Gender reveals are a popular way to announce the gender of a baby before it is born. Having a gender reveal has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially with the rise of social media. In this article, we will briefly explore the history of gender reveals and how to plan the perfect gender reveal for you and your family.
Understanding Gender Reveals: History and Evolution
Gender reveals, in essence, have been around for several decades. People have always had a fascination with guessing the gender of the baby a woman is carrying. Likewise, pregnant women have found great joy in announcing to family and friends the gender of their unborn baby. However, gender reveals have evolved significantly over the years.
In the past, parents would simply announce the sex of their baby to family and friends. Today, gender reveals are often elaborate events that involve creative ways of telling friends and family the gender of the baby. These days, it’s common for parents to use balloons, confetti, or even smoke bombs to reveal the gender of their baby.
The first recorded gender reveal party was in 2008; since then, they have become increasingly popular. In recent years, gender reveals have become more elaborate and sometimes controversial because of adverse environmental impact and its role in promoting consumerism.
Social Media Influence
Social media has played a significant role in the popularity of gender reveals. Parents often share their gender-reveal videos and photos on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. These posts can go viral, and parents may receive thousands of likes and comments.
Some parents who ‘chase clout’ or want the most likes and comments on their videos tend to prepare elaborate gender reveal parties, which come at a steep cost.
Social media has also made it easier for people to develop creative gender reveal ideas. It has become so easy for parents to search for gender reveal inspiration on social media platforms; however, it can also contribute to the pressure of having the perfect gender reveal.
Planning a Gender Reveal Party
If you’re expecting a baby, a gender reveal party can be fun to share the news with your loved ones, especially if it’s your first baby. Here are some tips to help you plan a memorable gender reveal party.
Choose a Date and Venue
When choosing a date for your gender reveal party, consider your due date and the timing of your ultrasound. You’ll want to schedule the party after your second-trimester ultrasound, usually around 18-20 weeks.
You should also consider where you want to host your gender reveal party. During the summer, it’s perfectly acceptable to have your party at a local park; however, as the weather gets colder, you might want to host your party indoors, at home, or in a function hall.
Guest List Preparation
Make a list of guests you want to invite to the party. Consider asking close family members, friends, and co-workers to attend. It’s best to keep the guest list small so you can enjoy the party and spend time with everyone. You can also ask guests to RSVP for an accurate headcount for food and drinks.
Remember, most of the time, a gender reveal party comes before the baby shower, so if you don’t want to spend a fortune on throwing two large parties a few months apart, it may be best to keep your gender reveal party small.
Choose a Theme
Setting a theme for your gender reveal party can make it more fun and memorable. There are many different themes to choose from, and some of the most popular ones are:
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: Pink and blue balloons with star and moon decorations
- What Will Baby Bee: Yellow and black color scheme with a bee motif
- Ties Or Tutus: Blue ties and pink tutus as decorations
Set Up and Decorate
Decorating and setting up for a party can be stressful but also fun. Plan to gather all the supplies you need before the actual day. This will ensure you don’t have a stressful time when it comes time to set up for the party.
Many gender reveals these days also call for elaborate backdrops where the couple and guests can take pictures. Make a balloon garland and hang it on a blank wall along with a gender reveal party banner you can purchase from Amazon or even Facebook Marketplace.
Attention to detail is essential to create a coherent theme during your party. For example, if your theme is blue and pink, choose those colors for your paper plates, cutleries, decorations, and props.
Food and Refreshments
Many gender reveal parties are informal, so preparing elaborate meals is unnecessary. A few bottles of soda and some appetizers should do.
Here are some simple food ideas you can easily prepare for your gender reveal party:
- Cupcakes: Have cupcakes made with pink or blue frosting. You can purchase these at your local grocery store and add cupcake toppers matching your theme.
- Popcorn: Fill bowls with either blue or pink popcorn. This can be a fun and easy snack for guests to enjoy.
