Co-Ed shower in the winter?

egraves4 · August 2015

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas for Co-Ed showers near the end of November? I live in the south so it may not be crazy cold, but any ideas I have seen have been based on a BBQ theme... Something we could do inside, but not as fun.

Just looking for any additional ideas I haven't been able to find!

saltedcaramelgelatos · August 2015

egraves4 said:
Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas for Co-Ed showers near the end of November? I live in the south so it may not be crazy cold, but any ideas I have seen have been based on a BBQ theme... Something we could do inside, but not as fun.

Just looking for any additional ideas I haven't been able to find!

I don't understand the question. Are you looking for ideas that are less fun than a BBQ? Ideas that are indoors or out?

Honestly, my H and his friends would rather lick a toilet seat than go to a baby shower so unless it was disguised as a BBQ football party, it just wouldn't go over well.

Why not ask your SO for ideas of what he would like?

wassuphoes · August 2015

So is this a shower like a traditional shower except dudes will be there or is this just a party that your are calling a shower because people are more likely to attend a "baby" event then a normal get together?

egraves4 · August 2015

Uhhh...? It's a baby shower.

A lot of my SO's friends have showed interest in coming to the shower so we have decided to have a co-Ed one. We're looking for a theme. BBQ is awesome, but our shower is going to be in late November, which may be difficult to do since it won't be outdoors. However, we may just end up having one that is inside. I was just looking for better ideas, Pinterest wasn't helping much.

CCasey2015 · August 2015

egraves4 said:
Uhhh...? It's a baby shower.

A lot of my SO's friends have showed interest in coming to the shower so we have decided to have a co-Ed one. We're looking for a theme. BBQ is awesome, but our shower is going to be in late November, which may be difficult to do since it won't be outdoors. However, we may just end up having one that is inside. I was just looking for better ideas, Pinterest wasn't helping much.

You can just have a co-ed baby shower then with the normal baby themes. When you ask about what other themes you can do (such as the BBQ) it makes it seem like you're trying to have some other type of party.

wassuphoes · August 2015

egraves4 said:

Uhhh...? It's a baby shower. A lot of my SO's friends have showed interest in coming to the shower so we have decided to have a co-Ed one. We're looking for a theme. BBQ is awesome, but our shower is going to be in late November, which may be difficult to do since it won't be outdoors. However, we may just end up having one that is inside. I was just looking for better ideas, Pinterest wasn't helping much.

I would suggest Babies as the theme.

More specifically, I see a lot of baby showers use whatever theme the nursery uses, or something just cute and generic (Pumpkins! Buttons! Stork! Color!) etc. or something the parents to be like (Football! Books! Food!)

On a semi related note, you shouldn't throw your own shower. Showers are a gift giving event and it is rude to hold a gift giving event in honor of yourself. That said a lot of people get all offended and claim that showers are really "About celebrating the baby with friends and family, not gifts" So, if that's the case, cool, pick a theme and don't call it a shower.

saltedcaramelgelatos · August 2015

Honestly, this is something your hostess should be handling. It's really up to them to decide whether it's co-ed and what theme, etc.

MyCousinVinny · August 2015

saltedcaramelgelatos said:

Honestly, this is something your hostess should be handling. It's really up to them to decide whether it's co-ed and what theme, etc.

I agree.

However, I just wanted to throw out that the shower I threw for my sister was "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and took place in early December.

jennylynn103 · August 2015

For food, maybe a chili bar where you have a couple different types of chili (regular, chicken, veggie) and the guests can put their toppings of choice (cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, scallions, etc.)?

neverblushed · August 2015

Not to be a spoil-sport, but do you really need "ideas?" Just lay on the usual party food that people like (BBQ, sandwiches, finger foods, salads, desserts) and have a party. At some point during the party, have the parents-to-be open gifts.

I'm assuming, of course, that you're the hostess planning this for someone else, and not planning your own shower.

egraves4 · August 2015

My mom and MIL are planning the shower's details but they asked me if there was any type of theme I wanted to have. I totally understand the whole not throwing my own, not gonna happen, just wanted my input

As for whether a theme is needed or not, I guess it isn't. I've honestly only been to one other shower (I'm the first of my friends to have a baby) and they had a nautical theme because that's what she picked out for the nursery. Honestly, I'm the last person to ask how to throw a shower, I have a lot to learn. As it was a request from SO to have a co-Ed one, our moms thought it was best to get our opinions since I've no idea what the differences would even be.

fwtx5815 · August 2015

egraves4 said:
My mom and MIL are planning the shower's details but they asked me if there was any type of theme I wanted to have. I totally understand the whole not throwing my own, not gonna happen, just wanted my input

As for whether a theme is needed or not, I guess it isn't. I've honestly only been to one other shower (I'm the first of my friends to have a baby) and they had a nautical theme because that's what she picked out for the nursery. Honestly, I'm the last person to ask how to throw a shower, I have a lot to learn. As it was a request from SO to have a co-Ed one, our moms thought it was best to get our opinions since I've no idea what the differences would even be.

Glad to hear you aren't throwing your own.

I would ask to skip shower games if they're planning any. As a woman, I wouldn't even want to play games if I were at an all-female shower, but I think men especially would appreciate just hanging out and eating and drinking.

