We are currently living in a strange time full of social distancing and masks. Large events are banned in many locations, and masks are almost mandatory everywhere. A gender reveal party is a huge thing these days, and just because there are new rules and regulations that we have to follow, it doesn’t mean you still can’t have a good time with a memorable reveal party!
Knowing the Gender
First thing is first… You need to know the gender of your baby. Ironic for a reveal party, right? Well, someone has to know! After about 18 to 20 weeks, the sex of your baby can be determined by a technician with an ultrasound. Make sure you let them know ahead of time that you do NOT want to know the sex of the baby. Have them write the gender on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope.
Planning the Party Details
Now you have to figure out how you want the reveal to go. The sky is the limit with how you want this to happen. You can do cupcakes or a cake with pink or blue frosting in the middle, pop a balloon that has pink or blue powder or confetti in it, and so on! I saw a few videos online where people have tires that give off a certain color smoke when someone does a burnout.
Once you figure out what you want to do, you have to give that envelope to someone who is going to deliver that product: baker, friend, tire shop, and so on. Tell them you are having a gender reveal party, and that you want whatever the thing you are getting to be able to show pink for a girl, or blue for a boy. Of course, remind them that you do not want to know!
While this will be a surprise to you, you of course want it to be a surprise to as many other people as possible too. I would suggest limiting the number of people you tell. Obviously, if you need friends to stick a bunch of specifically colored helium balloons in a box that you can open, you will need to let a couple of people know. Make sure those people are ones you trust not to ruin the surprise for you or your guests. What would be the fun in that!?
Next, you have to get the actual party aspect going. Get the guest list created, find out what food you want, and so on. This is YOUR day, so you can be as elaborate or as simple as you want.
Themes can be great fun. You can have everyone dress a certain way, and decorations can be pretty inexpensive. If you don’t want to go out with a full on theme, go pink and blue! You can find a wide assortment of pink and blue decorations at party stores, big box stores like Walmart, and even at the dollar store! Just make sure your guests know ahead of time what your theme will be if any!
Food and Drinks
No party is complete without food. Depending on the time of year, this would be a great opportunity to get some grilling going! Since this is all about you and your future addition to the family, it could be a great time to “suggest” that your guests all bring a side dish. That will cut down on costs for you, and it would be a great way for your friends and family to show off their dishes. Aunt Sally will also probably take this as an opportunity to show off how she can make a cake that looks like a pacifier. Let them have at it!
When it comes to beverages, the CDC says “there is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy.” The other people at the party might want to, so plan accordingly. Buy some stuff other people might want, have everyone bring their own, or go completely non-alcoholic. Keep in mind that some people may be bringing children, so make sure there is something for them as well!
Just to make sure you have the “good host’ part out of the way, check to see if anyone coming has any food allergies or intolerances that you should be aware of. Another great reason for Facebook Events (which I cover in the next part) is you can ask right there, and people can answer right there! That will help anyone else who may be bringing side dishes as well.
Sending the Invites
Thankfully, technology has made letting people know about your event simple. While nothing beats getting a custom made invitation in the mail, that can get pretty expensive. Let’s face it… You have a child on the way! You might need to save as much money as you can. Email and things such as Facebook Events make it super simple and free to let people know what you’re doing. Facebook Events allow your guests to RSVP right on the page, and you can constantly update everyone with any changes you might have.
COVID-19 Safety
It does go without saying, but during these times specifically, you might want to give your guests the option to wear masks if they want. Many states and even certain cities in the United States (and other localities across the world) have banned gatherings over a certain amount of people. It is best to check up on your local ordinances to make sure you don’t have your day ruined by a police visit. Regardless of your view on this pandemic and laws… Be smart, and be safe.
Enjoy the Party!
Okay… That’s enough of the scary “legal” stuff. It’s time to enjoy the party. Once everyone is there and settled in, it’s time to kick off the big reveal! Gather everyone around where it is going to happen and cut the cake, pop the balloon, do a burnout, open the box, and so on! While it is 2020, make sure you have at least one person recording the reveal on their phone. Not only is it something that you can revisit for the rest of your life, but you can share it with those who could not be at the party. You also could be the next big viral video online! I’m sure your child will love to know about THAT when they get older!
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