Introduction
A virtual baby shower is a great way to celebrate the new arrival of a special little one, without having to worry about the logistics and expense of an in-person event.
Though an in-person baby shower is a lot of fun, hosting a virtual shower is easier than you think and can be done in just a few hours. Planning a virtual baby shower will give you the chance to spend time with family, get creative and share memories with family and friends. The planning process does look a little different than with a traditional baby shower, though.
So, here are some tips on how to throw a virtual baby shower that is both memorable and fun!
What is a virtual baby shower?
A virtual shower is a celebration of the impending arrival of a new baby, held online instead of in person.
It’s a great way to connect with friends and family who may not be able to attend an in-person shower, or for parents who would prefer to avoid the hassle and expense of hosting a traditional shower.
The best part about having an online baby shower is that parents-to-be can meet with friends and family across the world!
What do you need for a virtual baby shower?
You don’t need much to host a virtual baby shower – Mostly just a computer or laptop with an internet connection and a video conferencing program like Skype, Zoom, or Google Hangouts.
There are extra things you can do to make your virtual space more exciting, like having decorations or fun virtual backgrounds, but we’ll get to that later in the article.
You’ll also need to send out invitations to your guests, letting them know how to log in to the video call on the day of the event. Triple check that the log-in info is correct on your digital invitation and that the links are all working prior to the big day.
If you’re new to hosting virtual events, I would also suggest having a trial run to make sure everything is in working order. Your wifi connection will need to be strong enough to support live video, too, so make sure that works!
Choosing a platform
Aside from your computer, the next most important thing to consider is which platform you will want to use.
You’ll want to choose something that works for everyone and that can use video call/video chat so that everyone is engaged. For this reason, I would suggest against choosing an app like Facetime or Google Hang Outs, unless you’re certain that all the guests have access to an Apple product or Gmail (respectively).
Here are some apps for hosting virtual baby showers:
- Web Baby Shower:This app is great for hosting the perfect virtual baby shower, and it only costs $80 to use. That price may sound high at first, but when you think about the cost of an in-person shower, it’s actually pretty reasonable. You can also customize everything, including your own site, digital invitations, baby shower games, direct links to the baby registry, a photo/video album, and even a printable guest book to print afterward.
- Zoom: Since the pandemic, many of us have become used to using Zoom. This online software is great for online gatherings, and all you need is the unique event ID and password (or zoom link) for everyone to access the event. Guests don’t need their own account, either. You can also take advantage of Zoom’s virtual backgrounds for added personal touch. One thing to note, though, is that the virtual event will be on a time limit of 40 minutes if the event creator is using the free version. You could always create two events, though!
- Skype: Many of us have also used Skype, too, making it another attractive option for virtual baby showers. This app is free to use and, like Zoom, your users don’t need to be registered. You’re only going to be able to have 50 guests, though, so your ability to use this will depend on how many guests you have.
- Facebook Messenger Rooms: You might also consider using Facebook or Facebook Messenger Rooms for your online shower. Since most people are already familiar with the app, it’s accessible for most. Just make sure that your event is set to private, hop on the virtual chat, and you’re ready to go!
Virtual shower themes
Having a theme for your virtual shower is a fun way to bring everything together while celebrating the expectant mother and her unique tastes.
You could go with a classic baby shower theme like teddy bears or ducks, or get more creative with a unique theme like outer space or under the sea. Either way, be sure that it reflects the interests of the beloved parent-to-be!
If you’re not sure where to start, here are some popular virtual baby shower themes to get you inspired:
- Mommy to “Bee” bumblebee theme
- Winnie The Pooh
- Jungle or safari
- Under the sea
- Their favorite fairytale or storybook character
- Farm animals theme
- Woodland creatures
- Superhero
- Color-based theme
If none of these jump out, you might want to check out Baby List’s theme packages. They are adorable little bundles that will make everything come together in style! Each bundle includes a digital invite header, Zoom backgrounds, games, thank you cards, and a virtual baby shower checklist!
How to host a virtual baby shower
Now that you’ve decided on your theme (if you’re doing one) and picked your platform, it’s time to work out the details.
Here is a list of the important things you’ll need to do before your virtual event starts:
1. Pick a shower date and send out the invites
Pick a date that’s convenient for all guests.
Depending on how many people are going, you may want to run a virtual poll to find a common date that works for everyone.
If you have guests in multiple time zones, be sure to pick a time that works for everyone. Nobody wants to attend a shower in the middle of the night!
