When you find yourself at the proverbial helm of a baby shower, you will want to make sure everything goes smoothly. One of the most vital things for ensuring a smooth experience is the timing, which must be perfect. And of course, you want to make your best friend’s or perhaps sister’s baby shower a day they will always reflect on fondly.
Many expecting mothers are already overstressed with the new life growing inside them, so they do not need to worry about anything else. You should make sure that everything is in place and perfect for the expecting mother. Now it can be a bit overwhelming planning a baby shower, especially if you have never done it before.
There may be questions running through your head, such as “How long do baby showers last?”, “What time does a baby shower start?” and similar. It is alright to search online and check out what the consensus is. Plus, if you have stumbled upon this article, you are in luck, as chances are all your other questions will also be answered.
How Long Do Baby Showers Last
Generally, baby showers are known to last from two up to three hours. It really depends on what kind of activities you have planned. You will want enough time for the guests to enjoy themselves. However, you should not make the shower last too long as people will start to lose interest and start making excuses to leave early.
Among the things to consider when planning a baby shower are the games you have organized to play. You should think about how much time each one will require. Then you should also factor in the time for cutting and eating the cake. However, the time still depends on other factors, including where the baby shower occurs. Is it at home, a venue, or a restaurant, or perhaps if the mother is being extra cautious, you will want to plan a virtual baby shower to appease her worries.
A traditional at home baby shower
If the mother-to-be has her heart set on a traditional baby shower, you will have a wider berth to plan plenty of games without a time limit. However, of course, remember that a baby shower is not a wedding, so do not plan a full day of activities. Traditional baby showers usually last no more than three hours.
There are games, opening gifts, and food to be planned, but these things tend to take up quite a bit of time. You should check in with the person you are making the shower for, the mother, and ask her what she feels comfortable with. Not every expecting mother has the energy to mingle with people for hours on end.
If you make the shower too long, most guests will start leaving before the festivities are over. Remember, everyone has other obligations too. So, ensure that everything is running smoothly, do not linger too long on one part of the shower.
A baby shower at a restaurant
If the baby shower you are planning is to take place at a restaurant or a venue, its length will likely depend on the venue itself. If you want to rent out a space or a hall, you can have a quick chat with its manager to see what they recommend. They have likely seen countless baby showers, so they will be able to give you a good time frame.
Usually, baby showers that take place in venues and restaurants last about two hours. This time frame will give enough time to the guests to play some games, congratulate the expecting mother, and enjoy some food.
You should also plan the food accordingly. If you request the restaurant serve a full course meal, the baby shower may run too long. When the baby shower lasts no longer than two hours, it might be best to serve appetizers.
A virtual baby shower
Virtual baby showers gained popularity during the last two years as in the pandemic. The expecting mothers understandably wanted to protect themselves and their children. And as everything else during this time moved to the virtual space, so did celebrations. The virtual baby showers allow the host to plan a truly unique event that can include multiple parts.
If you are planning a virtual baby shower, you can send the fun activities you have planned and the guest book and games in the days leading up to the big event. This will give a chance even to those guests that are in different time zones to participate in the activities. They will be able to send messages to the expecting parents without worrying if they will find the time to be present during the live baby shower.
When it is time for the live baby shower, keep in mind that it should be short and fun. It should last from an hour to an hour and a half. You can dedicate time to the parents opening the gifts. You can also announce the winners of the games you have sent the guests and just let the guests congratulate the couple and share in their joy. This part of the baby shower will probably move fast but make sure there are no awkward pauses that could damper the overall mood.
Read More: How to Organize Baby Clothes
Conclusion
In conclusion, a good baby shower should move like a well-oiled machine, and you as the host are in charge of keeping everything going smoothly. Hopefully, we have managed to answer “how long do baby showers last,” and now you can plan the activities accordingly. The most important thing to remember is not to make everything go on too long.
When baby showers last too long, they stop being fun and feel more like a chore. So, the games should be short and fun. The food should not be an intricate meal, and appetizers are sufficient. And the most important thing of all, make sure not to overtire the expecting mother and ensure the baby shower runs fast and smoothly.
