If your guest list will include several vegetarians, consider a "Garden of Eden" theme and have everyone bring their favorite recipe made with only fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and cheeses. You'd be surprised how many healthy and delicious meat-free recipes are lurking out there! Another fun theme is English High Tea, with scones, clotted cream and preserves, watercress tea sandwiches, pastries and of course, lots of delicious varieties of tea. Don't be shy about asking guests for help. You don't have to do everything and most guests are honored to be asked. Assign guests to bring specific food items, and ask a few others to arrive early to decorate. Ask a guest to write down the name of each gift and who brought it, so writing thank-you notes will be a simple task later for the mom-to-be. Remember to have a comfy chair for the pregnant guest of honor! Invites and Etiquette You may be tempted to use email for the invitation. The upside of convenience, however, carries serious drawbacks. For example, many don't check their email more than once or twice a month and others may not check it at all. Also, if you send out to a list, aggressive spam filters or techno-glitches may keep some from receiving your note. In light of these potential hassles, consider using a pretty hand-written invitation and mailing them the old fashioned way. If you are throwing a surprise shower, the guest list can be a bit tricky, as you may not know who the mom-to-be would want to invite and you risk leaving out very special people. If you do opt for a surprise shower, make sure the guest of honor is the kind of person who likes and appreciates surprises. Not everyone does, so it's best to think it through in advance before you put her in an uncomfortable situation. It is much easier to avoid the surprise shower. Planning this event means asking the mom-to-be for a list of invitees. Have her look over the list just prior to mailing invitations. If there is a friend or relative that has recently miscarried or is having fertility challenges, by all means, invite them. However, consider including a separate note or giving a phone call to gently and tactfully let her know that you and the mom-to-be will certainly understand if she chooses not to attend. When writing the invitations, be sure to include all the pertinent information, such as the date and time of the event, the mom-to-be's last name, the address of the shower location with a map, any theme you've chosen, and the location of the baby registry so guests will know what gifts to bring. Believe it or not, many people forget to include one of these crucial elements on the invitation. Also, include a note for each guest if you want her to bring something specific, such as a baby photo of herself, a pot-luck dish, or an item to use in a game. Continued › |
Pregnancy Articles
About The Author
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Monica Ricci Monica is a professional organizer, motivational speaker and author of Conquer Chaos, Change Your Life. She regularly consults and offers seminars that teach more effective organizing methods at home and work. You can learn more about her company at www.CatalystOrganizing.com. |
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