The Best Baby Shower Themes

Celebrate the mom-to-be's love of literature with a whimsical menu, darling decorations, and plenty of fairy-tale fun.

Up, Up, And Away! This colorful theme takes a baby shower to new heights. The bright colors of a carnival-bound fleet of hot air balloons and a wondrous sky blue is used to plan every detail: 3-D paper invitations, hanging mobiles, a thumbprint keepsake gift, and a whimsical cloud of balloons.

Something is brewing at this baby shower. Have guests enter a room that's steeped with charm and a tale as old as time. Decorate tables with garden cloches, tea envelope party favors, and a spread of sandwiches and decadent desserts.

Hop on over to this celebration based on the stories by Beatrix Potter—the celebrated children's author who brought Peter Rabbit to the world—with a farm fresh menu, spring greenery, and charming decorations that everybunny is bound to adore.

It's a girl! Well, not quite yet. A pink-themed shower is a perfect way to help the mother-to-be prepare for a little girl.

This celebration for Kate Berry was full of wildlife whimsy! Think flora-and-fauna vignettes using birds' nests, candy eggs, cloches, and faux-bois pedestals; and crackers in the shapes of forest animals to elevate the standard cheese-and-crackers plate.

Consider a departure from tradition and use the occasion to recall a mother-to-be's cherished childhood memories—of Halloween—and use these tricks to treat her to a celebration. Here, sweet meets spooky: think a marshmallow ghost cake and cupcakes, Boo-nilla shakes, and ethereal tulle-cloaked balloons.

To celebrate the motherhood of a woman in a modern way, dispense with the fusty color code, invite the soon-to-be dad (as well as male friends and family members), and offer zero-prep-time foods instead of the usual tea-sandwich fare. The result? A party that's cliche-free and easy as ABC.

How does it go? "Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!" Dr. Seuss himself would have coveted an invitation to this intimate gathering: a secret garden setting, wild floral arrangements, collections of globes, and a favorite childhood book that inspires it all.

Now here's a buzz-worthy theme for any arrival. If the expectant mother doesn't live nearby, you can still shower her with love and good wishes by creating a "baby shower in a box." Choose a theme such as Baby's First Bath, Decorate the Nursery, or Pampering Mom, and invite friends and loved ones to contribute.