Looking for the best places to host a baby shower? These baby shower venues will be sure to impress your guests and give you the baby shower of your dreams! This post may contain affiliate links.
Finding the best places to have a baby shower can be tough. Now that there are more in-person baby showers (versus the virtual baby shower that the pandemic brought us), many new parents are scrambling to find a location to celebrate their new baby’s arrival.
I also think we’ll see more baby sprinkles starting to happen. Many parents missed out on having a baby shower with their first pregnancy and want to experience a traditional baby shower with their second. I totally, get that – baby showers are so fun and exciting!
These are 18 unique ideas for the best place to have a baby shower or baby sprinkle. Depending on the size of your guest list and the season you plan to celebrate, hopefully one or two of these ideas sound interesting to you.
No matter which of these baby shower locations you choose, your guests will have a good time celebrating your sweet bundle of joy!
Related baby shower posts: Best Baby Shower Food Ideas for Lunch and What To Write On A Baby Shower Cake
Best places to host a baby shower
1. Botanical garden
Botanical gardens are a great place to have a baby shower! They can often rented for a small fee or have a designated party area that you can invite your guests to.
The best part about this beautiful venue is you won’t require much decoration. Your guests will enjoy the gorgeous gardens instead!
The only con? Depending on your venue, it could be weather dependent. Make sure you have tents available or a lodge to go to if the weather looks crummy that day.
2. Restaurant
I think restaurants are one of the best places to have a baby shower because of how easy it is to host there. Most of the work is done by the staff at the restaurant!
It’s no secret why it’s a popular place for a shower: all of the cooking, cleaning and preparation is taken care of for you! I’m all for doing things that make life easier. All you need to do is show up ready to be showered with love.
The hard part of having a restaurant hosted shower is the cost. Depending on the size of the guest list, you may be looking at a few hundred dollars just in food. Most restaurants charge $20-30 per person, whether it be a plated meal or buffet style. A fancy restaurant may even charge upwards of $100 per person!
Oftentimes doing a brunch menu is a little more affordable. Your guests can sip mimosas and enjoy food items like quiche and pastries to cut costs a little bit.
Look around for a unique restaurant style like dessert bars, independent coffee shops, or even a tea room. Many of these places offer a unique baby shower venue that feels more intimate and romantic than a party room. Sometimes the best places are the small ones you’ve never heard of before!
If that really isn’t your style, call your favorite restaurant and see if they have a private dining room. There are often designated areas reserved for parties that are staffed by servers that are only there for your guests.
Smaller restaurants may even let you rent the whole restaurant in off-times. Places that are only open for dinner may allow you to rent during the morning or afternoon.
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3. Park lodge
Park lodges are a really good option for those sticking to a budget. This is the best option for those that are expecting a large crowd without a large budget.
If you look around, you may even find a free option. That’s right – you can host a baby shower for free at some park lodges! This may mean you arrive a few hours early to reserve your spot, but it can be totally worth it for an inexpensive baby shower venue.
The nice thing about park lodges is they are a blank canvas – you can really dress the place up to your style.
It takes a lot more effort to have a baby shower in a park lodge since all of the food, drink, and decor will have to be done by the host. Don’t let that deter you from checking them out – you can have an amazing baby shower at a park lodge!
Find a good caterer and ask a few close friends to help you get everything set up. You can contact rental companies for things like tables, chairs, or an outdoor tent.
Check out a local park to see if the vibe fits your vision. They are great for an outdoor venue but make sure you have easy access to a covered lodge with picnic tables.
4. Fire hall
Many fire halls have banquet rooms or an event space that can be rented to the public. It brings in money to the fire station and helps support your local heroes!
Fire halls are a very cost effective option. You will likely need catering from a licensed facility and usually they do not permit alcohol – both of those rules are for the safety of the guests and fire halls.
Fire halls are definitely more industrial-looking than other options, but hey, maybe that’s just your style!
5. Banquet hall
Banquet halls are another great place to host a baby shower. They vary in price and offerings – some may have tables and chairs ready to use while others will point you toward a rental company.
Think about places that others have hosted events like bridal showers, a family reunion, proms, work events, or other special occasions. These venues are also a good place for a baby shower.
6. Someone’s house
What about using someone’s house for the party? Using someone’s home is the best baby shower venue for a smaller guest list. Plus, it’s a totally free place to have a baby shower. You’ll just need to feed your guests!
Depending on the number of guests, you may be able to fit everyone into someone’s living room. For a larger guest list, rent an outdoor tent and some tables and chairs.
There are tons of unique catering options available, too. You can do something buffet-style or even try food stations. You can even ask close family members to bring a dish to serve or serve up a variety of finger foods.
Using someone’s home is a great way to have an intimate baby shower. I think that someone’s home is often the best baby shower venue since people often feel more comfortable and relaxed.
7. Hotel ballroom/restaurant
One of the best places to host a baby shower is a nice hotel. Using a hotel ballroom or the hotel restaurant is a great option, especially if you have a large guest list. The staff sets up and takes down and may even have decor that you can use. Hotel ballrooms are usually a very classy venue.
Parking is also great at a hotel. Some may even have valet. This is a huge plus if you’ll have a lot of elderly guests.
The cons? They tend to be pretty pricey. Whether you are having a plated meal, meal stations or a buffet, you are likely looking at $30 per person.
