Couples Baby Shower?

[ICan'tWait]

Posting here because this is stressing my Disney budget. I offered to help host a baby shower with my SIL for my nephew's fiance. SIL asked about a couples baby shower but I said that wasn't what I had planned to my SIL. This was never passed on to the expectant mom who I've now learned has prepared an invitation list for a couples shower. I had originally expected to do a cake and a few appetizers. Feeding a group of young guys was not planned $$$. I know SIL has no money and I'll be paying for most everything. Is there any polite way to say I just can't afford a couples shower? Is it okay to stick to what I had originally planned with a cake and a few appetizers even though there will now be a group of guys in their early 20s? Neither my SIL's husband nor my husband will attend which just makes the whole thing awkward. Anybody out there hosted a couples shower? What did you do?

 

[ddwwelsh]

There are some relatively easy and inexpensive things that you can prepare that will go a long way with guys.
You can always make sloppy Joe or steamers. I usually have a crock full of brats or hot dogs. Folks will make their own sloppy Joes or chili dogs.

And...you can also have the fixins for nachos (cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, etc.) and the meat can be used for that, too.

The Buffalo Chicken dip is always popular, and it can be served in a crock, as well. Throw in some small rolls, tortilla chips, and/or pita chips, and there's another easy option.

Add a veggie tray with some hummus and dip, and you should be covered. The cake can be the sweet ending.

Good luck.

 

[chris31997]

When we have done Couples Baby Shower, it is usually a barbque.

I would stick with dips/chips, meatballs, mini sausages, fruit, cheese, and veggie trays.

I would also see if MIL can help or if nephew or finance's Mom can help.


Another option would be to host it at say 2pm for cake and drinks.


I would also find the craziest games, how fast they can drink something from a bottle, id melted candy bars in a diaper

 

[diamondpixienc]

When we have done Couples Baby Shower, it is usually a barbque.

I would stick with dips/chips, meatballs, mini sausages, fruit, cheese, and veggie trays.

I would also see if MIL can help or if nephew or finance's Mom can help.

Another option would be to host it at say 2pm for cake and drinks.

I would also find the craziest games, how fast they can drink something from a bottle, id melted candy bars in a diaper

I second ^This^ and also just be honest and ask for some help. "Hey,______ i love those x you make do you think you whip up a batch for the shower" get it ;0)

 

[luvmy3]

It was very nice of you to offer to help your SIL host the shower, I would just be honest and let her know what you planned to do, and exactly what you can afford to do for her, and what you are willing to do. Telling her the truth isn't impolite, and if she is the type of person who feels it is, then (if it were me) I'd let her know that she can plan her own child's shower herself.
Does the SIL have other children she can ask to help or are you the only person she has?

Like the pp mentioned there are some very inexpensive ways to feed a group of people, things like chili, ziti, so you could offer to do something like that instead of appetizers.

 

[brymolmom]

I would do it as asked...But make sure to ask your SIL to help...As many have said - there are plenty of inexpensive things that she could make and since she volunteered to host it, I'm guessing she planned on at least SOME costs. So make a menu list of inexpensive things and then split them up. Are you planning on alcohol? I would think this would e the biggest expense with a larger group.

But I think appetizers and a cake would be fine - even with men in the mix.

Also - Do you have a few close friends/relatives who you could ask (or they might even ask you) to bring a dish? Personally, in my family this would be a no-brainer and everyone would be asking to bring something. Don't be afraid to say 'That would be great - thanks'.

 

[worm761]

What is your budget for the party? I host Thanksgiving for a group of sailors every year. These guys can EAT! Especially homemade food! The whole meal (apps, turkey, ham, ton of sides, sodas, and desserts) generally costs me around $200 to feed. But I make almost everything from scratch.

If you can cook from scratch, I have an amazing hot chicken dip recipe that the guys can't get enough of. Not very expensive to make and it goes fast. I can PM you if you would like.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

What is your budget for the party? I host Thanksgiving for a group of sailors every year. These guys can EAT! Especially homemade food! The whole meal (apps, turkey, ham, ton of sides, sodas, and desserts) generally costs me around $200 to feed. But I make almost everything from scratch.

If you can cook from scratch, I have an amazing hot chicken dip recipe that the guys can't get enough of. Not very expensive to make and it goes fast. I can PM you if you would like.

Can you PM the recipe to me, please?

 

[worm761]

Can you PM the recipe to me, please?

Sent! Hope you like it!

 

[Tinkermommy]

What is your budget for the party? I host Thanksgiving for a group of sailors every year. These guys can EAT! Especially homemade food! The whole meal (apps, turkey, ham, ton of sides, sodas, and desserts) generally costs me around $200 to feed. But I make almost everything from scratch.

If you can cook from scratch, I have an amazing hot chicken dip recipe that the guys can't get enough of. Not very expensive to make and it goes fast. I can PM you if you would like.

I would like this as well. Perhaps you can just post it?

Sounds yummy!

 

[wiigirl]

I second ^This^ and also just be honest and ask for some help. "Hey,______ i love those x you make do you think you whip up a batch for the shower" get it ;0)

Sneaky!

