Baby shower invitation wording: 20 examples, from sweet to funny

Baby shower invitations are usually written by whoever is organising, which is often a sister or a best friend doing it from another city in the evenings. So the wording needs to do all the explaining: who it is for, who is hosting, where the gift list is, and how to reply. Here are examples that cover every version, and the three lines every one of them needs.

The three lines every baby shower invitation needs

1. Who it is for and who is hosting. "A shower for Hannah, hosted by Ellie and Mum."
2. The practical details. Date with the day of the week, start and end time, the place with a postcode.
3. The reply line. A date and a way to reply. "Please reply by Friday 3 April on the page" is enough.

Then, as needed: the gift list, whether it is women only or couples welcome, whether children can come, a theme, and any games or "bring a book instead of a card" requests.

Traditional baby shower invitation wording

Please join us for a baby shower in honour of Hannah Clarke Saturday 18 April, 2pm to 5pm The Orangery, Kew Gardens Hosted by Ellie Clarke and Susan Clarke Hannah is registered at John Lewis. Kindly reply by 10 April.

A baby is on the way, and we're celebrating You are warmly invited to a shower for Priya and the little one, on Sunday 3 May at 1pm, at the Lamb and Flag, Oxford. Hosted with love by her sisters. Please reply by 24 April.

Modern and relaxed wording

Hannah's having a baby. Come and eat cake about it. Saturday 18 April, 2pm to 5pm, The Orangery, Kew. Tea, sandwiches, and a bit of fuss. Gift list on the page. Reply by 10 April.

Baby Khan is due in June. Let's shower Priya before she's too busy to sit down. Sunday 3 May, 1pm, the Lamb and Flag. Reply by 24 April and tell us about any allergies; there's a proper lunch.

One last brunch before the baby. Join us for Jess on Saturday 9 May at 11am, at ours in Didsbury. Bagels, bubbles (and the non-alcoholic kind), and a lot of tiny socks. Reply by 1 May.

Funny baby shower invitation wording

Sleep is overrated. So is a quiet Saturday. Come and celebrate Hannah and the bump before the chaos begins. Saturday 18 April, 2pm, The Orangery, Kew. Reply by 10 April.

Nappies, naps and no idea what we're doing. A shower for Jess and Tom. Sunday 17 May, 2pm, at Tom's mum's in Chorlton. Partners welcome. Reply by 8 May.

She's eating for two; you only have to eat for one. Lunch for Priya on Sunday 3 May at 1pm, the Lamb and Flag. Reply by 24 April and pick a main on the page.

Wording for a boy, a girl, or a surprise

It's a boy! Join us to celebrate Hannah and baby-boy-to-be on Saturday 18 April from 2pm, The Orangery, Kew. Reply by 10 April.

A little girl is on her way. Shower for Priya, Sunday 3 May, 1pm, Lamb and Flag. Reply by 24 April.

Boy or girl? Even they don't know. Come and celebrate the mystery with Jess on Saturday 9 May, 11am, Didsbury. Reply by 1 May.

Couples shower wording

A shower for Jess and Tom Because he's having the baby too, sort of. Sunday 17 May from 2pm, at the Allotment Bar, Chorlton. Partners and friends all welcome. Reply by 8 May.

Virtual or long-distance shower wording

A shower for Hannah, wherever you are Saturday 18 April, 3pm UK time, on the video link on the page. Post your gifts to the address there, and we'll open them together on screen. Reply by 10 April so we know who's dialling in.

Surprise shower wording

Shh. Hannah doesn't know. A surprise shower on Saturday 18 April. Be at The Orangery by 1.45pm; she arrives at 2 thinking it's lunch with Ellie. Please keep it off social media. Reply by 10 April.

If the invitation is a link, send each guest their own rather than posting in a group the mum-to-be might see, and keep the replies between the organisers.

The gift list line

Hannah has a list at John Lewis, here: [link]. No pressure; your company is what she wants.

Books instead of cards: if you'd like, bring a favourite children's book with a note inside instead of a card. It builds the baby's library.

Nappies and wipes are always welcome, in any size; she'll need them all.

The RSVP line

Use one of these on every version.

Please reply by Friday 10 April on the page, so we can tell the venue numbers.

Reply by 10 April, and let us know about any allergies; there's a proper lunch.

Tap the link to reply by 10 April. If plans change, come back and update it.

What to include that people forget

• An end time. Showers run two to three hours and guests like to know.
• Who's invited. "Women only" or "partners welcome" saves a dozen messages.
• Children. Say whether they are welcome; many guests have them.
• Parking or the nearest station. On the page, not in the message.
• Food. "Afternoon tea" or "a proper lunch" tells people whether to eat first and whether to mention allergies.

Five mistakes to avoid

• No reply-by date. It is the main reason numbers are a guess.
• Sending an image. It cannot be tapped for directions or updated when the venue moves.
• Burying the gift list. Put the link where it can be seen, or expect the question twenty times.
• Forgetting who is hosting. Guests need to know who to reply to and who to thank.
• One link in a group chat with nothing else. Add two lines: date, place, "reply on the link".

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RSVP Websites puts the invitation, the gift list and the reply form on one link. Guests reply from their phone, the organiser sees the numbers, and the mum-to-be only sees what you want her to. One payment, any number of guests.