Baby Shower

Following are the tips to YOU the organizer for a successful Baby Shower:
- Take help from others - assign tasks!

- Close the loop with a thank-you note for all the volunteers for tasks after the event.

- Don't hesitate to spend your own money first, you can reconcile the expense and send the bill to all the participants. Make sure to ask before you spend your money.

Phase 1 - Decide on Time Venue Et. Al.
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0. Choose a Date (Be sensitive to people's schedule, always ideal to set up an event on Saturday, so people can rest on Sunday).
1. Choose a Location: Party Hall? (Make sure to book in advance).
2. Prepare a guest list (list of potential attendees).
3. Should this event be a surprise?
4. How much should it cost including gift - ballpark expense.
5. List of invitees.

Phase 2 - Put it all together
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Here are the list of things that YOU (The Organizer) need to do. Ideally assign these tasks to different participants - one task per participant family is ideal, the don't get overwhelmed.

1. Send Evite (http://www.evite.com) invitation to the potential attendees. (Tip: Use evite to do polling on food choices and game choices)

2. Party Menu Food (Make sure to order good menu, discuss with the participants through Evite)

3. Party Decoration (Includes buying decorations and decorating party hall, including lights, balloons Et. Al.)

4. Party Games - (Someone needs to organize games, make sure you have games for both adults and kids)

5. Co-ordination - (Putting all the pieces together!)

6. Cake - (Make sure you don't miss this one!!)

7. Photography - (Digital photos are the best, make sure whoever takes photography, follows up by posting the photos on the web!)

8. Videography - (Someone needs to video the event and make a movie out of it and post in www.youtube.com!)

9. Paper Plates/Cups, Soda /Water Et. Al - (Don't forget the garbage bags!)

10. Gift - (Someone needs to buy a gift card on behalf of all, I feel this is easier to do rather than each family spending time searching for gift!)

11. Traditional Stuff - (If you have some cultural related tradition that you would like to follow, include it, for example Indian families need Aarthi)

12. Boombox - (Don't forget your favorite CDs or cassettes to take along)

13. Clean up tasks (people helping you to clean up after the party)

14. Expense reconcillation - (Pick a volunteer who you think