Good food and drinks trump a cute theme any day. If you can find a way to make BBQ work, that would be a nice change up for late November.

cseley321 · August 2015

Usually when you get into themes for decorations, that just makes it more expensive and difficult on the hostess(es)... I would just suggest colors or something and let them use their imagination on the decorating. If they can fit in a theme, great. Otherwise, it can start to get pricey.

Regarding the co-ed shower, as a PP suggested, just regular party foods should be nice. You can have BBQ at the shower (brisket, sausage, beans, etc.) as well as snack foods even if you aren't grilling outside due to the weather.

Also I would urge against the games if it's a co-ed. Best of luck to you guys.

Designermomma · August 2015

I co-hosted a co-ed shower in February and it was the theme of her nursery (Snoopy). We just had sandwiches, fruit, cheese and crackers and cake. We played 1 game (Price is Right) and I had diapers for everyone to write funny things on as they felt like it. It turned out good. You don't need to do anything special just because it's co-ed. Just confirm the max head count with your host. Co-ed numbers can get out of control. We went from 30 ppl to 70 really fast and we were not prepared for that.

neverblushed · August 2015

egraves4 said:

My mom and MIL are planning the shower's details but they asked me if there was any type of theme I wanted to have. I totally understand the whole not throwing my own, not gonna happen, just wanted my input As for whether a theme is needed or not, I guess it isn't. I've honestly only been to one other shower (I'm the first of my friends to have a baby) and they had a nautical theme because that's what she picked out for the nursery. Honestly, I'm the last person to ask how to throw a shower, I have a lot to learn. As it was a request from SO to have a co-Ed one, our moms thought it was best to get our opinions since I've no idea what the differences would even be.

Okay, sounds good.

When I have hosted traditional "women only" showers, I usually try to keep the invites, paper products, and any decorations to a color or a theme. If the MTB has a nursery theme picked out, or there's something that makes sense given the parents' lifestyle, I'll go with that. (Example: boats for a couple who enjoy sailing; paper lantern decorations for a mom adopting from South Korea.) But I don't go Pinterest-bonkers about it. The notion that showers MUST have an elaborate, cutesy theme is a Pinterest phenomenon, not reality.

If you're having a co-ed shower, you're already kind of saying that you don't want the traditional shower trappings. Just reassure your mom and MIL that a nice gathering of friends and family will be just fine.

Disneygeek77 · August 2015

Maybe suggest a chili/ soup bar or a taco bar or a baked potato bar.

DrillSergeantCat · August 2015

Disneygeek77 said:

Maybe suggest a chili/ soup bar or a taco bar or a baked potato bar.

I ate lunch 2 hours ago and now I want a baked potato with chili in it.

Dannylion24 · August 2015

Chilli bar, pizza bar, nacho bar, baked potato bar, taco bar, hotdog bar, sundae bar ... All seem like great ideas for a coed shower!

egraves4 · August 2015

Thank you so much everyone for all the advice!

dramaphile · August 2015

Depending on the ages/mix of your SO's friends who come, baby shower games can be fun for guys if they're the type who might be interested. Things like trying to chug beer from a baby bottle, making the boys taste different types of baby food and guess what they are (bonus for getting the weird meat baby food), etc. really depends on the crowd, though. N

But just having a fun party (maybe centered around watching a game if you're big football fans) is a great idea, too. Serve game-day snacks like nachos and wings and guacamole. It's nice your SO wants to be included, my
DH was offered the chance to have a co-Ed shower and decided he wanted to just hang with his dudes at a brewery while the ladies had a shower for me. Not baby-related, but my sister's husband's family threw them a co-Ed wedding shower that was fiesta-themed, complete with tasty tacos and Mexican dishes, margaritas, and a festive photo station.

Disneygeek77 · August 2015

Oohh yeah a pizza bar. Maybe you can have different types of home made French Bread Pizza to choose from ?

Theliops · August 2015

Our co-ed shower will be at a local bar/restaurant! It'll be more of an open house, no games, just show up and visit and have some finger foods. Also the fact that it's at a bar the guys could have a Guinness or draught beer.

I'm very anti-traditional baby shower and insisted it be a co-ed, guy friendly party, so my husband and our guy friends could be included too.

egraves4 · August 2015

@Dannylion24 Love the idea of the football game! HUGE college football fan and my shower will be the day of one of the smaller games... hmmm.... lol

@Theliops Thanks for the great idea! We have a lot of friends in all different places and it's good to get some different ideas, especially because it will be a pretty big friend reunion.

satuttle1014 · August 2015

I would not make my husband sit through a baby shower since he would just complain or say "this is women stuff" I said my mom and I were starting to plan my shower and he was like "do I get anything" and I suggested a Beer and Diapers party for him. We provide the beer/alcohol and the men bring diapers instead of beer and then less diapers for us purchase

SouthernCharmedLife · August 2015

satuttle1014 said:
I would not make my husband sit through a baby shower since he would just complain or say "this is women stuff" I said my mom and I were starting to plan my shower and he was like "do I get anything" and I suggested a Beer and Diapers party for him. We provide the beer/alcohol and the men bring diapers instead of beer and then less diapers for us purchase

For what it's worth, this is not an event you should be throwing for your H, since you're asking for gifts.

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