It’s hard to believe it’s been nine months since we welcomed our sweet baby boy—and looking back, one of the most special moments leading up to his arrival was getting to celebrate with the people who love him most. With our families spread across the country—mine in West Virginia and my husband’s in California—we were so blessed to have multiple baby showers so we could celebrate with both sides.
Our nautical-themed shower hosted by my mother-in-law and aunt-in-law in California was so memorable and sweet. Their theme, “Ahoy, It’s a Boy!”was so perfect. My husband grew up around the central coast, playing in tide pools and soaking in those West Coast sunsets. His entire family has a deep love for the ocean. Honestly, his dad and stepmom will be the first to tell you they’re “boat trash” in the most affectionate, salt-in-the-hair kind of way. (As I write this, they’re literally sailing to Alaska!)
I’m so grateful to my husband’s family for hosting this beautiful nautical celebration.
The day was planned with thoughtful details that I hope help you plan your nautical party, whether you’re planning a shower for a fellow beach lover or just looking for a playful summer theme!
The Decor: Nautical Decor That Made Waves
I loved all of the sweet nautical details like beautiful cards in the rose centerpieces with nautical quotes like “If you want to know how much we love you, count all the waves” and “Little boat upon the sea, I wonder where you might take me.” Anchors, seashells, and helms were spritzed throughout the room. I loved the “Ahoy it’s a Boy” hanging over the gift table that had fishnet decorating it!
Message in a Bottle: Sweet Activity for Guests
I love an activity where guests share their wishes or advice for new parents. It’s so nice to save these for scrapbooks or for new parents to read during the wild newborn stage when you love it and also want to rip your hair out. It’s really easy to set this up for guests of your shower! Create a station with a jar and have a note explaining the activity “Please leave your message in a bottle for the new mommy and daddy as they sail into parenthood.”
Nautical Nibbles: Food, Bevs, & Dessert
The food is always my personal favorite part of a themed party! My MIL brought out her mom’s beautiful sailboat dish for the nautical crudité. For the main course, they didn’t go overboard with the puns. We had cheese tortellini and salad, which was so good on my sensitive stomach. If you’re planning a Nautical party, you could go wild with punny food stations like a “Catch of the Day” station with goldfish crackers, shrimp cocktail, and savory bites labeled with fun names like “Seaweed Dip” (spinach-artichoke) and “Shark Bait” (a sweet and salty snack mix).
Decorated sugar cookies are always a nice touch at a themed party. I wish I had more pictures of the variety, but I loved the little life raft baby rattle cookie decoration so much.
For beverages, my in-laws always have an amazing selection of wines and champagnes. I was so sad I couldn’t partake, but they had lots of flavored sparkling water that I put in a wine glass to feel fancy (lol.)
I’m so thankful to my mother-in-law and aunt-in-law for planning such a thoughtful, joy-filled day that perfectly reflected our family’s love for the ocean—and each other. From the “Ahoy, It’s a Boy!” theme to the meaningful details woven throughout the celebration, I felt incredibly loved and supported as we prepared to welcome our son. It’s a memory I’ll always treasure, and I’m so grateful our baby’s story started with so much heart.
Plan Your Nautical Themed Baby Shower
I found the cutest party decor similar to what my family used for my themed party. Browse my list of nautical party decor on amazon.
With Victoria Kelley 