By Kelly Postiglione from Sound Shore Moms
I thought I was hosting the perfect backyard baby shower for my sister. You know the one: Light breeze, sunny, everyone outside sitting at beautifully set tables where everyone has a seat. The forecast literally said 70s all week… until it didn’t. A few days before the event, it flipped to rain and 40s. Classic New York spring.
The entire event had to be re-planned and it made me realize that hosting at home does not have to be a whole production. You don’t need formal seating, perfect weather, or even a theme. (I say that as someone who does love a good theme and an aesthetic table moment.) But the more low key you keep it, the more relaxed it feels for everyone. So here are my thoughts on everything you don’t need when hosting at home, plus a few simple things that made a big difference.
You don’t need a theme
We didn’t do a theme, just colors. After going through a list of spring baby shower themes, nothing really felt like the perfect fit for my sister’s personality and it started to be stressful finding something that wasn’t totally cheesy or overdone. So we decided on “Blue with a little green” and used those colors in the invitation. Close friends and family showed up in the colors and that became part of the decor without me doing anything extra.
You don’t need a ton of decor or to decorate the whole house
I kept it really simple and used what we already had. I hung up a few blue and green onesies on a clothesline over the fireplace that my kids used to wear. They were already in a bin I was giving to my sister so I used them as decor.
Then I picked a couple spots to decorate. We did a few flower arrangements in the blue and green color scheme and added the same flowers to a backdrop for photos. It pulled everything together without having to decorate every corner of the house. A few thoughtful moments ended up being more than enough!
You don’t need a packed schedule of games
We skipped the long lineup of games. We did one simple game and an advice card, and that was enough. People mostly just wanted to relax, catch up, and actually talk. It felt more like a really special gathering than a forced event.
You don’t need formal seating
This was the thing I stressed about the most, and it ended up being the least important. I had tables set up for everyone because I thought I had to, but most people didn’t even use them. We set up the food on the kitchen island, buffet style. People stood around the kitchen, sat on the couch, grabbed spots on the floor by the coffee table. It felt easy and natural, not assigned and formal and our guests were able to mingle more than they would have with assigned seating.
You don’t need to do it all yourself
We did a mix of foods to keep it manageable. My mom, my sisters, and I each made a couple easy salads and sides, then we ordered sandwiches and wraps. It didn’t feel like anyone was stuck cooking all day, and it kept us from over spending trying to cater everything. For dessert, we ordered donuts and my mom made the cake!
You don’t need favors
We went back and forth on this one and ultimately decided to skip them. Most favors end up getting left behind or thrown out anyway. No one missed them, and it was one less thing to think about.
You don’t need a bartender
We kept drinks simple. A mimosa bar, some wine, and sangria. Easy, self-serve, and still felt festive.
I think that was the biggest takeaway for me. You don’t need to overthink it to make it feel special. People aren’t coming for perfectly set tables or a full schedule. They’re coming to celebrate, to be together, to show up for someone they care about.
Even with the weather completely not cooperating, it all worked. Maybe even better because it forced me to let go of the “perfect” version I had in my head and actually be in the moment.
