21 Ocean Themed Baby Shower Ideas
Meabh McCrossan
Contributor
If you're the kind of parent that feels most at peace with sand between your toes, then an ocean themed baby shower might just be the perfect way to welcome your bundle of 'koi.' Whether you're hosting a laid-back gathering or a more formal affair, there's no better event venue than under the sea.
Your guests will surely be impressed by your fish food, reef-reshments, and turtley adorable party games. What better way to celebrate the baby that’s aboard!
You won't need goggles, scuba gear, or diving equipment to enjoy a fun-filled oceanic soirée. With a little bit of magic and imagination, your ocean themed baby shower party will be a hit with all guests celebrating your bundle of joy.
Here 21 ideas for an ocean themed baby shower:
Ocean Themed Baby Shower Activities
Photo Booth
Rent out a photo booth for your party and let your guests create charming photographic keepsakes of your day. Many rental companies offer expert digital design services that let you add borders, frames, and memorable backdrops to your images. Whimsical and exciting, this idea is sure to be a splashing success.
Face Painting
Face painting is a fan favorite amongst adults and kids alike! Request your face painter to transform you into a beautiful mermaid, sparkling fish, or swashbuckling pirate. Find the perfect face painter who can curate a list of designs that will align with the theme of this under the sea baby shower.
Music
What music do you imagine plays at the bottom of the ocean? On our seashell speakers, we'd be playing classics like 'Part of Your World' from The Little Mermaid, 'Where You Are' from Moana, 'Ocean Eyes' by Billie Eilish, ‘Baby Shark’…the list goes on. Whether you want a dance party or a fun sing-a-long, enjoy the sound waves of the ocean while listening to your favorite tracks.
Pro Tip: Hire a DJ or steel drummer to help play with your ocean themed tunes.
Pin The Fin on the Shark
This idea is a fun, aquatic spin on the classic 'pin the tail on the donkey' game. Print out or draw a large, friendly shark and fix it to the wall. Give your guests a separate drawing of a fin, turn them round and round, and let them guess where the fin should go.
Don't Say Baby Shark!
A silly twist on the well-known 'Don't Say Baby' game commonly played at baby showers. As your guests file into your party, give everyone a small toy plastic shark to hold. If you catch someone saying the word 'baby', they must give you their shark.
At the end, the person with the most baby sharks wins. Even better, the people who say ‘baby’ first are bound by the laws of the ocean to perform a rendition of ‘Baby Shark’ for the parent-to-be - we don't make the rules!
Ocean Themed Baby Shower Venues
Aquarium
Can you think of a more perfect setting than an aquarium for your oceanic baby shower? Many local aquariums offer versatile event spaces that can be decorated to suit your exact needs. Additionally, any children in attendance will have a whale of a time taking in the sights and sounds of the aquatic environment surrounding them.
The Beach
You know what they say—happiness is a day at the beach. This choice of venue would require a little set-up, but if your vision is to host your baby shower down by the ocean shore, your dream event can be brought to life.
Bring picnic blankets, beach towels, folding chairs, tables, and coolers full of delicious refreshments and snacks. Alternatively, many beach clubhouses and seaside restaurants offer cozy and intimate event spaces that can be rented for special gatherings. It's the perfect chance to rest and relax on a sun-and-fun-filled day with your nearest and dearest.
Event Hall
With a versatile backdrop and a great imagination, you can bring the magic of the ocean to guests for your baby shower. Hang shades of ocean blue on the walls using drapery, add burlap table runners, and vintage dinglehoppers—err, we mean, silverware—for a rustic shipwrecked effect.
Ocean Themed Baby Shower Decorations
Seafoam Bubble Balloons
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to look up from the ocean floor? Blow up enough blue, white, and clear balloons with helium, and leave them to float all the way up to the ceiling. If you have enough to cover the entire area, it'll look like bubbles from a crashing wave above you.
Balloon Garland
If you think you have enough balloons at your shindig, think again. To further expand upon the bubble motif, why not add a balloon arch or two to turn every door into a portal to Atlantis?
Under The Sea Photo Backdrop
Let your imagination run wild and have your guests surfing on a wave, scuba diving, or catching some rays by the ocean's sandy shores. Photo backdrops are an excellent opportunity for both party-goers and hosts to create thoughtful photographic keepsakes to remember their time together.
Paper Lantern Jellyfish
These show-stopping decorations will be a big talking point at your baby shower—add ribbons or strips of colored crepe paper to a round paper lantern-style light shade. You can even attach battery-powered fairy lights to the inside of the shade to create a whimsical effect. You'll feel like you're celebrating on the actual ocean floor.
Treasure Chest for Cards
As the story goes, Captain Blue-Or-Pink Beard was known throughout the seven seas as a master party planner who loved coordinating baby showers for his fellow sailors. Place his vintage treasure chest by the door of your event venue and request that guests leave their 'carrrrds' here!
Messages In A Bottle
Encourage party-goers to write a sweet message for your baby on some parchment, roll it up, and secure it with a piece of red ribbon. The scrolls can then be added to a large, clear glass bottle and gifted to your child on a milestone birthday. They will surely be delighted and touched by this thoughtful time capsule gift.
Ocean Themed Food Ideas
Sand Dollar Cookies
These cookies are simple yet effective and perfect for any baker who wants to get their hands sandy! On a disc of sugar cookie dough, add halved almonds in a circle shape, and while they're still warm out of the oven, press them into a plate of mixed cinnamon and sugar. You'll have charming (and delicious) sand dollar cookies that will look almost too cute to eat.
Seashell Pasta
Your landlubber guests are sure to appreciate the effort you've gone to, diving down to the ocean floor to source the countless seashells needed for this dish—just kidding. Serve your favorite pasta dish with conchiglie shells, and voila! Seashell pasta is on the menu.
Candy Table
If you're looking to indulge your sweet tooth, setting up a candy table with old-fashioned, sweet-shop-style paper bags is going to be a great opportunity to have some fun with the ocean theme. Add Swedish Fish, Goldfish crackers, salt water taffy, and more.
You can also put a new spin on some fan favorites, turning gummy worms into 'fishing bait' and a box of golden Ferrero Rocher candies into sunken pirate treasure. Have fun with it—the opportunities are endless.
Crabwiches
A fun play on words and an unexpected twist on the traditional sandwich—crabwiches are taking the ocean by storm. Slice a croissant in half lengthways, add your preferred sandwich filling, some cute little googly eyes, and you have yourself a crabwich. It's that easy!
Serve with a side of seaweed salad and sea cucumbers, and you're sure to win the next season of MasterChef Atlantis.
Ocean Themed Drink Ideas
Cuddles On The Beach Mocktail
A non-alcoholic version of a Sex On The Beach, this drink will transport you to an oceanside resort no matter where you are. Imagine yourself lounging by the pool or by the sandy shore of the glittering waters and enjoying the tangy tastes of peach, cranberry, and grapefruit.
Ocean Water Mocktail
Sweet coconut water, zingy lemon, and juicy lime—the tastes of a tropical ocean come together to make this delicious ocean water mocktail. To really wow your guests, try adding natural blue dye and edible glitter to your drink for a truly impressive result.
Piña Colada
If you like piña coladas, you need to serve this classic drink at your ocean themed baby shower. The sweet scent and taste of coconut will make you feel like you're celebrating on a warm, tropical island. You can offer a virgin option as well for under age guests and other moms-to-be.
Find more themed party ideas here on The Bash.
