What’s with all these gender reveal parties?
I had never heard of gender reveal parties until someone suggested I write about them. I have to admit, I was cynical, even thought the practice laughable, when I started this story. It was just another way to self-promote on social media and get presents.
Then I began my research, and, heck, if you couldn’t get me to stop watching the videos of strangers on Instagram. Everyone is genuinely happy and there is a lot of screaming.
But let me step back for those of you who may also be out of the loop – a gender reveal party is when a couple who is expecting a baby invites family and friends over to find out if their baby will be a boy or a girl. (Some people I spoke to thought I was talking about gender reassignment.)
And so bakeries, photographers and event planners are finding ways to make these parties a fun occasion to share with family and friends and a reason to start your unborn baby’s own Instagram account (okay, maybe I am still a little bit cynical).
Before you plan your party, here’s what you need:
To know or not to know
Expectant parents can be surprised at the party too. Carlos Suarez, Jr. of Suarez Bakery says, “We take delivery of the envelope from the customer’s doctor announcing the sex of the child/children.”
Pink or blue for dessert
There are a lot of ways to reveal the gender of your baby at the party. Of course, dessert is top on the list. It seems anything from cake, cupcakes, donuts and éclairs will do. Sunflour Bakery’s Kelly Harris says, “For gender reveal we will usually fill cupcakes or cakes with the corresponding (pink or blue) icing to be revealed once cut into. The outside will remain vanilla or chocolate depending on flavor choice.”
Say it with balloons
After cake, balloons are next best choice. Think helium, water or even paint filled balloons to tell the story. The parties, if they serve any purpose, may prepare parents-to-be for the mess they will certainly have once the baby arrives.
Down and dirty reveals
Some choose (it was their decision) to have a colored bucket of water poured over their heads. Others were shot at by their guests with blue or pink paint balls. And then there were the Silly String blast-offs.
Ingenious ideas
The creative reveals that went beyond cake, confetti and balloons found ways to celebrate the couple’s interests. There was color changing nail polish, smashing pumpkins, colored socks, snake-in-a-can, race cars and even a reveal involving a bow and arrow. But the best of the best was the Star Wars battle with pink and blue light sabers.
This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 12:00 AM.