To make it more worth your while, pick a hotel you’d like to have a mini-babymoon at. Sometimes renting a hotel room helps with the cost!
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8. Country club
If you are a member of a country club, then why not use their private rooms?
If you aren’t a member, don’t worry. Many country clubs let you host if you aren’t members with an added fee. Some clubs may ask you to find a sponsor, so ask around to see if anyone you know is a member.
Country clubs are upscale and elegant option. They can usually host a large crowd and the food will be excellent since they are used to hosting big events.
Another pro is that food and setup and takedown are taken care of for you. The club will be beautifully decorated and have a very modern feel. I think Country Clubs are a perfect venue for a baby shower!
9. Church hall
Many churches have a meeting room that you can host small receptions in. These rooms are usually very affordable, but you must bring your own supplies.
Depending on the church, they may have tables and chairs and some small catering appliances available to you. This can help cut down costs, especially if you are bringing the food yourself.
Church rooms could be a free place to have a baby shower. If you are a member of the church, you may be able to use the church hall for little to know money.
10. Social clubs
Do you or any close friends below to a social club? Think pool clubs, athletic clubs, yacht clubs…
Any of these can be a really perfect place for a baby shower! They typically have an area they use for events.
Depending on whichever you choose, the price may vary. You may have to pay an additional charge if you aren’t a member.
The great thing is these are more unique locations and others may have never attended an event there before!
11. Museum
Many museums have party rooms for corporate events and birthday parties. They can also be rented out for a baby shower!
Typically they come with guest admission to the museum during or after the party. You will have to have it catered which can make things more costly, but the venue will most likely assign staff to help with serving and preparing the room for your event.
Museums are a very unique place to host a baby shower. Depending on the type of museum you choose, the venue will be decorated in theme. It will be a baby shower that people talk about for a long time!
12. Painting business
Think “painting with a twist” or a place where you can decorate pottery.
A venue like this is good for smaller showers. You can ask guests to paint something for the baby or you can have guests take home what they create.
Either way, this is another very unique place for a baby shower that is a ton of fun. No need for awkward baby shower games – your guests can keep busy with their art!
Related: Best Baby Shower Food Ideas For Lunch
13. Beach
Beach baby showers are very casual. It’s definitely one of the more unique baby shower venues on the list!
You can have them catered, can grill on the beach for your guests, or just provide light food and drink.
The cons? Beach parties are obviously weather dependent. Have a backup plan, like a covered lodge nearby that you can use if needed.
How cute would a “Belly on the beach” theme be? It would be great for a co-ed shower since there will be so much space. Plan to play beach games and make a day out of the ocean!
14. Pumpkin patch/apple orchard
Maybe this is the Upstate New York in me, but I love going to a farm in Autumn.
Pumpkin patches and apple orchards are good for fall baby showers. They are already beautifully decorated and totally charming.
Family-owned farms and orchards often do private parties. They may have a catering menu or vendors that they like to work with. Your menu could be really unique (think apple cider donuts and fresh apple cider).
This is probably the most family-friendly place to have a baby shower since there are typically things for all ages to participate in. It would also be a unique place to have a baby shower, especially for out-of-town guests that have never visited an apple orchard or pumpkin patch before.
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15. Hotel pool
Did you know you can host a small event at a hotel pool if you rent a room?
Most hotels are totally cool with this as long as you don’t make a huge fuss or have a large gathering. There may even be a club house available to rent.
You’ll need to keep the menu simple and easy, whether you order pizza or order to the pool from the hotel restaurant.
The hard part? You may be sharing the space with other hotel guests. As long as you’re cool with that, this is a really great option!
16. Community center
Your local community center is another good venue. Depending on the events that are typically hosted there, they may have a lot available for you to use. It will likely be a more intimate setting since the private party rooms are usually not very large. The important thing is getting all of your close friends and family gathered to celebrate your new baby!
17. Winery
Sure, the pregnant mom-to-be can’t participate. But there are other lovely parts about choosing a baby shower venue at a winery!
Wineries often have unique offerings like special menus, beautiful vistas, and a large space to hold an event.
If your crowd would be into a wine tour, try hosting your baby shower at a winery. Many have non-alcoholic drinks or “mocktails” for the guest of honor.
18. Brewery
Another one that the pregnant person can’t join in on, but breweries often have special alcohol-free menus.
Many breweries offer tours and will show the beer making process. This would be a great idea for a co-ed shower as well as there are often games to play (think corn hole or Kan Jam.)
When to host a baby shower
It’s best to host a baby shower towards the end of a pregnancy. By that point, you will know baby’s gender if you want to and will have had time to decide what you need for the baby.
Anywhere from 26 weeks to 36 weeks pregnant is a good time to host a baby shower. You can go later than 36 weeks, but you are risking having the baby attend as well!
Cost of a baby shower
Baby showers cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Baby showers and baby sprinkles are typically 2-3 hours long.
Much of the cost depends on how many guests are attending, of course. Whoever is hosting is in charge of the bulk of the cost. The host can ask close friends and family to help with food, drinks, or decoration to make the party both special and affordable.
It’s becoming more and more common for the expectant parents to host their own shower, however, the shower is usually hosted by family, friends, or coworkers. There may even be several people hosting one shower!
I hope you have so much fun celebrating the arrival of your sweet baby!
I hope these ideas for best places to host a baby shower will help you plan the shower of your dreams!
