Planning a Coastal Baby Shower: Theme Ideas, Decor, Menus & a Free Checklist

Planning a Coastal Baby Shower? 

Here’s your guide to a beautiful seaside celebration complete with ideas for decor, games, favors, and a free printable Checklist & Gift Log.

💙 Planning your own shower?
Stay organized from start to finish with our free Coastal Baby Shower Checklist & Gift Log  - perfect for keeping track of guests, gifts, and to-dos.

→ Download your free checklist here

Whether you're gathering near the water or simply love breezy ocean vibes, a coastal-themed baby shower brings charm and tranquility to your special day. When I planned a shower for my daughter, I wanted it to feel calm, joyful, and filled with thoughtful details. We chose a light nautical theme with watercolor sailboats, soft blues, lavender favors, and a relaxed coastal brunch.

In this post, I’m sharing everything we did - from decorations and dessert displays to coordinating printables and helpful tips - plus inspiration for creating your own dreamy seaside celebration.

 

Theme Inspiration: Soft Nautical with Coastal Charm

We set the tone early with a watercolor sailboat invitation featuring soft blue waves, dotted sails, and hand-lettered script. That simple, breezy nautical motif carried throughout the day - from balloon towers and cupcakes to the thank-you tags tied to our lavender favors.

The palette leaned soft and serene, with gentle blues, whites, and natural textures that felt both coastal and calm.

If you're planning your own celebration, start by choosing your coastal direction whether you’re drawn to a classic navy-and-white nautical look or something more whimsical like starfish and mermaids. Once you’ve picked a theme, carry it through with small touches like signage, favors, and menu labels to create a beautifully cohesive experience.

Coastal Baby Shower Theme Ideas:

• “Ahoy, It’s a Boy!” – navy, red, sailor stripes, and anchor details
• “Seashells & Sunshine” – gender-neutral tones, raffia, and warm sand colors
• “A Little Mermaid is on Her Way” – pastel shimmer, iridescent shells, and sea sparkle
• “Under the Sea” – watercolor sea creatures, bubbles, and ocean plants 
• “Beach Baby” – soft blue hues, driftwood accents, and natural seaside textures
• “Baby on Board” – surfboards, watercolor waves, beachy blues, and retro coastal vibes

 

Decor Inspiration: Fresh, Coastal, and Thoughtful

The key to coastal baby shower style is a mix of natural textures, seaside elements, and a color palette that reflects your vision - whether soft and breezy or bold and nautical. Think ocean hues, woven accents, and charming touches inspired by life by the sea.

For my daughter’s shower, we kept the décor light and clean with subtle nautical details:

• Balloon towers in blue, white, and baby footprints framed the space with cheerful color. (Pro Tip: a balloon pump is indispensable when inflating dozens of balloons!)
• A gallery of baby and childhood photos from the parents-to-be created a heartfelt, personal touch.
• Our cupcake display featured sailboat wrappers and “Ahoy!” flags - playful, themed, and photo-ready.
• Burlap banners (“Sweet Baby Boy” and “It’s a Boy”) added cozy, rustic-nautical charm.
• Tables were dressed with white linens, navy napkins, and floral centerpieces for a fresh pop of color. Each place setting included printed games, mini favors, and thoughtful details.
• We also scattered classic Life Savers candies on the tables, a fun, nautical nod that doubled as a sweet snack and subtle decor detail. They were inexpensive, easy to clean up, and fit the coastal theme perfectly.

If you're planning your own version, here are a few versatile decor ideas to help you style your space - whether you're going for muted sea tones or a vibrant beach palette:

Coastal Decor Must-Haves
• Balloon displays in soft blue, white, and baby footprints
→ These added cheerful color and framed the space beautifully. We used a balloon pump and a kit that made setup easy.
👉 Adorable Baby Blue Footprint Balloons
👉 Electric Balloon Pump

• Burlap banners that said “It’s a Boy” and “Sweet Baby Boy”
→ We hung these above the dessert table and gift station - adorable and easy to match with other coastal textures.
👉 Baby Boy Burlap Banner
👉 Sweet Baby Boy Burlap Banner

• Cupcake toppers with sailboat wrappers and “Ahoy!” flags
→ Perfect for our nautical theme and a hit with guests.
👉 Ahoy it's a Boy Cupcake Collars & Toppers
We also provided individual cupcake containers so guests could easily take one home—super handy and a nice little party favor everyone appreciated.

