What's the average cost of a shower?

Ski&Sail09

What do you think is resonable to spend on a friend for a baby shower?  I'm having a bit of a battle on this one.

 

mlkwmu

my dad is throwing me mine.  Cost of the food per person is $13 plus the cost of the cake, gifts, decorations.  I'll be having less than 40 people at mine.  I'm only inviting people who I'm close to and see often.

 

h2babe

I think it depends on how close you are to the mom-to be and how big the guest list is. I would say that if you offer to host one, you should be prepared to throw in a minimum of $100 (basic appetizers, drinks, favors, decors, cake, invite, and hosting it at someone's home). You also run the risk to end up being the only one hosting it--and take on the entire cost.

If you have other people who are hosting them w/ you, you may end up spending less--or spend the same amount of money and just have nicer stuff.

ToBeFrank

It depends on your financial situation and the type of event you want to host.

At $13 per person with a 50 person min at the place where my shower will be, I know it will cost at least $650. That's not including decorations, cake, prizes, etc. And there might even be a hall fee but I'm not sure.

Now I wouldn't spend that much and I'd feel odd about a friend spending that much as well. But it's hosted by family, that is the location they want, and they have the means to pay for it.

If I was throwing a shower for a friend I'd probably want to spend $300 total at this point in my life. But then again I insist on nice invites and good food so it would probably end up being more than that. But I could make $300 work if I really wanted to.

 

 

EastCoastBride

Most showers I've been to have been held at someones home.  All in all, I don't see how any of these showers would have cost more than $300 - at the most. 

K.a.T.e

Too many variables to answer this question

Depends on the time of day (food, etc) number of guests and number of hostesses. 

Temp36641187503164

My "big" shower (60 guests) cost around $600 and was hosted by 6 people.

It was at a nice neighborhood clubhouse and the rent was $80. The cake was made by DH's cousin for free and they made all of the food. It was great food as well - fresh fruit and veggies, a spiral sliced ham served w/ rolls & mustard, meatballs, sandwich roll ups, shrimp cocktail, cheese & crackers, etc. They also had cupcakes (made by them) to go along with the cake.

For drinks they had sweet tea & blue hawaiian punch served in crystal beverage dispensers along with water bottles with blue scrapbook paper as labels. They were going to have beer and wine (co-ed) but there were only a handfull of people coming that drink so they cut it out.

I host a lot of parties and have a million serving pieces and white table cloths so nothing had to be rented. They used white candles left over from my wedding along with white flower arangements that I have in my house (adding blue bows) and white rose wreaths from my sisters wedding (also with blue bows) to decorate with - the only "decor" bought was blue ribbon and 1 flower arrangement. Then the cost of plates, cups, napkins and favors (72 boxes from $tree 12/$1 with hershy's kisses tied with blue ribbon).

Anyway - this is very long winded, but it gives you an idea of how they cuts costs anyway they could.

The more guests, the lower the cost PP - when I throw a shower at my home, using a lot of the stuff I already have it costs around $2-250 for 20 people. That's with me making a cake or buying a simple one and decorating it with little money spent on decor (since I already have so much). I also make and print my own invites, so that cuts the cost a lot.

If you look in my bio the pink & brown shower for my sister was in my home, 25 guests and it costs $400. Many, many hours of hard work was put into and that cut down a lot on the cost.

The lingerie shower (fall/leaves - you can see the beverage dispensers) was for my friend and I spent $200 for 10 guests.

BarbieNCSU

This is definitely going to vary depending on how many people, where, time of day, etc.

Here are examples from ones that I have thrown recently-

Evening Coed Shower with Alcohol at someone home (35-40 people) - $500

Afternoon Shower hosted at my home full meal (20-25 people) - $400

Afternoon Shower at Lake Center light foods (20 people) - $600

Afternoon Shower at Condo Community Center light finger foods (20 people)- $350

So it definitely varies drastically depending on what factors come into play.

shortstuff15

I think the average cost in my circle of people is maybe $50?  I've only ever been to either home showers or church showers though (the church ones are held in the church basement) so venue is free, showers are always in the evening, so food is just simple (1 or 2 desserts that are either homemade or bought from the grocery store) and decor is usually borrowed.  So mainly it depends on what kind of food the host is serving.  Oh yeah, and invites are non-existant as it's always word of mouth and announced in church.  There can be anywhere from 25 to 60 people at a shower.

DaniLovesPink

You can do it for $100, if you host at someone's home and do cake and punch, a few easy games, DIY favors and minimal decorations.

 

You can do it for over $1,000 if you host at a venue, provide a full meal and provide expensive prizes, favors and decorations.

jiffy-pop

We are throwing one at work and it adds up to be about $100 with decor and food.

mysticporter

DaniLovesPink:

You can do it for $100, if you host at someone's home and do cake and punch, a few easy games, DIY favors and minimal decorations.

 

You can do it for over $1,000 if you host at a venue, provide a full meal and provide expensive prizes, favors and decorations.

 

This.  The 'norm' amongst my friend group for showers is at someone's house, nothing too crazy in terms of decor, and appetizers/desert/drinks, so more toward the $100-200 range. Also depends a lot on the number of people, most of the ones I've been to have had on the order of 10-30 people.

Ski&Sail09

Thank you. This helps!!

hopefulmom

I think the average depends on many things (number of guests, location as in high/low COL, location as in home/restaurant/banquet facility, and food).  I've actually hosted a shower and spent about $50.  It was only for 16 people, got invites and decorations from the $ store, made mastaccoli, salad and bread sticks for lunch, bought a 1/4 sheet cake from Costco, and made cookies for favors, got lottery tickets for prizes, and it was at my home.  I've also spent over $500.  Spent $75 on a community room, spent about $250 on food (catered), and the rest on decorations, pirzes, invites, etc. and that was for 40 people.

redprincess

I've spent abt $1000 on a bridal shower, hosted at someone's house, but my mother-in-law made all the food, rented tables and chairs, centerpieces, favors and invites.  I made the favors and invites, so saved money there.  About 40 people.

 

ambergrrtt

I am planning a shower for my best friend. I have spent about $65 so far for 40 people. I am making my own invites with cardstock and scrapbook paper which saved a lot of money. I spent a total of $15 for those. Food wise i would do just finger foods like a cheese tray or veggie tray. I am making the cake and cupcakes myself so this will save money also. My best advice is to look in your own budget and figure out how much money you can spare but I think $300 should be the maximum.