A baby shower venue 10 minutes from Des Plaines built for the moment expecting parents want to remember. 40 to 120 guests, in-house Italian kitchen, custom décor welcome, free parking 30 feet from the door. International Banquet, family-owned since 2008.
A baby shower is one of those rare events where the expectant mother (or both parents) gets to sit in the center of attention without obligation. The host's job is to make her feel celebrated — not run a logistics operation. Our space is built for the format baby showers actually take: a daytime brunch or luncheon with a clear program, room for thoughtful décor, and service that paces around games, the gift opening, or the gender reveal without rushing the guest of honor. We host expecting families from Des Plaines, Park Ridge, and Mount Prospect every weekend during shower season — the agenda is familiar, but every shower feels personal.
Start PlanningBaby showers used to follow one format — Sunday afternoon, women only, games and gift-opening. Modern parents have expanded it. Here's what families actually book in our space near Des Plaines, and what each style trades off.
40–70 guests, plated brunch or buffet, gift-opening segment after the meal. The most-booked format. Sunday afternoon, finishes by 3 PM, photographs in natural light. Mother-of-the-expecting-mom or sister hosting, friends coordinating games and prize-giving.
Dedicated décor budget, custom backdrops, themed dessert table, color-coordinated favors. Often built around a motif (woodland, safari, boho, classic blue/pink). Our team handles décor setup at no extra charge — bring whatever you've sourced or pinned.
The shower and the reveal combined into one event. Reveal moment integrated into the timeline — cake cut, balloon release, or smoke cannon. We coordinate with the person holding the envelope so the parents find out alongside their guests.
Both partners attend, evening format optional with full bar, family-style energy. We've hosted Italian-Polish, Albanian-American, and Indian-American showers where dual-cuisine menus and cultural elements integrate into the timeline naturally.
The room photographs beautifully in daylight — large windows, warm finishes, no fluorescent banquet-hall harshness that ruins shower photos. Layouts flex from round tables of 8 (most common for showers) to a head-table arrangement for the mom-to-be and her closest people. Décor setup is included; bring centerpieces, backdrops, signage, dessert tables, gift tables — our team places everything before guests arrive. The free parking matters here specifically because guests arrive carrying gifts, diaper cakes, and sometimes strollers for their own little ones who are tagging along. If you're also weighing options for an after-arrival celebration, our private party room works well for sip & see introductions.
Three steps. The mother-of-the-expecting-mom or sister usually drives this — and we make it easy on them.
The shower style (traditional, themed, gender reveal, co-ed, multi-cultural), expected guest count, target date, and the mom-to-be's preferences. Surprise showers happen — we coordinate around the secrecy. Same-day availability check.
Your event manager confirms the menu, room layout, gift table and dessert table placement, timing of games and gift opening, photo backdrop setup, and any custom décor coordination. Pinterest boards welcome — we work from them.
Walk into a fully decorated room — décor placed exactly per plan, food on the timeline, dessert table styled. The host (mom, sister, best friend) gets to actually be at the shower instead of running it from the kitchen.
Three packages, scaled to shower style. Per-person pricing, no separate room fee, décor setup included.
The traditional Sunday afternoon shower. Plated brunch or luncheon, finishes by 3 PM, natural light for photos. The most-booked format for classic showers.
Multi-generational showers, themed events, larger guest lists. Buffet keeps the energy mobile, accommodates dietary restrictions naturally, and lets guests mingle during games and gift opening.
Co-ed showers and evening formats with full bar. White-glove plated service, 3-hour open bar, more party energy than a daytime brunch. Common for second babies and modern couples.
Multi-cultural showers are quoted as custom — dual-cuisine menus (Italian-Polish, Albanian-American, Indian-American, and others) and integrated cultural elements (blessings, traditional games, family rituals) handled within the same booking.
View Full MenuMy daughter's baby shower — 65 guests, full woodland theme, custom backdrop and dessert table. The team set up everything before guests arrived; I got to actually be the grandmother-to-be instead of the host. The photos turned out gorgeous.
Gender reveal shower — 55 guests, the reveal happened with a cake cut after lunch. The team coordinated with my sister so even I didn't know until everyone else did. Pink cake, full meltdown of happy tears. Worth every dollar.
Co-ed shower for our second baby — 80 guests, evening format with bar, both families together. Way more energy than our first shower. The kids that came with parents had room to move around and the food was actually warm when it hit the table.
The questions hosts ask before locking the date.
We're at 1863 W Central Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005 — about 10 minutes from Des Plaines via Central Road or Northwest Highway. Out-of-town guests staying near O'Hare reach us in 10 minutes, which matters when family flies in for the shower. Free parking 30 feet from the entrance, no walking through a deck with gifts and a stroller. For the broader local context, see our overview of banquet halls serving Des Plaines.
Most baby showers run 40–75 guests, but we host all the way up to 120. The room handles smaller, intimate showers without feeling empty — important for daytime brunches where the energy needs to feel warm and full, not echoey.
Yes — this is one of the most-booked combinations. The reveal moment integrates into the timeline (we usually place it after the meal, before gift opening). We coordinate the reveal element — cake cut, balloon release, smoke cannon, or whatever you've chosen — with the person holding the envelope so the parents-to-be find out alongside their guests.
Yes — this is what most baby showers want. Backdrops, balloon arches, dessert tables, custom signage, themed centerpieces, diaper raffles, party favors all welcome. Bring a Pinterest board if you have one. Our team handles setup at no extra charge.
We pace service around it. Most hosts do games during cocktails, then gifts after the meal, before dessert — the room is full but the meal portion is finished. We provide a comfortable chair setup for the mom-to-be and a designated spot for opened gifts. A microphone is available for prize announcements and toasts.
Yes — increasingly common, especially for second babies and modern couples. Evening format available with full bar, both partners present, more party energy than a traditional daytime shower. The room reconfigures easily for this format.
We've done many. Custom menus accommodate dual-cuisine requests — Italian-Polish, Albanian-American, Indian-American, and others. Traditional elements (blessings, family rituals, cultural games) integrate into the timeline at no extra logistical complication. If you're also planning future events, our private party space is set up for the same flexibility.
Sunday peak-season afternoons (April–October) fill 2–4 months in advance. Saturday and weekday showers usually have availability with 4–8 weeks notice. Surprise showers should book as early as possible since the secrecy adds coordination time. Most hosts plan around the 7th-month mark of pregnancy.
For a 60-guest Sunday brunch shower, expect roughly $1,500 in food at our $25 tier. For a 75-guest themed buffet shower, roughly $2,550 at the $34 tier. Co-ed evening showers with plated dinner and open bar typically run $4,000–$5,000 for 60 guests.