Send out the invites two weeks in advance, including all the details. Also, make sure to send a reminder a few days after the original invite asking guests to check their junk or spam folders – You don’t want any invite to get lost because it went to the wrong folder!
2. Create an invitation that fits the occasion
If you’re not using an already-curated bundle, you’ll want to create or find an invitation online.
You can create a custom invitation with your own personal touch, like a baby’s name and birth date. (Personally, I use Canva for all things virtual design)
For example, if your friend is having her first child and she was born on Christmas Eve, you could have the invite say “It’s a boy! Come celebrate the arrival of Baby Holiday.”
There are also a few websites you could use for your virtual invitations, like Paperless Post, Evite, or Greenvelope. Their designs are all pretty stunning, and many of them are animated, too. They’re truly adorable!
The possibilities are endless; it’s all up to you how creative you want to get.
3. Create a gift registry
You can add a gift registry to your virtual baby shower website. For example, if you’re using Etsy or Amazon, simply search for the name of the site and “registry” and click on the link that appears.
Then create an account with that site (if necessary) and set up your registry there. You’ll want to include items in your registry that are not available at local stores, such as diapers or special brands of formula (or both)
4. Choose your games and activities
Baby shower games are usually the best part of the event! Though some traditional games, like creating toilet paper diapers, may not work too well virtually, you’ve still got lots of games that your virtual guests will love!
No matter what the game, encourage guests to have fun while playing these fun virtual baby shower games! Playing games is a fun way to connect and a natural icebreaker for guests that don’t know each other.
Here are a few virtual game ideas to get you started:
- Send PDF’s of printable games
- As long as you send these out prior to the big day, all the guests can play along whether they choose to print their game or play it virtually! I’m thinking of fillable PDF’s where guests can share parenting advice, or maybe the one where guests guess the baby’s name!
- Jackbox Games
- Jackbox is a fun multiplayer platform with plenty of virtual games. They are all timed games and are pretty short.
- Sketchful.io
- Sketchfulio is basically online game like pictionary. Each user creates their character and joins the private room to play. It’s pretty fun!
- Virtual Nursery Tour
- One of the benefits to hosting online baby showers is that the expecting parents can show off their nursery without having a ton of guests walking through the baby’s space. Your guests will love to see the baby’s room!
- Virtual Guest Book: Some online shower platforms will include a guest book, but you could also create your own if not. Google even has Jamboard for a quick and easy option!
If you’re still looking for game ideas, I’d suggest peeking at the Postpartum Party’s list of virtual baby shower games. They all look like a blast!
5. Gifts
Another thing that usually happens at a baby shower is the expecting parent gets to open gifts. If you want to include gift opening in your day, then make sure it is made clear on the online invitations!
Ask your guests to send presents ahead of time so that moms-to-be can open gifts during the event on live video. Some guests may not be able to do this in time, so be sure to recognize that if that’s the case!
If you choose to go with Web Baby Shower, you can also open presents after the event and share what you were given. You’ve got up to 6 months after the event to share photos and videos with your group, so those that had to send gifts from far away or sent them
6. Send out shower favor packages
This is optional and totally depends on your budget, but it’s a nice idea to include party favors if you can!
You may choose to send out shower favor packages to all of your guests. The package should contain a thank you card, a couple of small gifts that are related to the theme of the baby shower, and also some personalized stickers or labels with the guest’s name on them.
If your budget allows, use first-class mail rather than priority mail because first-class mail has tracking information so you will know when it arrives at its destination or if it gets lost in transit.
Hosting a virtual baby shower is easy and fun!
Hosting a virtual baby shower is easy and fun! If you’re looking for another way to celebrate the new baby, but don’t have time or money to put it into an in-person event, hosting a virtual baby shower is the perfect solution.
Virtual baby showers are easy to plan and can be done in less than an hour. They are a fun way to have family members and friends all in one place despite living far apart or having busy schedules.
If this is your first time hosting a virtual baby shower, don’t worry—it’s going to go great!
Conclusion
Hosting a virtual baby shower is a great way to celebrate before baby arrives. You can bring everyone together, play games, get to know one another, and most importantly, celebrate baby and Momma!
The beauty of celebrating with all the festivities, but without the expenses, has made virtual showers a popular choice for those not interested in organizing an in-person party.
You’ll also find that the excitement and connection of a virtual party are a great experience for you and your loved ones!
Have you had your maternity photo shoot yet? If not, check out these maternity photo shoot ideas before you go!
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