Shower expectant mothers with a host of fun ideas

Maybe it's the long Canadian winters that account for the boom in baby showers at this time of year, but spring has always been the busiest season in this area for me.

Now planning a baby shower may sound like a lot of work and you may expect to spend a bundle, but careful planning can result in a fun and elegant affair that won't break the bank. Here are a few tips to help make yours the shower of the season:

Colour coding

Sure, pink and blue are traditional, but why not shake things up with an unorthodox colour scheme? Last year, I styled TV personality Cheryl Hickey's baby shower with a palette of bright orange and lime green, perfect for either a boy or a girl.

Between meals

Instead of hosting a lunch or dinner, schedule the shower at tea time, when guests can be served such easy-to-assemble offerings as bite-sized canapés and colourful crudité. Doing so will keep the event informal and cut down on cost and clean-up.

Dandy candy

No baby shower is complete without lots of sweets. Think individual truffles on silver trays, colourful gift boxes filled with jelly beans and mini meringues in pretty little cartons. The boxes also make great parting gifts.

Bottle service

For a fun if decadent touch, buy individual baby bottles at your local dollar store and use them (sans nipples, of course) to serve mini champagne cocktails as your guests arrive. I certainly don't advocate drinking around children, so try this idea out only in the presence of adults. Adorn your unusual libations by tying a festive ribbon around each bottle's collar.

Sebastien Centner is the director of Eatertainment Special Events in Toronto ( www.eatertainment.com).