• White tablecloths with navy napkins and floral centerpieces
→ Simple but impactful - tying into the soft nautical theme we used throughout the shower.

• Mini printed games and favors at each place setting
→ We used coordinated printables to tie the table together and keep guests engaged.

Pro Tip: Choose a palette that reflects your version of coastal - blues and seafoam for a soft, serene feel, or navy, red, and white for a bold nautical twist. Whatever direction you choose, keep textures natural and layered to anchor the theme.

Since we hosted the shower at a venue, we used traditional linens and glassware - but coordinated paper goods can work beautifully too, especially for backyard or casual celebrations. The key is keeping your colors and materials consistent, so the entire event feels polished and thoughtfully designed, even with simple elements.

Games & Activities: Easy, Interactive, and Nautical

We chose lighthearted games that matched our nautical theme and were easy for guests of all ages to enjoy. Most of them came as ready-to-use card packs - no setup required - which made things stress-free on the day of the event.

Here’s what we used:

• Guess How Many Kisses Game
  This classic game was a guest favorite. We used the standing anchor-themed sign and set out a jar filled with chocolate kisses. Guests dropped in their guesses, and the closest answer won a prize.
  👉Guess How Many Kisses Nautical Baby Shower Game
• Nautical Scratch-Off Cards
  We passed these out at the start of the party as an easy icebreaker. Three winners received small gift baskets. Everyone loved the surprise and simplicity!
  👉 Nautical Scratch Off Cards
• Animal Matching Game: “Name the Baby”
  Guests had to match baby animal names to the adult version (e.g., octopus–larva). It was fun, a little challenging, and perfectly on theme with our ocean setting.
  👉 Nautical Baby Shower Animal Matching Game
• Mommy or Daddy Guessing Game
  This anchor-themed game had guests guessing which parent said what - funny and sometimes surprising! It sparked conversation and was one of the highlights of the afternoon.
  👉 Mommy or Daddy Nautical Baby Shower Game
• Centerpiece Entry Drawing
  Each table had a simple entry card guests could fill out for a chance to win the floral centerpiece. It was a sweet way to give decorations a second life and send guests home with something special.
• Pens for the Games
  To keep things easy and organized, we placed pens at each table so guests could fill out game cards without having to search or share. It’s a small touch that helped things run smoothly especially for larger groups.
  👉 Blue Ball Point Pens

Pro Tip: Games don’t need to take up a huge chunk of time - just 2–3 quick ones sprinkled throughout the party kept the energy up without feeling overwhelming.

Party Favors: Coastal Keepsakes with a Personal Touch

Send guests home with something sweet, simple, and inspired by the sea.

For our shower, we gifted each guest a potted Munstead Lavender Plant tucked into a small painted metal pail from the Dollar Store. Lavender was the perfect choice - fragrant, easy to care for, and something guests could enjoy long after the party.

Each pot included a coordinating thank-you tag and a printed lavender care card, which we styled together on a round table beside the cupcakes. A framed “Favors - Please Take One” sign completed the display and added a thoughtful finishing touch.

Coastal Baby Shower Favor Ideas

• Mini bottles of sea salt scrub
• Shell-shaped soaps in soft pastel or sandy tones
• Candles in beach glass or tin containers
• Starfish wine stoppers or coastal bottle openers
• Nautical cookies wrapped in cellophane and tied with ribbon

Pro Tip: Lavender is a coastal-friendly plant that smells amazing and travels well. You can also swap in rosemary, herbs, or mini succulents to fit the season or your chosen color palette.

