"When I was pregnant, I was so excited for all the baby clothes and new baby gear I kept hearing about from all of my mom friends. I immediately started to research what I needed to add to my baby registry. With that also came planning my baby shower—a fun pregnancy milestone. First off, it’s totally acceptable to plan your own baby shower, but sometimes, friends or family members like to step in and plan one for you. Whether it’s you or someone else hosting a baby shower, one of the first steps is solidifying a baby shower invitation.
But how exactly do you make a baby shower invitation? What information is essential and what’s not? If you’re wondering how one little card can mean more than just, “You’re invited,” I reached out to Olivia Pollock, Evite’s hosting and etiquette expert, to give us all the ins and outs when it comes to baby shower invitations. Feel free to forward this information to your host as a guide. Plus, some cute baby shower theme ideas if you haven’t settled on one yet!
Olivia Pollock
Olivia is the Senior Director of Brand Marketing at Evite and is the hosting and etiquette expert, with over 15 years of experience in creating and executing innovative and effective brand marketing strategies.
A Well-Designed Baby Shower Invitation
Before you make a baby shower invitation, have the mindset that this is the key to having all the answers for your guests the day of. In order to have a well-designed invite, go beyond adding the date, time, and address. Make sure to keep the following details in mind.
The Theme
You don’t necessarily have to say, “This is the theme,” on an invitation, but adding obvious hints of one is enough to give your guests an idea of what the day-of-shower vibes will be. This includes using the same color scheme of the baby shower within the invitation, using art or photos throughout the invite, or a play on words. This could look like printing “Backyard Baby-Q” for a backyard barbecue-themed shower or including a graphic of books for a “book-themed” baby shower.
The Details
You can’t have a baby shower unless everyone knows where it will be and when, so formatting your invite with an easy-to-read structure will help guests get to the right place (and on time). Include what you’re celebrating—a baby, the name of the parents or mom-to-be, the date and time of the baby shower, and the location. If the location is a little tricky to navigate to, consider including a screenshot of a map or special instructions.
RSVP Deadline
Giving a deadline for guests to RSVP—Pollock advises within a week from the shower—allows a host to be ready for what to expect the day of. If you’re serving food or appetizers, you can gauge how much to prep or decide if you would rather have it catered or not. If it’s looking like it will be a long list of attendees, RSVPs give you the opportunity to restructure a room to have enough seating or standing room. Plus, ample space for baby shower games and mingling. Pollock says that the best way to track RSVPs is by using a digital tool or spreadsheet. With digital tools, Pollock mentions that, “You can send reminders… and you’ll know that you didn’t forget to send any invites!”
Registry Information
A big part of a baby shower—in most cases—includes baby registry gifts. Pollock adds, “According to Evite data, 71 percent of parents-to-be are registered on Amazon, with 39 percent registered on Babylist and 33 percent at Target.” Adding a website link or a list of stores for a baby registry makes it easy for guests to buy gifts. It also ensures that parents get everything they need and want.
Baby Shower Invite Wording Tips and Etiquette
The point of an invite is to give guests information. Pollock instructs to keep it sweet and simple with baby shower invite wording. Start with a fun greeting, such as, “Join us to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Baby [last name]!” When addressing guests for more of a traditional shower, Pollock encourages using formal titles.
Creative Baby Shower Invitation Ideas
Get creative with making baby shower invitations. The best advice is to base the aesthetic of the invite off of the baby shower theme. If you don’t know where to start, you can play off of the seasons, like a spring-themed baby shower or a summer-themed baby shower. Another idea is to draw inspiration from the nursery theme. This is a way to personalize invitations, and it is “all about making it feel special to the parents-to-be,” says Pollock. Not quite sure where to start? Here are some creative baby shower invitation theme ideas:
- Woodland Theme
- Zoo Theme
- Safari Theme
- Boho Chic
- Story Book Theme
- Beach Baby Theme
- Fiesta Theme
- Baby Sprinkle
- Teddy Bear or Winnie the Pooh | “Beary Excited”
- Tea Time Theme | “Tea for Two”
- Bee Theme | “A Baby Will Bee Here Soon”/”Mama to Bee”
- Orange Theme | “A Little Cutie Is on the Way”
- Floral Theme | “Baby In Bloom”
- Farmer’s Market Theme | “Locally Grown”
- Fall Theme | “A Little Pumpkin Is On the Way”
- Winter Theme | “Baby It’s Cold Outside“
- Spring Theme | “About to Hatch”
- Summer Theme | “Here Comes the Son”
Read More: 28 Adorable Baby Shower Themes We’re Loving Right Now
Digital Invitations vs. Printed Invitations
There are pros and cons to choosing digital versus printed invitations. Weigh your options and decide what is important to you and the parents-to-be.
Digital Invitations
Having a cute baby shower invitation doesn’t mean you have to pay a hefty price. Pollock advises going digital as a money-saving option. She says, “Digital invitations save on printing and postage costs,” and she adds, “They can still look stunning with customizable designs.” A big advantage is being able to track RSVPs, and you can instantly send reminders via email and text messages.
Printed Invitations
With printed baby shower invitations, the biggest pro that comes to mind is having the ability to make it a keepsake. It definitely makes an adorable detail for a baby book! In a digital age, people may still like to have a tangible invite. Plus, knowing the effort and time it takes to choose pretty cardstock and mail out all of the invites makes it a little more personable.
Where to Find the Best Baby Shower Invitations
The great thing is that you can use local printing shops for custom designs. An easy option is to go to online platforms. Here are a few invitation websites to check out:
Evite
Zazzle
Paperless Post
Minted
Basic Invite
Etsy
Paper Culture
Canva
When to Send Baby Shower Invites
You may be wondering what is considered too early or too late to send out baby shower invites. According to Pollock, “It’s best to send invitations four to six weeks before the event.” This is because “sending out the invitations early enough ensures [that] hosts have more than enough time to plan.” It also gives guests time to RSVP and shop for the perfect registry gift. For a good turnout during a holiday season or summer, Pollock recommends sending invites out even earlier.
Baby Shower Invitation FAQs
When is the best time to have a baby shower?
When to throw a baby shower is up to the mom-to-be and host, but a general rule of thumb is to have one closer to the end of the second trimester or the beginning of the third trimester (four to eight weeks before the due date).
Who pays for the baby shower?
Generally, the host or the family of the mom-to-be pays for the baby shower. Make sure to establish this before you start planning. This allows everyone to be aware of costs and a budget, if there is one.
What should be included in a baby shower invitation?
A baby shower invitation should include the basics: date, time, location, RSVP details, any special instructions, and a link or info to the baby registry.
Should I include a gift registry link in the invitation?
Yes, include a link to the baby registry if there is one to provide.
What’s the best way to word an invitation for a co-ed baby shower?
Be inclusive and welcoming to everyone. Make sure to address all guests and highlight both names of the parents-to-be so it is understood that all are welcome.
What if the baby shower is a surprise?
Make sure you clearly indicate that the baby shower is a surprise on the invite. Pollock emphasizes, “You wouldn’t want anyone to accidentally spoil the surprise.”
It’s Time to Celebrate
Invitations are a way to show how much you care about the parents or mom-to-be. Get creative, be thoughtful, and have fun with the invitation-making process. Now that you have the invitations ready, it’s time to start planning the celebration!
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.