Whether you’re busy planning your drive-by baby shower or you’re shopping online to find the best baby shower alternatives for your special day, we’re here to help you find the perfect fit for YOU. The year of 2020 has thrown us all sorts of curveballs, and it’s up to us to navigate around this global pandemic like the true queens we are!
You may be thinking: how on earth can I host a drive-by baby shower? Yes, it may sound like a contradiction to the more classic baby shower celebrations, but we promise we would not be here writing about it if it wasn’t an alternative we thought could be really, really special. We got you, girl!
What Is A Drive-By Baby Shower?
First off, let’s get to talking about what exactly a drive-by baby shower is… It may sound pretty straight-forward, but due to social distancing rules and the array of safety measures we have to consider in our day-to-day lives now, it definitely comes with unique challenges – and more recent traditions!
A drive-by baby shower is ultimately a baby shower hosted on your front yard and/or house street where friends and family members can drive by your house, drop off gifts, stop for a chat and share in the celebrations with you and your soon-to-be bundle of joy – without jeopardizing yours, or anyone else’s safety and wellbeing at this time.
Safety tip: Keep A LOT of hand sanitizer on hand (see what we did there!) – check out these cool sanitizer stands which people can safely use from the comfort of their own cars!
Who Throws A Drive-By Baby Shower?
Traditionally speaking, a close friend, Mother-In-Law, or family member will take control of throwing your baby shower, but hey! It’s 2020, COVID-19 has taken over the world and we’re making some well-needed changes in light of these crazy circumstances…
Who throws your drive-by baby shower is TOTALLY up to you – if you’re more comfortable with you or your partner organizing it as it’s most likely going to be hosted from your home, then go for it. If you’d prefer to ask a friend or family member for help, then perhaps ask them to take control of the organizational aspects that are leaving you completely thrown out of sorts, while you focus on the important things – such as cake! Whatever you decide, make sure you choose what’s best for you and your baby; after all, that’s who and what you’ll be celebrating!
Once you’ve decided who’s going to take charge of the pre-planning of your drive-by baby shower, gather your contact lists and create an e-vite to send out to all of your favorite people; be sure to include an RSVP button so you or your organizer can keep track of the number of cars pulling through your driveway on your special day!
Who Should Pay For A Drive-By Baby Shower?
As mentioned above, traditional baby shower rules indicate that the person(s) organizing your baby shower are the ones who typically grab the check as well, however, with a drive-by baby shower this may not have to be the case!
The number one reason a drive-by baby shower is a wonderful option for 2020 is that it’s extremely inexpensive! Other than a few refreshments on your front yard’s table and some potential party favors, you really don’t need to spend very much at all!
We’re not saying you (or your party-planners!) don’t have to splash out, but it’s a great consideration for those of us who’ve been impacted by the pandemic and are looking forward to spending a little less money on a very special occasion! Of course, friends and family may well want to help out, but it’s definitely not as necessary as it typically would be.
Want more tips and tricks for alternative parties during the Covid-19 pandemic? Follow us on Instagram @cotierbrand
What Happens At A Drive-By Baby Shower?
Aha! Now we’re onto the FUN stuff! Are you still sitting there wondering what actually happens at a drive-by baby shower? Great! Let’s walk you through it…
Set The Scene
Okay, we can all agree that one of the best aspects of party-planning is setting the scene with a really special, well-thought-out theme. Consider what sort of scene you want to create on the front yard; think colors, bunting, table cloths, candies, flower walls, cake… You get the idea! Hop on Pinterest and get pinning; that board is just waiting to come to life!
Celebrate Mom & Dad-To-Be
When hosting a drive-by baby shower, the main focus is, of course, focused on the baby-to-be, but what about Mom and Dad? It would be wonderful to celebrate the couple bringing this new life into the world with some special gifts and messages, right? Ask your guests to write a card to put into a box for you to read over when the baby shower has finished and set up a table and chairs for you to sit on and open your gifts. Your drive-by guests will have the opportunity to see your reactions in real-time and it will feel just like the real thing – promise!
Another option would be to introduce some games to the occasion – socially distanced, of course! One of our personal favorites is Did Baby Poopie – think scratch-off lottery tickets with a chance to win prizes for your guests! It’s the perfect level of interaction for a drive-by baby shower, without getting too up close and personal!
Prepare Your Party Favors
There’s the age-old debate that decides whether party favors are a must-have or a must not… We like to think it’s a sweet gesture to bless your guests with a little takeaway gift from your drive-by baby shower because basically… Why not? The best party favor to hand out at your shower will most likely be food or treats as so many options come pre-packaged and with very acute attention to details, your guests will really appreciate it.
You can also opt for a coffee gift card from your local shop so you can treat your guests to a coffee and a cake – even if you can’t share it with them! Whatever you decide to give your visitors, try your best to keep it sweet and simple, along with something that doesn’t mean a lot of cross-contamination or hand-to-hand contact. We really don’t like to keep enforcing this, but safety first – especially at times like these!
Practice Social Distancing
Yup, social distancing can be a bit of a downer on a big celebration, but that’s why a drive-by baby shower is a perfect solution to hosting an event that usually requires large social gatherings! You can ask your guests to pull into the driveway one by one in their cars, and stop for an interval to chat, swap gifts and favors, and ask any questions they may have about the beautiful baby on the way.
Even though you and your visitors will be six feet apart, it doesn’t mean you can’t connect! Look on the plus side – it beats a virtual alternative any day, right?!
Create Ever-Lasting Memories
There’s that saying that goes something like: “Did it even happen if it wasn’t Instagrammed?” – while this may be a little far fetched, you get the idea! Photos, videos, polaroids, and any other visual recording options are an absolute must at your drive-by baby shower so be sure to have options – and a few spare batteries! After all, you’ll be creating memories that should last a lifetime, and one day, you’ll be able to show your kids how crazy the year 2020 – and how special your baby shower – was!
Another creative idea for capturing your drive-by baby shower memories is to hire a Professional Photographer and/or Videographer who can document the whole experience while you sit back and relax with your family and friends. Who knows? A 2-for-1 baby shower and pregnancy photoshoot could be just what you need!
Why Should You Host A Drive-By Baby Shower?
We know there are many reasons why you may not want to host any alternative baby shower in the hope that life may just go back to “normal” any day now, but sadly, we all need to remember that this is a time of great uncertainty that may well last a little while yet. It would be a great shame to put off some of the greatest celebrations of your life due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we say go for it girl!
Thankfully, due to technology, creative thinking, and a whole lotta positivity, we can still celebrate life’s greatest joys with our family and friends – even at a drive-by baby shower! Still unsure? Check out some of our other virtual party ideas and see if any of those take your fancy instead! You never know, you might be pleasantly surprised…
Thinking about hosting a drive-by baby shower and you’ve come across something we didn’t? Let us know in the comments section – we’d absolutely LOVE to hear from you!
If you’re looking for more party inspiration, go-to seasonal ideas and positive posts, have a read of this post here and follow us on Instagram @cotierbrand
