How Much Money Will You Need for Your Baby Shower in 2023?
What does a baby shower entail exactly, and how do you break down the costs?
Rumor has it that an in-person baby shower ranges from a couple hundred dollars to easily over a thousand dollars. Depending on the place you want to have the baby shower, the size of the guest list, food options, games, gifts, and decorations, the cost can vary greatly. Virtual baby showers on the other hand have a different budget-profile and cost much less.
Below we’ll dive into baby shower costs for all the different places baby showers typically held in the US, and share the major costs encountered. After this guide, you’ll have a much better idea of what places and budget size works best for you!
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How is the Cost of the Baby Shower Calculated?
Decor
Decorations help excite people about the adorable little one who’s on the way! There are many methods for baby shower decoration, and whether decor is pre-made, hand-made, or customed ordered, the cost for decorating a baby shower tends to range from $50-150.
Food and Drinks
Food is often the second biggest cost associated with hosting a baby shower. When considering your budget for food, think about what matters most: convenience or cost! Having food catered makes things easier on the day of, but does cost more than homemade food. Catered food on average costs $15-20 per person, depending on the company you go with. However, if you are planning on snacks and finger foods only, that could cost more like $5-10 per person. Storebought drinks cost $50- $100 on average.
Games and prizes
Baby showers are known for their cheesy, yet fun-loving games. Though the cost of the games and prizes depends greatly on how elaborate you want to get, an average minimum is $50.
Invitations
Invitations are essential to a baby shower. Invitation costs can range due to how unique and elaborate you want to get, but in general, cards from a print shop (i.e. Minted or Shutterfly) go for a few dollars per card, whereas pre-bought cards come for $20 a pack at your local Target. The average cost for invitations is $30-50 or $3 per person for a group of 25.
Thank-you notes
Thank you notes are similar to invitations. Depending on the route, we estimate about $2-3 per person. Assuming an estimate of 25 guests, thank you cards would be along the lines of $50.
Extras and miscellaneous
Hosts should also plan a small amount of the budget for things they may need the day of the shower. Keeping $50 of the budget for last-minute dessert or extra napkins is a great way to ease your stress.
With all these costs considered, the typical baby shower totals about $550 on average.
How About For a Virtual Shower?
As our world gets increasingly more reliant on technology, and our loved ones span the globe, a virtual shower is an amazing option more and more families are choosing! An online shower can include all those long distance friends and family members, lessening the pressure to combine an in-person event with an online component.
In reality, 72% of Babylist users reported having more than one baby shower. A virtual shower can be a stand-off event plus an all-in-one low cost way to support the expecting mama at every level!
Overall, a virtual baby shower ranges in cost from only $20 all the way to $200, depending on the amount of guests and what choices you make with things like party favors, invitations, and thank-you notes.
Cost of Baby Shower by Places: Inexpensive Options
A tried-and-true tradition, a good baby shower can be magical even without an extravagant budget. If you are hosting an in-person baby shower, a venue is often the biggest expense and can make up 10-25% of a budget. Below are some thoughtful location ideas without a high price tag!
Loved One’s Home (Friend/Relative’s Home)
Hosting a baby shower at home is a classic option, for more reasons than just budget. This can be a comfortable option for everyone involved, especially a pregnant mama-to-be. Also, if the weather works out, the shower can extend to the outdoors. Depending on whether food will be catered or homemade (and how wild one wants to go with the decorations!), we’d say $550 is a healthy budget for a baby shower at home.
Local Community Center
If your group is too big for a house, or you know everyone from a specific community already, such as a church group, then a known community hub can be a wonderful choice. If choosing this option, it makes most sense if the expecting mama has a special connection to the place. Similar to hosting at a home, one can budget $550 for a baby shower, plus any additional facility fee.
Nesting Party
A nesting party is a new trendy name for a lovely old idea, wherein a small group of loved ones gather to provide the mama-to-be practical support before the baby is born. This idea is often less focused on gifts and more of a work party to go through things like setting up the nursery.
This is perfect for second and third-time moms who have a majority of the larger baby items and a better understanding of what support they truly need. A great thing about a nesting party is that it costs nearly nothing, and can simply include a thoughtful favor or treat for everyone who comes!
Cost of Baby Shower by Places: Bigger Budgets
A baby shower is such a memorable day for the expecting mama, yet the experience looks different for each family. If you have a bigger budget, why not choose a venue that adds flair to the occasion and doubles up as a pampering experience!
Restaurant or Restaurant Brunch
Costs vary depending on whether you reserve a private room, book a big table for brunch, or book the entire place. A loose range you can use to budget for this is about $70-200 a person if you’re having brunch at your chosen place, and a minimum $100 per hour if you’re reserving a private room.
Boutique Hotel or Hotel
We love the idea of an elevated staycation for a baby shower. Booking a party room ranges from $70 to $160 per hour (and wedding rates may apply). Another option is to rent a few rooms (which range from $200-$500 per night for a standard room in most major cities) and then do a super-special spa day! If you budget in food and drinks as well as invitations and thank-yous, this would come in at around $350+ per person at minimum.
Tea Room
A tea room is such a sweet venue idea for the right group! You could rent the mama’s favorite local cafe for a gathering, or go toward a fully-fledged rental venue which is often priced per person. This lovely place south of L.A. ranges from $55-200 per guest with guest minimums from 8 to 60 depending on the room. The food and drinks are already included and the space is beautiful – both are nice options to get everyone excited about raising a cup to the sweet, little one on the way.
Summary – The Breakdown on Baby Shower Costs
Based on the general averages we covered, a baby shower runs about a minimum of $550 when using a venue; less when staying at home. While this is an average cost, it could easily be cut down to half with a little savvy planning and some elbow grease!
However much you invest in this special occasion, we hope this guides offers you enough information to start planning and pulling off a fabulous baby shower process! There is no right or wrong way, and it’s all for an adorably good cause – an excited mama and her baby on the way!
