1. Organize the Group Baby Shower Gift
When you’re planning a virtual baby shower, you’ll want to include as much information as possible in the
invitation, since guests will need time to prepare. Start with the gift. Since this is a baby’s first library
shower, the gift is all about
baby books. They’re the perfect gender-neutral shower gift, and board books are
also affordable, making them a sweet add-on to registry gifts or a greener alternative to a card.
For the perfect personalized present, encourage each guest to choose their favourite board or picture book. To
avoid duplication, have guests mark down their choices in a shared online document (like Google Docs). Have each
guest email you a blurb about why they love the book. Order the books and print out the blurbs on labels. Stick
them on the inside covers as DIY book plates and wrap everything up to send to the guest of honour before the
big day. Guests can also order and send their book picks themselves to lighten the host’s load.
2. Set the Menu
Even if you’re hosting a virtual baby shower, you can still serve food. Either include a few recipes in the
invitation for guests to DIY or, if your guests are nearby, drop off baskets filled with sweet and savoury snacks
(plus, sparkling cider for an inclusive toast). Since this shower is all about baby books, keep your food on
theme and think of clever ways to give your menu a
nursery rhyme or literary spin, like:
- If You Give a Mouse “Milk and Cookies” (recipe for chocolate chip cookie
cups
and milk)
-
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
hamper (a basket filled with some of the food
featured in this classic, like a
slice of
pie, a cupcake, and fruit.)
- The Giving Cheese (instructions for the perfect cheeseboard)
3. Send Out the Invitations
Go green with e-invitations. Use your favourite service, like Paperless Post or the charitable giving-focused
Echoage. You can also send out a group email in a pinch. Along with including the
date, time, and video-chatting
platform, ensure your invitation speaks to the baby’s first library group gift and menu, too. Consider adding in
a deadline for guests to submit or order their book picks so you have plenty of time to prepare before the
virtual baby shower.
4. Plan the Games
With a virtual shower, it’s all about screensharing. Classics, like celebrity-themed guess the baby picture, are
always a hit, or try another trivia-minded activity: guess the baby book, based on emojis. In a PowerPoint, use
emojis to write out the titles of children’s books for a game that’s sure to make you L.O.L.
5. Add in Decor
Turning cameras on is a must for a virtual baby shower, and staying in doesn’t mean you can’t dress up for the
occasion. Let guests have fun with their backdrops, too—whether they use a fun digital background (of a famous
library, for instance) or create one IRL using baby books they have on hand. Make it extra-special for the guest
of honour by sending flowers and festive favours, like
balloons and bunting, for an extra bit of flair on the
big day.