Activities, food and drinks

The best shower activities give people a reason to talk, not a test to pass. The best food is easy to eat while holding a plate and a drink.

Activities that work

• Advice cards: guests write a tip or wish for the guest of honor.
• Guess the date and weight for a baby shower, written on a card.
• How well do you know the couple, a short quiz read aloud.
• A craft station: decorate onesies, fill a recipe card book or make a candle.
• Bingo during gift opening, so guests stay engaged.

Pick one or two. A 20 minute activity is plenty, and for many groups conversation is the main event.

Activities to skip

• Anything that embarrasses the guest of honor.
• Games with complicated rules or long setup.
• Belly measuring, unless the guest of honor loves it.
• More than two games in a row.

Food guests can eat on a lap

Assume some guests will sit in lounge chairs without a table. Pick food that does not need a knife.

• Taco or slider bar.
• Croissant sandwiches and chicken salad.
• Fruit and cheese boards.
• Mini quiches and empanadas.
• Salads in small cups.

How much to order

San Antonio caterers for brunch or taco spreads typically run about $15 to $25 per guest in 2026. Local panaderías and bakeries are a budget friendly way to fill a dessert table.

Alcohol-free drinks

A good drink station makes the room feel festive without any alcohol. Try:

• Agua fresca: watermelon, horchata or jamaica.
• A sparkling juice bar with fresh fruit garnish.
• Mocktails like a cucumber lime spritz or a berry mint fizz.
• Sparkling cider in champagne glasses for the toast.
• Iced tea and a coffee station.

Tip: If you want mimosas. Bring your own and hire a TABC-certified bartender to serve them. The Gallery never sells, provides or stores alcohol. A juice and sparkling water bar is a beautiful option without the extra cost.

Dietary needs

Ask about allergies on the RSVP. Label dishes with simple cards, and make sure at least one main is vegetarian. Pregnant guests will appreciate a clear label on soft cheeses and deli meats.

Setting the food table

• Plates at the start, napkins and forks at the end.
• Tall items at the back, flat trays at the front.
• Drinks on a separate table so lines do not tangle.
• A trash bin within view but out of photos.

Music fills the gaps between activities. Build a playlist of about three hours, keep it at conversation volume, and ask one helper to own the speaker. Instrumental covers, soft soul and acoustic pop work well in the background, and a few of the guest of honor's favorites make a nice moment during cake. Test the speaker and the connection during setup so nobody is fumbling with a phone when the first guests arrive.

Timing the food

Ask your caterer to arrive at the start of your booking, not the start of the party, so trays are hot and the table is set before the first guest walks in. Cold items like fruit and salads can go out first. Hot items should come out about 30 minutes into the party, when most guests are there.

For a self serve spread, plan one serving line for every 25 to 30 guests. With 40 guests, set food on both sides of the table or split mains and sides onto two tables so the line keeps moving.

Leftovers are part of the plan. Bring to go containers or foil pans and send food home with the guest of honor and the hosts. Most caterers will not take food back, and nobody wants to throw away half a tray of enchiladas.

Tip: Cake last. Cut the cake after gifts. It signals the end of the formal part of the afternoon and gives a natural moment for the group photo and thank yous.

Next up: the mistakes hosts make most, and how to avoid them.

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