How to Plan a Baby Shower in Boston: A Step-by-Step Guide + Unique Activity Ideas for an Intimate Private Event
Planning a baby shower is a joyful opportunity to celebrate a growing family while creating meaningful memories celebrating with loved ones. Whether you’re hosting an intimate private event or a larger celebration, thoughtful planning, and a memorable activity, can make the day feel truly special.
Here’s our Hampshire House recommended, step-by-step guide to planning a seamless baby shower, with some of our favorite activities we have seen guests rave about, and some we hope to see in future Boston Baby Showers.
Photo by Heather Nicole Photography: IG @heathernicolephotography
Step-by-Step Guide to Planning a Baby Shower
Step 1: Coordinate with the Guest of Honor
Start by connecting with the parents-to-be to discuss:
Preferred dates and times
Guest list size
Theme or color palettes
Any preferences for activities or traditions
This ensures the shower reflects their personality, comfort level, and any baby-specific customizations they would enjoy being present.
Step 2: Choose the Perfect Boston Venue
Selecting a unique venue in Boston, particularly in a historic, elevated setting such as Beacon Hill, needs to complement the tone of the celebration. Look for a space that offers:
Natural light for photos
Comfortable seating and mingling areas
Flexibility for activities or classes
Food and beverage options
Experience hosting showers
An elegant, welcoming setting is a way to instantly elevate a shower, but finding one that has experience with similar events is an instant way to be confident in your event occurring exactly as you imagined it would.
Step 3: Select a Theme and Design Details
Event Designed by: Alexandra Design Co.
A cohesive theme helps guide décor, florals, and stationery. It is equally as important to find a venue coordinator willing to help assist in creating the event of your dreams. Our sales team is experienced in bringing themes to life and recommending different ideas to clients who need some extra inspiration.
Popular baby shower themes include:
Garden party
Tea party
Storybook theme
Neutral and modern
Seasonal celebrations
Incorporate thoughtful details like custom signage, florals, and coordinated linens. A Hampshire House favorite is always the one that play off our location and incorporate a “Make Room for Ducklings” flair in their décor. Afterwards, you can catch the famous statues celebrating the story across the street in the Boston Public Garden.
Step 4: Plan the Menu
Food is a central part of the celebration. Consider:
Photo by Matthew Tetrault: IG @mptetrault
Brunch, lunch, or afternoon tea
Photo by Ruth Eileen Photography: IG @rutheileenphoto
Light passed hors d’oeuvres
Photo by Symula Media Group: IG @symulamediagroup
Interactive dessert stations
Don’t forget a beautiful cake or dessert display. We partner with Dessert Works Bakery to easily bring in the cake of your dreams with a customizable social package option.
Step 5: Choose a Meaningful Activity
Showers are a great time to catch up with other guests and the parents-to-be. When picking an activity, it is important to consider the length of the event, and how interactive guests can still be while participating.
We all love the classic baby shower games, but beyond that here are some of our favorite baby shower activity ideas that give guests a unique experience keeping in line with the theme and occasion for the gathering while also allowing for guests to still connect with each other.
1. Baby Blanket Making Class
Guests create handmade blankets for the baby, both meaningful and practical.
Good for a smaller group of people
Teaches everyone something new they can use later
Idea: if too many blankets are made than are needed, you can donate the extras to a local charity
Featured vendors:
2. Storybook Signing Station
This is a classic, yet always thoughtful option! Ask each guest to bring or sign a favorite childhood book with a personal note. This creates a treasured library filled with love and memories you can look back on forever.
Bonus for playing off our second floor library space!
3. Floral Arranging Workshop
A floral class doubles as both an activity and décor, as guests create arrangements to display during the shower and take home with them afterwards.
Very short activity
Good option if wanting to do party favors
Featured vendors:
Stapleton Floral Associates, Inc.
Winston Flowers (has taught bouquet classes at HH before)
4. Painting Class: Regular Canvases, Paint-Your-Own Onesie, or Tote Bag Painting
Guests can partner with local art studios to have a mini-painting lesson. This is such a fun and unique way to engage your guests. You can choose an on-theme portrait, have your guests customize a onesie for the baby, or make a tote bag for themselves to take home.
Featured vendors:
Minni Art Studio (has taught painting class at HH before)
5. Cookie Decorating Class
A sweet and interactive activity where guests decorate themed cookies and enjoy them as the featured dessert, or as a treat for later.
Featured vendors:
6. Baby Mobile Ornament Making
Give your guests each an individual piece that will later come together as a custom baby mobile matching the theme of the nursery or baby shower.
7. Custom Tea Blending Experience
Guests blend their own custom tea to take home, giving them a perfect party favor they are sure to use and talk about later.
Featured vendors:
J’enwey Tea Co. (has done events at HH before)
8. Scrapbooking Station
Provide photos, papers, and embellishments so guests can create scrapbook pages filled with advice, memories, and well wishes. Another adorable keepsake option sure to bring some tears to the parents' eyes once they’re through reading all the messages.
Step 6: Plan the Timeline
A typical baby shower timeline:
Guest arrival & mingling
Meal service
Activity or class
Gift opening
Dessert & social time
This balance keeps the celebration flowing naturally and is a good basis. Your sales manager can customize any timeline to your requests in order to help your event flow naturally and according to your vision.
Step 7: Capture the Memories
Consider hiring a photographer or designating someone to capture:
Photo by Heather Nicole Photography: IG @heathernicolephotography
Detail photos
Photo by Heather Nicole Photography: IG @heathernicolephotography
Activity moments
Guest interactions
We know how stressful it can be to pick a photographer. After all, these images will become cherished keepsakes, and a good photographer could be with you for many life milestones. We have a curated list of preferred photographers who we have established relationships with and are familiar with our venue, making sure all the classic photos are taken and lighting is perfect!
Creating a Celebration to Remember
Whether elegant and refined or relaxed and creative, the perfect baby shower is one filled with joy, connection, and celebration.
The most memorable baby showers combine thoughtful planning with meaningful shared experiences. Hosting a baby shower may be intimidating but our team at Hampshire House is here to help every step of the way and bring your Boston Baby Shower to life!