Host a Chic French-Themed Baby Shower

A sweet invitation reading "Bonjour Bébé" hints at what's in store and will have guests counting down the days until the fête. Bring the theme to life by using a black and white toile motif punched up with details in every shade of pink, of course!

Set up a buffet that represents French style with a classic black and white toile runner made with fabric cut straight from the bolt and a monochromatic floral arrangement in vivid shades of pink. This centerpiece includes fuchsia garden roses and privet berries.

Set up a simple arrangement of French-inspired finger foods. Diminutive-sized tuna niçoise sandwiches, vegetable crudité with piped cream cheese, cream puffs and a strawberry-ricotta tart perfectly enhance the theme and are easy to eat while mingling.

On a bar cart or small table, set up a drink station complete with raspberry lemonade, sparkling water and champagne or prosecco. Don't forget pretty champagne flutes, raspberries for garnish, festive straws and swizzle sticks so guests can mix up tasty drinks of their choice.

To jazz up a window or doorway near the party area, create an eye-catching garland that infuses the space with color and sends a welcoming message to baby. Best of all, the festive display makes a terrific backdrop for photos, so the mother-to-be can remember the special day long after baby is born. Get the how-to >>

Rather than tossing gifts onto a corner countertop, dedicate a central area to beautifully display them as part of the decor. The growing pile of gifts builds anticipation as guests continue to arrive, and when it comes time to open presents, the group can gather around the room and watch as the adorable contents are revealed.

Just before opening gifts, play a few fun shower games that that are guaranteed to get everyone interacting. Pass around a spool of ribbon with a pair of scissors. Ask each guest to cut a piece of ribbon that they think measures the circumference of the widest part of the mother-to-be's bump. Take turns wrapping each length of ribbon to test the accuracy, and the guest with the closest ribbon measurement wins.

When sending out invitations, include a note asking guests to mail in baby photos of themselves with their RSVP. On the day of the party, hang a long piece of twine in a visible area, and use mini clothespins to clip up the baby photos. Provide a stack of cards and pens nearby for each guest to write down who she thinks is pictured in each photo. Once everyone has guessed, compare the cards with the correct answer sheet, and whoever names the most right is the winner.