 

[Disneychix]

I had to host/attend a couples baby shower once and what happened was all the guys hung out in the backyard and drank and the ladies hung out and had cake.

I 'think' we might've turned it into a BYOB thing. Maybe, since it is for the guys too you can have a BYOB or bring a dish?

Can you have SIL ask the fiancé what she is thinking to 'experience' at the shower? Maybe this is popular with her friends and all they are expecting is chips and dip and drinks?

 

[Styx Fan]

It sounds like you are just plain not comfortable with a couples shower. And there is nothing wrong with that. If I were in your shoes, I would not be pushed into hosting an event different than what you planned.

I would simply tell your SIL a couples shower is not something you are interested in hosting. She can then ask expectant mom to modify her guest list to be only women...and perhaps the father. You are kind to be hosting and footing most of the bill. If the mother-to-be and the father want a couples shower, perhaps one of their friends could host one.

 

[worm761]

I would like this as well. Perhaps you can just post it?

Sounds yummy!

Here ya go!

This is called Jalapeno Chicken though it is not hot and you can leave the jalapenos out and it is still good. It is also a pseudo recipe. I never measure.

Shredded chicken (I shred a whole chicken)
A large container of sour cream
a bag of shredded cheddar (I shred an 8 oz block)
diced jalapenos
frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained well)

Shred your chicken, add in the spinach, a few spoonfuls of the jalapeno (how much depends on how hot you like it), mix in the sour cream and add the cheese. I then heat it in the oven at 350 for around 20-30 minutes until hot.

For holidays/hosting events, I keep it hot in a crockpot. I serve with tortilla chips. We like the bowls. For Thanksgiving I make a double batch since the guys eat it up first. This freezes well too.

I hope you like it!

 

[ceecee]

I would do it as asked...But make sure to ask your SIL to help...As many have said - there are plenty of inexpensive things that she could make and since she volunteered to host it, I'm guessing she planned on at least SOME costs. So make a menu list of inexpensive things and then split them up. Are you planning on alcohol? I would think this would e the biggest expense with a larger group.

But I think appetizers and a cake would be fine - even with men in the mix.

Also - Do you have a few close friends/relatives who you could ask (or they might even ask you) to bring a dish? Personally, in my family this would be a no-brainer and everyone would be asking to bring something. Don't be afraid to say 'That would be great - thanks'.

Perfect! Do this, don't stress you can still do it on the cheap. There are tons of cheap foods to make, then get some large sheet cakes from Sam's if you really want to go cheap. You don't have to serve beer, etc. I have yet to go to a baby shower (even couples) that did.

 

[scrapquitler]

Posting here because this is stressing my Disney budget. I offered to help host a baby shower with my SIL for my nephew's fiance. SIL asked about a couples baby shower but I said that wasn't what I had planned to my SIL. This was never passed on to the expectant mom who I've now learned has prepared an invitation list for a couples shower. I had originally expected to do a cake and a few appetizers. Feeding a group of young guys was not planned $$$. I know SIL has no money and I'll be paying for most everything. Is there any polite way to say I just can't afford a couples shower? Is it okay to stick to what I had originally planned with a cake and a few appetizers even though there will now be a group of guys in their early 20s? Neither my SIL's husband nor my husband will attend which just makes the whole thing awkward. Anybody out there hosted a couples shower? What did you do?

I would ask a few people (sisters, moms, close friend) to bring a couple of apps and just carry on as you had planned. It's not wrong to ask for help.

 

[mrsklamc]

You did not offer to host a couples' shower. Don't let them bully you.

 

[TLuvsD]

If the invitations haven't been sent, remind SIL and the expectant mom that you are hosting a traditional baby shower. And set it for 2pm or so.

If the invitations have gone out/or you can't do that...set it for 2pm, serve what you were planning with the addition of the hot chicken dip or sloppy joes (get those slider size rolls, not hamburger buns). Assign a dish or two to your SIL. Remind SIL and nephew that you were planning a traditional shower, so they need to step up. Do a few games, open the gifts, get it all done in a couple of hours. No one needs/expects a meal mid-afternoon.

 

[aprilgail2]

No one needs/expects a meal mid-afternoon.

That is VERY regional- here you get a meal no matter what time of day your party is. Either a sit down meal or a buffet meal but you get some type of meal. Perhaps its not that way where the OP is and they can get away with less then I would just have a BBQ if it was guys and girls, throw on some hot dogs, burgers, chicken and have some cold salads and a sheet cake from Costco-those cakes are less than 20.00!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

That is VERY regional- here you get a meal no matter what time of day your party is. Either a sit down meal or a buffet meal but you get some type of meal. Perhaps its not that way where the OP is and they can get away with less then I would just have a BBQ if it was guys and girls, throw on some hot dogs, burgers, chicken and have some cold salads and a sheet cake from Costco-those cakes are less than 20.00!

I agree. I don't think I could ever have people over and not serve food. Not just apps but real food. If I couldn't afford a lot, I'd make baked ziti, order a variety of hoagies (subs) and cut into 1.5-2" pieces to make a platter then salad, pasta salad, burgers & hot dogs, chips & dips, etc. That's a bare minimum. Maybe add shrimp cocktail if I felt like it.

Most of my coworkers in Philly would have it catered.