Baby shower themes and games from Anna Bond, Maisonette, and Rachel Blumenthal

There’ll be no torn ribbons or reused bachelorette party crowns here… but we do want you to have a well-designed (and fun) baby shower. We talked to four brilliant designers and entertainers on how they threw baby showers that fit their styles, and how you can embrace a little of your own creativity as you plan yours.

Images: Belathée Photography

Did your shower have a theme, decorative or otherwise?

Anna Bond, founder and creative director, Rifle Paper Co.: My shower had a Kyoto garden theme. I’ve never traveled to Japan but it’s a dream destination and I thought it would inspire beautiful, unique decor. The shower was on a boat dock at a local lakeside restaurant on a spring evening. My friends created beautiful arrangements with cherry blossoms, served tea with dried flowers, and there were two handmade chandeliers made with white paper cranes blowing in the wind and paper lanterns along the walkway leading to the water. It was beyond what I imagined.

Rachel Blumenthal, CEO of Rockets of Awesome: I actually had a party a month after my daughter Gemma’s arrival. I wish there was a cooler name for a sip and see, but it was a lovely sit-down brunch on the roof of the Nomad Hotel with 20 of my closest friends. I’d call the theme “ladies who lunch.” It was perfect.

Sylvana Ward Durrett, co-founder of Maisonette: I knew I was having a boy, so I wanted a vague nod to that in the decor and the flowers. Maybe there was a little more blue than usual. But nothing over the top!

Luisana Mendoza de Roccia, co-founder of Maisonette: I didn’t have a specific theme or style, I must admit! Just a lot of flowers, delicious bites, and a lot of good friends.

Images: Belathée Photography

Did you do any traditional or otherwise “shower activities?”

If yes, what were they? If no, is there something you did to otherwise commemorate the day beyond having a get-together? (Not that there’s anything wrong with socializing).

Anna Bond: So, our shower was coed and in the evening—not the usual time or setting, but we wanted to make sure we saw everyone. Instead of a more traditional game, we kept in theme and asked each guest to write a note to our future son and fold it into an origami crane. (We had instructions on hand, of course.)

Images: Annabel Braithwaite from Belathée Photography

Rachel Blumenthal: The outfits are where the traditional baby shower elements ended. My event was only an hour or so, and it was really just a nice way to see friends and show off Gemma. This isn’t exactly a game, but one thing I’m glad I did was have a designated photographer throughout the brunch shooting candid photos. They’re so great to look back on.

Luisana Mendoza de Roccia: Oh, I loved this: my friends brought a bunch of plain cotton onesies and everybody decorated them with permanent markers. It got pretty competitive! I’m still using some of them, and I still have all of them.

Our baby shower invitations make hosting and planning pure child’s play.