fits the guest of honor's personality. It can range from a lovely afternoon tea to a gorgeous afternoon luncheon at the beach. Couples showers have also become very popular, where the daddy gets to be involved too. Be creative and have fun.

Tip 2 - Choose the perfect invitation

 
With everyone on social media these days, many people choose to send invitations via the Internet, using Evite or Facebook. If you are running short on time, this is definitely a quick option. However, you want to set the tone of your event, and that often begins with the invitation. It is best to send a formal invitation through the postal service. It's always exciting to receive a beautiful invitation in the mail, which gets your guests excited about your event. Choose an invitation that reflects your theme and how you would like your event to be perceived; whether a formal event or a more casual affair. There are so many amazing invitations to choose from, and with Shutterfly and other websites of the sort, this is an easy way to create buzz for your event.

Tip 3 - Choose a venue

 
Traditionally, baby showers were usually held in someone's home. You could expect to be served a homemade lunch with a sparkling punch as your beverage. Well, times have changed. Baby showers are being held in numerous different venues these days. This is one of the many benefits of living in Orange County -- we have amazing weather to enjoy. Showers can be held anywhere including country clubs, restaurants, parks and hotels. Get creative, just make sure to plan accordingly and give the guests whatever information they need to come prepared.

Tip 4 - Have a candy bar or specialized dessert table

 
Having a candy bar or specialized dessert table is a fun way to show your creativity and delight your guests in some delicious indulgence. They look amazing and can often be used as the focal point of your event. Choose candy to match your color scheme and place the candy in beautiful apothecary jars, mason jars, crystal vases or whatever will lend itself to your theme. The candy does not have to be expensive, as there are plenty of wholesale websites where you purchase candy in bulk. Best of all, it adds so much character to your event and doubles as a take-home favor for your guests.

Tip 5 - Have fun!

 
According to Jaymee, "At the end of the day, remember that a baby shower is a time for celebrating. Adjust timely projects and budgets to make it less stressful for you, whether you are the guest of honor or the host. Try and accommodate special requests by the parents-to-be, but if it's too overwhelming or impossible, just be honest and come to some sort of compromise." The goal of the event is to shower the parents-to-be with some essentials if necessary, but most importantly for family and friends to show their support in the new journey of parenthood.

Barbara Akowuah is a freelance journalist based in Southern California. As a fashion examiner who is privy to style, Barbara loves to write about fashion and how it relates to the Los Angeles scene. Barbara loves to dish out the latest trends, style tips, and inside scoop. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.