How to Plan a Gender Reveal Party

One of the most exciting parts of being pregnant is finding out whether you’re expecting a little boy or girl, and a gender reveal program is a cool way to get friends and family involved. If you’re planning to find out and share the gender of your baby before they're born, here’s how to plan a gender reveal, as well as some creative party ideas to make your reveal even more memorable and fun.

The Origins of Gender Reveal Parties

Gender reveal parties started in the United States in the late 2000s, quickly gaining popularity as a prelude to traditional baby showers. Unlike baby showers, which focus on gifts and preparing for the baby, gender reveals focus solely on the exciting moment of discovery. With the rise of social media, these celebrations have become highly visual and often involve creative, interactive experiences that engage friends and family. Understanding this context can help you plan a party that honors tradition while adding your own personal twist.

1. Decide on a Gender Reveal Party Theme

Themes are more than just decorations—they set the mood and guide the entire party experience. Creative, cohesive themes help guests feel involved and excited. Some popular themes to help inspire you include:

When choosing your theme, consider what reflects your personality as a parent and what will make the day enjoyable for your guests. The best themes often balance creativity with practicality—one that’s easy to incorporate into invitations, decorations, and party favors without feeling overwhelming.

Chinese Gender Predictor

Can't wait to know whether your little one's a boy or a girl? Try our fun tool!

Mom's age at conception

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Baby's due date

Discover gender * Source: World Health Organization

2. Timing and Planning Your Party: Set the Date

Choose a venue, and set the date for your gender reveal program. The date will have to be sometime after the mid-pregnancy ultrasound (which usually occurs around week 20), when the ultrasound technician will be able to see whether you’re expecting a boy or girl.

3. Send Your Gender Reveal Invitations

As mentioned above, it’s best to send your gender reveal party invitations about a month or two in advance.

Invitations aren’t just functional—they’re the first taste of your party’s personality. Printable invitations are an inexpensive and environmentally friendly option, with most costing between $1–$3 each, while digital invitations can be free and offer the advantage of instant RSVP tracking. Or you could design your own invitations to perfectly match your theme.

Besides the essentials like date, time, location, and RSVP details, specify if you’d like guests to wear an outfit to match your theme or to bring a plate of food to share.

Engaging your guests ahead of time can make the day more interactive. Encourage them to participate by guessing the baby’s gender or dressing in themed colors like pink or blue. A fun tradition is to create “Team Pink” and “Team Blue,” giving each guest a chance to join a side and track votes on a chalkboard or voting sheet. This adds anticipation and friendly competition, and you can even award small prizes for correct guesses or the best-themed outfits.

4. Ideas for Gender Reveal Party Decorations

Decorations set the scene and reinforce the theme. While pink and blue are classic, you can add flair with DIY projects like crepe paper garlands, themed banners, or cupcakes decorated to match your reveal colors. Homemade décor not only saves money but also allows a personal touch that guests will notice and appreciate.

For unique gender reveal party decorations, here are some ideas:

• No matter what theme you choose, you can hang a banner over the front door asking the question that’s on everyone’s mind: “He or she? Come in to see!” or simply, “Boy or girl?”

• Consider making some of the decorations interactive. For example, a piñata can double as both décor and a gender reveal game.

• For the “What will it bee?” theme, you can provide little honeybee-themed sweets made from icing or cupcakes for your dessert table, or try using strips of black and yellow crepe paper as a decorative tablecloth.

• For the mustaches or lipsticks theme, place bowls of fake mustaches and bright pink lipstick on a table so that your guests can pop one on and be part of the decorations, too. This also works well for the bows or bowties theme.

• Tables decorated with themed treats, props, and small signs encourage photo opportunities and create lasting memories.

Tips

Most gender reveal parties can be executed on a modest budget, especially when you leverage DIY ideas and creative planning.

With careful planning, even a small gathering can feel special and well-organized without breaking the bank.

Etiquette and Party Favors

Gender reveal parties focus on celebration rather than gifts, but small keepsakes for guests are always appreciated. Homemade cookies with pink or blue frosting, personalized mugs, or small themed candles are thoughtful ways to thank attendees without overshadowing the main event. Sending thank-you notes within a few days of the party maintains a sense of courtesy and closure.

5. Gender Reveal Game Ideas

You might be wondering what to do at a gender reveal party… play games, of course! In between catching up with your guests, one or two games will keep the party on track and on theme. Try one of these:

• Guessing game. Allow your guests to have a quick peek at your ultrasound image, and then ask them to guess the gender. Give a prize to all those who guessed right.

• Match the theme. Ask your guests to come dressed according to your party’s theme, and give a prize to the best-dressed guest.

• Time capsule. Once the gender is revealed, ask your guests to write down their hopes, predictions, and advice for your baby, and then seal the notes in a box. This box makes a great gift for your child at his or her 16^th birthday. You could also record the messages on camera to play back for your child in the future.

• Old wives’ tales. You can find lots of old wives’ tales online that claim to predict your baby’s gender. (For example, if your partner is gaining weight, it’s a girl; if he’s maintaining his weight, it’s a boy. ) See what the old wives’ tales predict for you, and then have a laugh as the real gender is revealed at the end.

• “Blue or pink, what do you think? ” or “Wear your guess! ” Before the party, ask guests to dress in blue or pink to match their guess. Then, once the gender is revealed, give a prize to those who guessed right.

Explore our exciting gender reveal games to ensure your gender reveal program flows smoothly and enjoyably.

6. The Gender Reveal Moment

The reveal itself is the highlight of the day, and there are many creative ways to make this moment unforgettable. It’s also important to consider safety, especially when working with props such as balloons, confetti, or pyrotechnics.

You’ll also need to decide whether you want to find out your baby’s gender alongside your guests. If yes, ask your sonographer to write down "boy" or "girl" on a piece of paper instead of announcing the gender during the ultrasound, and ask someone else to organize the gender reveal moment.

7. Finishing Touches

A nice final touch is to give guests a gender reveal party favor as they leave. This could include a bag of home-made cookies with blue or pink frosting, a bag of sugar-coated popcorn with a note saying “ready to pop,” a blue or pink candle, or a personalized mug decorated with “it’s a girl/boy. ” There are no hard and fast rules on gender reveal party etiquette, but it’s a thoughtful gesture to send a thank you note to each guest within a few days.

The Bottom Line

Gender reveal parties are about sharing joy, creating memories, and celebrating the upcoming arrival of your baby. By planning thoughtfully, choosing a creative theme, engaging your guests with games, prioritizing safety, and adding personal touches, you can host a party that’s fun, memorable, and stress-free. Remember, the key is celebration and connection, not perfection—your friends and family are there to share in your excitement, regardless of how you plan the party.