Planning Gender Reveal Ideas

1. Pick a date a week or two after your results come in.
2. Choose the one person who will keep the sealed envelope.
3. Set your guest list and send invites.
4. Choose your reveal, like smoke bombs, confetti cannons or a fire extinguisher.
5. Plan decorations, food and a game or two.
6. Line up someone to film, plus a rain plan.

For a full party, start 3 to 4 weeks out so guests can save the date. A small family reveal can come together in a week. Order reveal products early so they arrive with time to spare.

Favorites include "He or She, What Will It Be?", "Touchdowns or Tutus", "Baseball or Bows" and "Little Man or Little Miss." A theme ties together invites, decor and food. Our Touchdowns or Tutus and Baseball or Bows sets do the decorating for you.

Start with a gender reveal banner and a balloon garland as your backdrop. Add boy or girl balloons, baby shower boxes and a cake topper. Keep everything in pink and blue together so nothing gives the answer away.

Pink and blue treats are the classic: cupcakes, cake pops, macarons and candy. A gender reveal cake or cupcakes with a hidden colored center can double as a second reveal. Add easy finger food so guests can graze before the big moment.

The gender reveal usually comes first, around the middle of the pregnancy once you have results. Baby showers tend to happen later, in the third trimester. Some families combine both, with the reveal as the shower's grand finale.

• Just the two of you or close family: smoke bombs or confetti cannons
• A backyard party: smoke cannons, or a pack of confetti cannons for guests
• A big crowd: fire extinguishers or several products set off together
• Car lovers: a burnout kit; sports fans: an exploding ball

Check the forecast two days out and pick a backup date when you send invites. Have an indoor fallback ready, like a gender reveal box or a filled cake. Smoke and powder reveals belong outside, so save them for a dry day.