Baby Shower Venues for Rent in New York City

Anyone in an expectant mom’s life can host the baby shower: a best friend, a relative and even a spouse! Very often it’s the mom-to-be who decides to be in charge of throwing a fun and unique event herself. Are you hosting a baby shower but have no idea where to start? Here are some tips that will help you create a fabulous and memorable party:

How do I organize a unique and successful baby shower?

• Choose the date of your party carefully. The first factor that will determine the event’s success is its date. Why is it so important? You have to keep in mind that when pregnant, you won’t be able to function the same way before you’ve been blessed -  after all, you are growing a new life in your body! This is why we recommend you make sure you don’t throw your baby shower party too late in the final trimester as your energy levels and mood may not be at their highest. Hosting the shower in, let’s say early second trimester, will give the future parents time to buy the essentials they still need after the party. 

• Guests. First of all, set your guest list and decide what kind and size of venue you need to rent for your party. If it’s an intimate affair with your closest friends and family members, we suggest you go for a cozy cafe. But if you’re thinking of celebrating with a big bash, go for a bigger restaurant or a loft offering lots of space. Once the guest list is ready, you should send out the invitations well in advance. It will allow your guests to decide whether they’re coming or not, as well as mark the date in their calendar. One more important thing: don’t invite only your female friends, include men and entire families to the celebration.

• Decorations. Decorations play a big part in the baby shower’s success. It’s totally up to you what you will go for: pastel banters, boho decorations or put up huge binkies and rattles everywhere. Flowers will elevate any party, so think carefully about purchasing your favorite ones but remember to, ideally, stick to the color scheme. Since we’re talking about the colors, we suggest you choose a simple color scheme. You could narrow it down to two colors and coordinate everything, starting from tablecloths to balloons and banters. Remember one thing: don’t stick to pink for a girl and blue for a boy! Think outside of the box and choose a color that is either your favorite or the one that reflects the season the party is being held in, for example sunny-yellow for summer and silver for the winter.

• Games and other optional activities. If games and other extra activities are not your cup of tea, you can easily skip this step in your baby-shower planning. But if you can’t imagine yourself at a baby shower without some classic activities, we’ve got you covered! Let’s start with guessing games. Set up a station where your guests will have to write down who will be doing nighttime diaper changes. Another station can be about the baby’s gender and date of birth. Another cool idea could be having a photo booth in the corner of the venue where you and your guests could take photos to commemorate the occasion. When it comes to games, pick two people to compete in a diaper change race or ‘dressing the baby’ race. You could also play the game in which people are blindfolded and are asked to guess what kind of baby food they are being fed. 

• Serve good food and drinks. Full guests are happy guests! Depending on the time of the day and the type of party, decide whether you will be serving only snacks or full meals. A cool idea is hosting a brunch baby shower. Serve little breakfast treats, freshly squeezed orange juice, as well as something sweet. When it comes to drinks, you could serve mocktails that have baby-related names. But depending on your personal preference, you don’t have to go alcohol-free for your party. Serve classic drinks for those who wish to drink and let them enjoy this special time with a mimosa in their hand.

• Request books instead of cards. Let’s face it, most cards end up in the trash at some point. So instead of writing a card, ask each guest to bring their favorite childhood book. To ensure they are as special as a card could be, tell them to write a short message to the baby on the first page of the book they are bringing. Additionally, it’s a great way to start a book collection for your child that will be filled with classics and fantastic books that you had no idea even existed. Remember to specify in the invitation to please bring a book with a dedication in lieu of a card!

We hope you’re ready to celebrate the exciting day! With the above tips you will be able to throw a great party for the mom-to-be and her new bundle of joy.

Baby Shower Venues in New York City FAQ

How much does it cost to rent a baby shower venue in New York City?

Rental prices in New York will suit every budget as prices for venues vary from affordable to pricey. Most places charge per hour with rates ranging between $65 and $2000 per hour. Another popular pricing option is charging for each guest - rates start at $30 and can get up to $65 per person. (Based on data from Tagvenue.)

What is the best way to get around New York?

The most convenient way to get around New York is the subway. Wherever there is no subway, you can always catch a bus or a yellow taxi. For anyone travelling from outside of the city, Penn Station and Union Station will be the best choices as they both offer railway service to Long Island and New Jersey.

Which NYC areas have the best venues to host a baby shower?

Manhattan’s SoHo, Chelsea or Midtown, to name a few, are great areas filled with venues of all sizes, that are ideal for a successful baby shower. In the East Village, Upper East Side and Harlem you will also be able to find fantastic places for your event. We suggest you check out Brooklyn for a great selection of spots as well. Areas such as Williamsburg, Carroll Gardens or Brooklyn Heights boast restaurants, cafes, backyards and lofts where you could host a unique baby shower. We also can’t forget about Queens’ areas. Flushing, Astoria, Corona or Jackson Heights which are all home to fantastic venues ideal for diaper showers.

What are the best venues in New York to host a baby shower?

To help you with your choice and perhaps inspire you a bit, we have written down some of our favorites:

• Terrace at Krupa Grocery - The space is ideal for a special intimate gathering - especially a summery celebration. You will find there delicious food, charming setting, extraordinary service and much more.
• Gran Morsi - Gran Morsi’s main dining room will be ideal for your unforgettable baby shower in the heart of Tribeca. The restaurant will provide you and your guests a dining experience like you’ve never had before.