Forget predictable party games and overdone diaper cakes! Celebrating a new life, like my dear friend’s little one, doesn’t have to be cookie-cutter. It deserves a gathering as unique and emotional as the parenthood journey itself, even if it’s the third time! That’s why I’ve concocted a baby sprinkle that’s as sweet as it is simple, and as fun as it is budget-friendly.
Today I’m pulling back the curtain on how you can effortlessly design and host a baby shower or in the case of baby number three, a Sprinkle Tea Party that will leave your friends and family swooning. Below are my top hosting tips that are guaranteed to add a dash of whimsy, a hint of elegance, and a whole teapot of memories to cherish for your next baby shower or baby sprinkle.
Choose a Theme.
It really doesn’t have to be over the top, but it should always be consistent! Invitations are emailed via Paperless Post with a catchy tea party design to set the tone. Our group of hostesses collected our grandmothers’ vintage floral tea cups, which doubled as a great excuse to finally use what had been collecting dust in our dining room china cabinets, to perform the party theme beautifully.
We chose heat-and-serve quiches, charcuterie boards, fruit, cheese, salad, french pastries, tarts, cake pops, bread, butter and jam. Be sure to check out your local grocery store’s catering menu, which gives a little more bang for your buck and saves a lot of time. Re-placing items on your own dishes is key. The shining star of our kitchen island buffet you ask? A variety of easy-to-assemble tea sandwiches—just be sure to use a serrated knife. And PS, don’t forget the clotted cream and lemon curd for your scones because, after all, it’s a tea party!
The best way to continue a theme is by printing menu cards and other food labels for not only beautiful customization but necessary information for your guests. Canva makes designing signage very fast. I have shared the template we chose here for your use.
Store Bought Flowers.
There’s no shame in skipping the fancy florist and opting for grocery store flower selections. We used hearty pink roses (on sale, I might add) and green viburnum flowers, with a little bulk to them for added coverage. Using clear floral tapecreate a grid pattern on the tops of both mason jars and tea cups to hold each DIY bouquet in place.
Over the years, I have found that printing on card stock can be really tiring because of the print quality and the thick paper that jams in my printer. I swear by printing on regular paper and using these tried and true 4×6 menu card holder from Ikea. Just print twice, cut (a paper cutter helps a lot) and drop into the double sided plastic frame. Be sure to stock up—they’re only $1.99 each, and I’ve owned mine for good, forever.
Plan an Activity.
As mentioned, this is our third baby guest of honor. There’s no way you’ll find our seasoned group of moms smelling like melted chocolate diapers or measuring bellies with a string. We’ve been there and done that. For a more inclusive activity, guests in attendance wrote notes, jokes and well wishes on the outside of newborn diapers. You can find the template we used here. I suggest framing it to give visitors a little direction.
Everyone had a good time, so when Mom or Dad comes to change diapers at night, they can read our messages for a little inspiration or a little laugh. Now if your group loves lots of activities, check out other baby shower game ideas.
In addition to a selection of teas, we served white and sparkling wine as part of our celebration, but for our big party trick, a pinch of pink edible glitterr was added to the mix for some oohs and ahhs.
For best results, use a small spoon to add a pinch of edible glitter to the bottom of the glass, swirl the glitter inside the glass, and then very slowly pour in your bubbles. Watch the sparks come to life!
Party Decorations.
You don’t need a lot of decorations. Yes, I actually just wrote that while I was sharing it with you 6-foot wide gold balloon ring, which probably seems like a lot, but hey, it’s $45 dollars, breaks down into a little bag and can be used for future events, say baby’s first birthday?! I find it’s nice to have a focal point in the room that adds a wow factor and can be used for striking photos.
The DIY Balloon Garland itself is under $15 dollars, and Amazon seems to have an endless supply of balloon color options. Throw cheap electric balloon pumpp in your cart at checkout and you won’t regret it. No further embellishments needed, I mean this time.
When all is said and done, it’s not just a baby shower. It is a gathering of love, a moment frozen in time to savor the beauty of new life, old friendships, and the shared anticipation of a small miracle that has just been wrought. I raise my delicate cup of tea to a job well done to my fellow hostess. I hope my step-by-step recap helps in planning your next baby sprinkle or shower, ideally stress-free at least until that first balloon pops!
Finally, congrats to my beautiful friend Stella, and her very first princess pictured here, Sofia. May the future of their growing family be as warm and fragrant as the finest cup of Earl Grey, shared with love and laughter.
Photography by Fha Share
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