- Fruit Skewers: Create fruit skewers with strawberries, blueberries, and other fruits that are either pink or blue. This is perfect if you are having a summer gender reveal party.
- Cheese Platter: Creating a cheese platter with your favorite cheese and crackers is simple. It’s also easy for guests to eat while mingling with other guests.
- Veggie Platter: A veggie platter is a great way to add healthy options for health-conscious guests
- Pizza: Finally, order some pizza if you want to serve something more hearty but don’t want to spend time cooking.
Prepare Activities
If you are doing a simple gender reveal, there’s no need to prepare activities for the event. You can do the gender reveal, chat for a bit, and then everyone can go their own way. This is a perfectly acceptable way of doing the gender reveal since you most likely will have a baby shower party within a few weeks.
If you are having a party revolving around your gender reveal, it’s a good idea to prepare activities other than the actual reveal so your guests won’t get bored. Sure, socializing is great, but it’s always good to have something to break up the monotony.
Here are some activities you can prepare for your gender reveal party:
- Guess the Gender: Have guests wear pink or blue depending on their guess of the baby’s gender. This can be a fun way to get everyone involved in the excitement.
- Baby Name Game: Have guests suggest baby names based on the gender reveal. You can even have a board where guests can write their suggestions.
- Old Wives’ Tales: Play a game where guests guess the baby’s gender based on old wives’ tales. For example, if the mother carries high, it’s a girl.
- Photo Booth: Set up a photo booth with either pink or blue props. Guests can take pictures with the props and post them on social media.
- Baby Pool: Have guests place bets on the baby’s gender and due date. The winner can receive a prize.
- Baby Clothes Decorating: Have guests decorate baby clothes with either pink or blue markers. This can be a fun activity for everyone to participate in, and the parents-to-be can keep the clothes as a keepsake.
Gender Reveal Ideas
When it comes to revealing the gender of your baby, there are so many creative and fun ways to do it. Here are some popular gender reveal ideas to consider:
Cake Based Reveals
Gender reveal cakes are a classic way to share the news with friends and family. These cakes are typically decorated with a simple design, but the inside is filled with either pink or blue frosting to reveal the gender.
Balloon Based Reveals
Gender reveal balloons are another popular option. These balloons are usually black to not reveal what color confetti is inside. The expecting couple will then pop the balloon, and the confetti will reveal the gender of the baby.
Confetti Cannons
Confetti cannons are a fun and exciting way to reveal the gender of your baby. These cannons shoot out pink or blue confetti, creating a colorful and exciting moment. You can also have guests shoot off confetti cannons to participate in ‘revealing’ the gender.
Sharing The News
You can share the good news with friends and family in a few different ways. Here are two of the most common ways to do it:
Social Media Sharing
Social media is a popular way to share news with friends and family, and gender reveals are no exception. Here are some social media post ideas you can use when announcing your baby’s gender:
- Post a photo of your ultrasound with a caption revealing the gender.
- Share a picture of a gender reveal party or cake with your followers.
- Create a fun video of your gender reveal and post it on social media.
Remember, social media is a public platform, so only share what you feel comfortable with. If you prefer to keep your pregnancy private, it’s okay to skip the social media announcement altogether.
Text Announcements
If you prefer a more personal touch, using a messenger app or texting your announcements is a great way to share the news of your baby’s gender. Here are a few tips for creating a memorable text announcement:
- Use a fun cliffhanger that makes them want to guess whether it’s a girl or a boy. One way to do this is to list’ symptoms’ commonly associated with either gender.
- Include a photo or video of your gender reveal.
- Write a personalized message to your friends and family.
- Consider including a link to a baby registry or a list of baby name suggestions.
Text announcements are a great option if you want to keep your announcement intimate within your group of friends or relatives. It works well for group chats with your circle of friends, so you only have to send the announcement once, and everyone in your circle will see it.
This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks.