PARTY PLAN: LUNCH HOUR BABY SHOWER

Seems like there always a new baby or wedding to celebrate! Everything for a lunch hour shower, from the decorations to the menu, needs to be simple and portable. Delicious make ahead items and a few simple craft projects make this lunch hour shower a breeze from set up to clean up. Change the decorations and this party works for baby, bridal, or birthday!

co worker lunch hour shower ideas

QUICK & EASY DECORATIONS

Since you only have an hour, plan party decorations you can put up quickly. Use a clothesline and clothespins to hang photos, baby bibs, socks, and other necessities the new mom will need; she can take them home after the party is over. Scan and print cherished family pictures to prevent damage to the originals. 

For our tiny office baby shower for Caroline, we went to our favorite restaurant and met friends there. A quick centerpiece from baby bottles, rubber ducks, booties, and navy ribbon was the perfect welcome for our newest team member, baby Navy.

COORDINATE COLORS

Mixing different sizes and shapes of like-colored plates gives your table and buffet a coordinated look without the added expense of buying paper products. Ask your fellow hostesses to bring their dish on a white serving piece, too. Food looks great on white dishes and it creates a cohesive look.

CENTERPIECE MADE SIMPLE WITH CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

coworker baby shower centerpiece ideas

Ask moms around the office to bring in old glass baby bottles to use as vases for your centerpiece. A variety of different sizes and heights work well. If you’re lucky enough to have blooms in your yard, clip some to make a casual flower arrangement or get a bunch from the florist and use a single stem in each bottle.

Party hostesses or the guest of honor’s family can bring a special treasure from childhood--- favorite books, baby booties, rattles to dress up a conference room table and serve as conversation starters. Pretty blue trays, ribbons, or a tablecloth make a plain office table party pretty.  

MAKE AHEAD MENU

Select a “can’t miss” menu that will work well for a “bring a dish” party. Choose items that will travel well, hold well and require very little assembly before the party. Make sure to wrap all items carefully and store properly until serving time. Remember to ask hostesses to bring food in a white serving dish for a completely coordinated look. Shown are some of my make-ahead favorites: Citrus Pickled Shrimp, Cheese Puffs, and a cheese board.

Make drinks ahead and transport in a pitcher you can use for serving. Any drink served in a glass with a stem seems special, even something as simple as Prosecco--- Italian sparkling wine. Use it to make Apricot Bellinis, a fresh twist on a Mimosa. Substitute ginger ale or lemon-lime soda for an office party or as a non-alcoholic beverage choice for the mom-to-be. Get beverage or cocktail recipes...

BUILD YOUR BUFFET

baby shower for a coworker party ideas

If you have the typical ugly office table to use for your buffet, dress it up with a large napkin or a scarf. In addition to the menu, take a little help from the store and build out your buffet with signature antipasto items like tapenade, smoked mozzarella, salami, peppers, marinated artichokes, olives, and breadsticks.  

FINISHING TOUCHES

baby shower with rubber duck theme

Get a cake from the bakery...  yes, I said it. It is perfectly okay to take some help from the store or bakery. Decorate with items the new mom can use like these rubber duckies. Get a little more than you need so there plenty for an afternoon coffee break...:)

WATCH MY LUNCH HOUR BABY SHOWER VIDEO ON MYRECIPES.COM

EASY CENTERPIECE: GLOBE OR CYLINDER WITH AN OCEAN OR BEACH THEME

Want an easy idea for a centerpiece for your next party? Check out this fish bowl idea. It's an easy and fun addition to your table. It was inexpensive but added a lot of impact and a little whimsy. I put the vase on a candle holder with a wide base and used mounting tape to secure it but it is equally pretty sitting on a table or on a glass block. I'd use a very stable base if you will have cocktails or children at the party.

Elegant and easy...  find a glass block or candle holder to serve as a pedestal for the globe.

Elegant and easy...  find a glass block or candle holder to serve as a pedestal for the globe.

All you have to do is to find a glass container. I used a round globe vase but you can also use a tall cylinder or square glass vase.

These guys almost look real but they are pretty, inexpensive glass fish that you might find at an aquarium store. I found these at Pier 1. Sit them on top of ocean colored sea glass for a lovely change to a flower centerpiece.

These guys almost look real but they are pretty, inexpensive glass fish that you might find at an aquarium store. I found these at Pier 1. Sit them on top of ocean colored sea glass for a lovely change to a flower centerpiece.

Add the sea glass in your party color to the bottom of the vase. This not only adds color, it also adds some weight to the arrangement and that helps with stability. If you don't have or can't find sea glass, you can always use sand or river rocks.

I found some pretty glass fish that I used in the arrangement. You could also add coral or anything else that fits your party theme.

Fish $5 each (Pier 1)

Round Vase: $6 (Wal-Mart)

Sea Glass $6 (Target)

TALL CYLINDER VASE AQUARIUM WITH LIVE FISH

I have also made beautiful tall aquariums with live fish for a party. You have to be sure the water is suitable for the fish and that you have a home for them to go to once the party is over. This one was for an oyster event so I used oyster shells and other seashells to the design. Make sure to add the sand first. Then add the water about 1/2 way up. Add your design elements; shells, coral, etc. Then fill the vase 1/3 from the top. Allow the sand to settle before you add the fish.

Sand, shells, fresh water and a few goldfish make a beautiful cylinder centerpiece. Just make sure you have a home for the fish after the party!

Sand, shells, fresh water and a few goldfish make a beautiful cylinder centerpiece. Just make sure you have a home for the fish after the party!