Baby shower inspiration we're stealing from celebs like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian
With their idyllic Beverly Hills homes, elite guest lists and access to the coolest food and entertainers, celebrities always seem to throw the best parties. So it's no surprise that they know how to throw a mean baby shower, too. Just this past weekend, Beyoncé and Jay Z made headlines celebrating the upcoming birth of their twins with a lavish, lively bash that didn't skimp on theme, menu or attire. But even if you don't have the budget (or the event planner on speed dial) of a Knowles-Carter, you can still plan a spectacular party by taking a little inspiration from the enviable affairs hosted by your favourite celebs. Here's how to turn the baby showers of their Instagrams into the one of your dreams.
Go themed or go home
While themed parties can sometimes feel overly kitschy (or like a relic from those dorm room days), for a soiree with a lot of moving parts, like a baby shower, deciding on a clear theme can actually simplify the planning process and help to pull everything together. Not only does your theme inform the decor, menu and dress code for your event, it can even provide an opportunity to celebrate Baby's heritage in a meaningful way.
Beyoncé showed us exactly how it's done by hosting an African-themed baby shower last weekend, aptly named 'The Carter Push Party', where celeb pals like Serena Williams and Queen B's Destiny's Child bandmates Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland donned traditional African attire.
Hockey Wives' Noureen DeWulf, who's married to Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller, went a similar route, honouring her family's ancestry with a baby shower full of food and dress that is authentic to India.
Get outside
Let's face it, locking down the perfect location for your baby shower can be a big pain. So instead of searching for a restaurant or hall that's just the right price — and isn't booked up every weekend for the next six months — opt for a backyard bash instead (weather permitting, of course). Taking the festivities outdoors can give your baby shower a real Mother Earth vibe that puts the emphasis on homey touches and the company you're sharing, rather than elaborate gifts and a tightly-planned itinerary.
Take your cues from Blake Lively's rustic autumn shower, which struck a careful balance bringing enviable Pinterest-perfect decor to an otherwise cozy and intimate affair. As seen below, apples serve as a pretty (and inexpensive) decor option. Load the table up with other seasonal elements, such as foliage and blooms in dark hues of oranges and reds. For dinnerware, vintage works perfectly in this setting — as do hollowed-out squash as bowls. Carry on the autumnal hues overhead with lots of paper lanterns and tassels. And since it may be a bit cool, bring lots of blankets to your seating situation.
Personalize the menu
Great food (and lots of it!) is the key to any successful get together, and baby showers are no exception. When it comes to choosing the eats for your event, look for specifics to guide your menu planning, whether that be bites that go with the theme of your party, go-tos that the mom-to-be has been craving or even just a few of her favourite foods!
Kim Kardashian nailed it when hosting a baby shower for noted foodie — and fast food enthusiast — Chrissy Teigen, loading the menu with the model's favourites from McDonald's and Taco Bell, along with omelettes, cinnamon buns, chicken and waffle muffins, kale salad and yogurt parfaits. Mmmm.
Define the dress code
Since baby showers tend to be a daytime affair, those invited are often left guessing how dressed up to get — especially if they're unfamiliar with the venue. Clarifying the dress code on your invitations will help eliminate any sartorial stress for those on your guest list, and ensure nobody feels uncomfortable or out of place when they arrive.
Just take a page out of Kim Kardashian's book. When the reality star threw a shower ahead of the birth of her second child, Saint West, she tailored the dress code to the soiree's Troop Beverly Hills theme making pajamas mandatory.
Tighten up that guest list
Inviting a big group to an event like a baby shower can be tempting (and so can a pile of presents!) but don't feel like you have to extend an invite to everyone you're friends with on Facebook if that's not really your style. Celebrating the upcoming birth of your child is a capital-S Special Occasion, and keeping the affair intimate with friends and family you cherish and want to be a part of your baby's life can help make the day truly memorable. Plus, it has the dual benefit of letting your ride-or-dies know just how much you value them, while avoiding the risk of those invited feeling like they're just there to check an item off your baby registry.
Take some inspo from Drew Barrymore, who kept her shower super exclusive with just a few close friends. Of course, Drew's close friends include Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow, so we're pretty sure the gifts were outrageous anyway.
Former The Hills star Lauren Conrad did something similar for her recent baby shower, opting for a small, low key gathering. Sadly, it doesn't look like Whitney, Audrina and Heidi were in attendance.
Have a little fun (and games)
We get it. You might not be a game person per se, but working in a few choice activities between all that eating and present-opening can take your baby shower from stuffy to super fun. Plus, it's a great way to divide up the action if you've got a lot of people in one space and can act as an icebreaker for attendees who may not know each other yet!
Victoria Beckham had the right idea at her baby shower before giving birth to daughter Harper, lending her design skills to a game of making dresses out of toilet paper at a lavish bash hosted by Eva Longoria.
Keep it co-ed!
Gender norms be damned! It's 2017 and your baby shower shouldn't have to conform to outdated ideas about who gets to celebrate. So go ahead, put your spouse, partner, brother or best guy friend on the guest list, celebs like Ciara and Kristen Bell are already doing it!