Couples Baby Shower?

[MSSANDRA]

Very regional. I think I have been to one couples shower and NEVER had a meal served or hosted a meal shower. What I would do is make sure the parents know that you have a budget and that they can invite more people with less food, or less people and more food. Just the way it is. You can certainly do the same basic foods for couples. Just make the cake a little less feminine or do cup cake and do some guy and some girl. Cup cakes are huge here anyway. Skip the cute sandwiches and maybe do a slightly more hearty dip or two. If you want more of a meal, maybe subs, a pasta dish or pulled pork. Limit it to one or two sides and no alcohol. Tea, and lemon-aid is a budget friendly choice. Maybe skip the punch.

Do all the same silly funny games and try to keep everyone together, and I would beg my DH to stay around and help out a bit too.

 

[honeybunches]

Around here a baby shower is just cake, punch, and a few finger foods (usually a fruit tray and chips/dip). Don't allow your SIL to bully you into something more than you had planned. If you do device to go with more of a meal, maybe consider pizza (Little Caesars has the $5 large) or precook end hot wings from Sam's Club ($15 a bag).

 

[mjkacmom]

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

I can't tell if you are kidding, but I would NOT do silly party games at a shower with men (actually, I wouldn't do them regardless, but they are rarely done here - most baby showers are for women in their late 20's/earlly 30's).

ETA - I've never been to a shower without a meal served. Most are held at restaurants, but even the home showers offer a meal. My showers were very simple - home showers, nice sandwiches and salads, mimosas, chocolate covered strawberries, cake...

 

[angierae]

It must be a regional thing because I have never attended a shower - baby or wedding - that didn't serve a meal of some sort. It was usually buffet and multiple people contributed to the food.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

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--it is very out of the norm in my area to go to a bridal or baby shower and not have a meal, even if it's something simple. Apps and cake would be seen as skimpy.

I completely agree with this recommendation--have a simple BBQ and serve a cheap sheet cake. I love Costco cakes (they are 17-18 bucks)--I picked one up for my bridal and baby showers and they went over very well.

I would NOT tell her that a couples shower is out of the question--I'd find a way to make it work. For a couples shower, I don't think I'd do a ton of cutsey games, so I'd focus my budget on the food. And I would also expect more family members to pitch in on the food.

 

[hlg22]

I can't tell if you are kidding, but I would NOT do silly party games at a shower with men (actually, I wouldn't do them regardless, but they are rarely done here - most baby showers are for women in their late 20's/earlly 30's).

I'm not a fan of the silly party games in general (the diaper game is absolutely disgusting, and I've never met a pregnant woman who wants people guessing her girth), and definitely not for a co-ed shower. I've been to a couple of co-ed showers, and the guys were uncomfortable enough without playing ridiculous cutesy games. One or two will have been dragged there by a SO pressuring for marriage or a baby, but honestly, no guy really wants to go to a baby shower and sit around watching a pregnant woman opening gifts of breast pumps and nipple cream. The co-ed showers I've been to that were most successful were just nice BBQs or cocktail/mocktail parties.

 

[TLuvsD]

I would generally serve a meal of some sort. But the OP has a budget, was planning a more traditional shower and may be sort of stuck. If that's the case, something has to give--and I don't think it should be her budget. Get others to contribute food items, go with heavy appetizers, and don't do a lot of games.