Hosting a Stress-Free Shower

One of my absolute favorite parts of growing up is getting to watch my friends as they move through different life stages - finding a job, marriage, babies - you get the idea. Luckily for me, I'm at the age in life where all of these things are happening at once, and there is always something to celebrate. 

What does this mean? I've hosted and attended a serious number of showers. Now, I'm no expert, but over the past 4 years I've learned a thing or two (usually the hard way) about hosting a shower where both the guests & the guest of honor enjoy themselves. A few friends and threw a baby shower for on of my best friends this past weekend, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to share my 5 tips for hosting a stress-free (or at least stress-reduced) shower.

• find & create a vision - In my opinion, it's always better to have vision or themed established, especially if you are co-hosting with a friend. This way, everyone is marching toward the same goal and tension of napkins and plates not matching is avoided.  Here's where pinterest is your BFF.
• know your limits - in the same breath as pintertest being your BFF, it can also be your worst enemy. Let's face it, most showers that we drool over online cost a serious amount of money & likely involve a professional. Ain't nobody got time (or money) for that. Set both time & budget limits to work within your means. 
• know your guest of honor - this might come as a no brainer, but sometimes your idea of the perfect shower might not be the same as your guest of honor, and let's no forget it is supposed to be about them. While some people may love classic baby shower games, our momma-to-be wasn't a fan, so we opted for a simple craft in the form of baby headbands.
• make it easy on yourself - similar to knowing your limits, take a step back and ask how you can make your responsibilities easier on yourself. You don't have to spend 40 hours on every detail, trust me. Here's where I highly recommend implementing a "bar" of some form. It requires little pre-work and they are almost always well-recieved. We included a grilled cheese bar (pictures below!) last weekend, it was beyond easy and everyone seemed to be a fan!
• save money where you can - it's no secret that showers can get expensive fast. Get a little creative and save money in small ways (it will add up!) by repurposing things you already own. For example, this past weekend we used mason jars a few of my friends already owned for drinking glasses instead of paying $10 for a pack of 70 disposable ones. Also, save the receipts for everything so you can return what you overbuy. 

what are some of your tips for a stress-free shower?

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