A Cutie is on the Way

As an expectant mom myself, I’ve grown so fond of baby showers! It's such a sweet time to celebrate not only the baby but also the mom-to-be. I hosted my first baby shower for my dear friend Megan, and while I definitely underestimated how many little details go into planning one, I absolutely loved the process and seeing it all come together. That experience sparked my love for putting together event guides and eventually inspired Host Hideaway. While I’m not the one throwing every event featured on Host, this one’s extra special because I actually got to host it.

Megan is a food stylist, so naturally, we had to bring some food inspiration into the theme. We landed on “A Little Cutie Is on the Way” pretty early on, and everything else started falling into place.

Invitations

We started with the invitation since that really helped shape the rest of the party. The shower was at a close family friend’s house, so we kept the invite fun and relaxed but still thoughtful. The design featured a sweet repeat pattern of oranges and greenery to match the cutie theme, along with all the important info: mom-to-be’s name, date and time, hosts, registry, and how to RSVP.

We’ve also included an extra information card that you can use if you want to share more details with guests—like whether significant others or little ones are welcome, if you’re doing a diaper raffle, or if you’d like guests to bring a book instead of a card (a personal favorite!). It’s a simple way to make sure everything feels clear and welcoming from the start.

Games & Activities

Once the invites were out, we got going on the games and activities. We gave ourselves some breathing room to print everything ahead of time and make sure it all matched the invitation style.

• Measure the Bump – Each guest cut a piece of twine to guess how big mom’s bump was (a sweet family tradition!). The closest guess won. We created a simple instruction sign (framed in a wood frame) to explain the game. It’s a customizable design, so you can easily tweak it for other games, a gift table sign, or even a bar menu. We didn’t have a prize, but if your group gets competitive, a gift card or a Stanley tumbler would be a fun touch!

• Guess Baby’s Arrival – Guests wrote down their names and predicted when the baby would arrive. We wouldn’t know the winner for months, but it was a fun way to get everyone involved! We created a custom calendar to keep the theme cohesive.

• Advice Cards – Guests shared notes of encouragement, advice, or sweet words for the mom-to-be. Some wrote little messages to the baby too. We had a keepsake box nearby so Megan could save everything - cards, invites, and any other mementos from the day.

  
  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  
  
  
  

Photo Backdrop

For the backdrop, we put our DIY skills to the test with an unfinished wooden arch from Hobby Lobby. While I loved that we could customize it to match the other designs, I will say it’s on the smaller side so if you have tall guests, consider something larger or adding height with a balloon arch.

Speaking of balloon arches, they’re easier than they look with a small air pump and add a dramatic touch. We also designated one guest as the photographer and were happy with iPhone photos, but depending on the mom-to-be’s preferences, you may want to hire a local photographer.

We’ve also designed a welcome sign that ties in with the rest of the designs. It’s a simple addition that helps greet guests as they arrive and makes for a super cute photo spot, too!

Table Settings & Decor

We lucked out that the host’s house had nice iron tables with plenty of seating. To brighten the space, we used white tablecloths as a base.

For florals, we went with Trader Joe’s, which is affordable but makes a big impact. We created 8 small to medium arrangements using:

• 4-5 dozen roses

• 3 dozen mums

• 3 bunches of greenery

• 4–6 dozen other coordinating flowers

  
  

We had about 18 - 20 guests, so I’d recommend about at least one arrangement per ~3 guests which will also give you extra arrangements for the food, gift, and activity tables. To tie in the citrus theme, we scattered oranges, lemons, and tea lights around the flowers. We prepped everything the night before and transported them in their vases inside a box for easy setup.

The Menu

One of the co-host’s generously made quiche and yogurt parfaits and even let us use her china, which made everything feel extra special! But if you’re aiming for easier cleanup, I’d definitely recommend disposable plates, napkins, and utensils. We’ve included a customizable menu template if you’re planning a more formal meal or tent cards that work great for labeling buffet items or even as place cards for assigned seating.

For drinks, we kept it simple but made a cutie station with:

• Pineapple & Clementine Izze’s (for the orange theme)

• Orange juice & champagne (for mimosas!)

• Water bottles

We skipped dessert, but if you’re looking for something sweet, you could do simple cupcakes with these decorations.

Party Favors

I’m a big fan of using something local for party favors. Think: a jar of jam, a handmade candle, a little bakery treat (bonus points if it ties into the citrus theme!), or even a succulent. These kinds of things always feel thoughtful but not over the top.

You can also do something that reflects the guest of honor’s personality. For example, my husband collects matchboxes, and at our engagement party, our hosts made custom matchboxes, we still have them today and absolutely treasure them! Little personal touches like that go a long way and make the day even more memorable.

To make gifting easy, we’ve also designed printable gift tags that you can tie (I’d recommend this green ribbon) to whichever favor you choose. It’s a small detail, but it adds such a sweet finishing touch!

Final Touches

We’ve also designed custom thank you cards to make it easy for the mom-to-be to send a little love to her guests after the big day.

For added ambiance, bring a Bluetooth speaker! There are plenty of ‘Baby Shower Playlists’ on Spotify, perfect if your group doesn’t have a specific genre preference.

All custom designs can be purchased here and be sure to visit our Amazon list for a few other loose ends like pens and markers for activities, stands for your custom designs, candles, and gift bags.

And that’s it, a guide to planning a casual, sweet, cutie-themed baby shower. Happy hosting!