Brunch Menu & Sweet Send-Offs

We served a full brunch buffet that felt relaxed, satisfying, and perfectly suited for a late-morning coastal celebration. The menu offered something for everyone - elevated and thoughtful, without being overly formal.

Our Brunch Menu Included:

• Mimosas and white sangria with assorted juices
• Coffee and a selection of teas
• Bacon, sausage, and breakfast potatoes
• Scrambled eggs and French toast
• Fruit salad, bagels, muffins, and fresh-baked cookies

After the meal, guests enjoyed a sweet and simple treat: individual cupcakes styled like sailboats! Each cupcake was wrapped in a navy boat-themed wrapper with a striped topper that read “Ahoy! It’s a Boy!” We also provided cupcake containers so guests could take one home - a cute and practical detail that doubled as a favor.

Pro Tip: Cupcakes are easy to serve and transport. Dress them up with themed wrappers or flags to match your decor and make them feel special.

Other Coastal-Inspired Menu Ideas

Light Lunch Buffet – Mini croissant sandwiches, seafood or pasta salads, fruit trays, lemonade bar
Plated Meal – A seated brunch or lunch with salad, entrée, and a signature drink (like a sea breeze cocktail)
Dessert-Only Shower – Cupcakes, cookies, fruit skewers, and a coastal-themed coffee or tea bar

Hosting Tip: Match your menu to your setting and time of day. Coastal serveware, mini menu signs, and shell or citrus garnishes are easy ways to make even a simple spread feel festive.

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Sweet Extras to Make It More Meaningful

A few heartfelt touches can turn a beautiful baby shower into a truly unforgettable one. We included two simple ideas that added a personal, emotional layer to the celebration - and they’ve since become cherished memories.

Book Instead of a Card

We invited guests to bring a book in place of a traditional greeting card by adding a note to the invitation:
“Please bring a book instead of a card and sign the book so the baby knows it was from you.”

Guests loved the idea, and now the baby has a growing library filled with sweet messages and meaningful stories from loved ones. It’s a keepsake the parents read again and again.

Here are a few classic baby books that make wonderful additions to any little one’s library whether you’re building your own collection or picking a meaningful gift:

👉 Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
👉 Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
👉 Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
👉 Is Your Mama a LLama by Deborah Guarino and Steve Kellogg
👉 Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Yu-hsuan Huang

Pro Tip: You could create a “Bring a Book” sign for the shower or set up a book basket near the gift table something sweet and easy to do.

Message in a Bottle

We set out a small glass bottle along with note cards and pens, inviting guests to write a piece of advice, a special family tradition, or a wish for the baby.

These handwritten messages were heartfelt, funny, and full of love - a beautiful way to welcome the little one into a family full of stories and wisdom.

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Pro Tip: Display both of these ideas with small framed signs to match your shower decor. It helps guide guests and encourages participation while tying everything together visually.

Looking Ahead – Coastal Baby Shower Theme Kits

Inspired by this celebration, I’m working on a collection of coastal-themed baby shower kits designed to make party planning easy, stylish, and full of heart.

Whether you’re dreaming of an underwater adventure, something soft and shimmering, or a classic nautical theme, these kits will help bring your vision together beautifully.

Each collection will include coordinating pieces like:
• Invitations
• Signage & favor tags
• Printable game cards
• Table decor accents
• Themed welcome signs & extras

You’ll be able to shop or download exactly what you need - so every detail feels thoughtful, cohesive, and totally you.

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Final Thoughts

Planning this coastal baby shower was such a joy - from the lavender favors and photo wall to the sailboat cupcakes and seaside-inspired details. It all came together in a way that felt both polished and personal, with just the right mix of celebration and charm.

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Whether you're hosting your own shower by the sea or simply bringing a bit of the coast to your backyard, I hope these ideas help you create a gathering that’s beautiful, meaningful, and full of love.