A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of chatting with Jessica Denay, Founder of Hot Moms Club and WE TV’s Celeb Baby Planner. We talked about celebrity Victoria Recano’s baby shower, which was a very lavish event, along with a couple other celebrities who have had some very creative ideas at their baby showers. We also talked about how easy it would be to take these over-the-top shower ideas and use them to inexpensively host an elegant, snazzy shower for those without a $45,000-50,000 Recano baby shower budget. 
Here are six baby shower tips from WE TV’s Celeb Baby Planner, Jessica Denay:
1.) Baby showers are not just for women anymore, more and more celebrities are making their baby showers co-ed. This is creatively done by hosting the showers on “off” game days or if it does happen to be a “game” day then having the game on for the guys to keep up with their favorite sport. In Celebrity circles there seems to be a shift happening in how baby showers are conducted. The new trend is moving away from the traditional baby shower and making showers an event or a party – a fun event that everyone – man or woman can enjoy.
2.) Victoria Recano had Natalie Bovis Nelson, a Mixologist, come in and make Natalie’s specialty “Preggatinis”. Preggatinis are a non-alcoholic beverage made out of fresh fruit, water, sparkling juice or sparkling wine with the alcohol removed. Natalie actually freshly squeezes all the fruit herself to make these healthy drinks for expectant mamas. She offers some recipes on her website for those of you who would like to offer these special beverages at your next baby shower. She also has a book that may be purchased there as well. Jessica told me that Target carries inexpensive Martini glasses that you could serve your Preggatinis in. 
3.) Brooke and Charlie Sheen had gorgeous centerpieces beautiful apothecary vases of different sizes filled with a variety of candies – Want to do this too? You can fill them with pinks and reds for girls and blue, white and greens for boys. At the end of your shower you can have a candy bar where candy scoopers and bags available for guests to take a share of the goodies home. Of course, you could do any color combination that matched the theme of your shower. Bulk candy and vases may be bought at very affordable prices by shopping around. I think Target, Wal-Mart, thrift stores etc. would be good places to start.
4.) Alison Sweeney among other Hollywood Moms-to-Be used Two Plums Paper Company
and had cards at each guest’s place setting. 
These cards were for family and friends to write down a baby blessing, such as a prayer or a wish especially for baby. Each card had a string on it and was put in the baby’s room in a decorative way using Two Plums’ blessing garland. However, those of you who scrapbook or rubber stamp would be able to whip up lovely cards all of your own since the cards can be as simple or fancy as you desire them.
5.) Speaking of scrapbooking, another idea Jessica shared was for everyone to scrapbook a page for the baby’s scrapbook. This is a fantastic idea for not only a couple’s first child, but the second, third, fourth etc. Just think of how busy all of you moms of multiple children are and how blessed you’d feel to have a group of your friends present you with a scrapbook made especially by them?!
6.) I’m against smoking, but Jessica mentioned that one shower she knew of that had an area set aside so that the men could make their own cigars. Whether or not they smoked them or just made them as a guy thing to hand out to friends, I did not clarify, but it just goes to show you that with some innovative thinking a baby shower does not have to be just a “girl” event anymore.
Finally, baby showers do not have to be the same old same old, they may be individualized, themed or even called by a new name as one celebrity did in calling their shower a “Sprinkle”. It ‘s nice to have traditions, but it’s also just as nice to have alternative options and new ideas that include help in getting men involved in the celebration of the coming of a new baby. 
To see Victoria Recano’s baby shower, you may watch WE TV’s new show Platinum Babies and you may wish to visit the Hot Moms Club website as well for more photos of Victoria’s grand event.
Another Resource:
http://www.wetv.com/platinum-babies/create-your-own-star-shower
All photos courtesy of HMC and taken by INDA REID
great mention about baby showers going co-ed. It is becoming more acceptable, and making it a party takes the pressure of men. I like the cigar making idea – gives guys something to do while the girls are hanging out.