Celebrating a baby on the way: an intimate forest gathering without confetti
A celebration of the people waiting to meet your baby
Expecting a baby is a strange and wonderful time: a new person has not yet been born, but is already changing conversations, plans and an entire family. That can be the heart of the celebration. There is no need to reduce it to a few seconds when balloons of a particular colour fly out of a box. It is far more interesting to gather the people who will soon become grandparents, godparents, an aunt, an uncle or simply a trusted adult in the child's life.
This idea feels especially natural in a forest. The NAMETY meadow at VDNH in Kyiv is a space under the trees: a daytime package with Male Lito is available for up to 30 guests, while groups of 31 to 50 require exclusive hire of NAMETY. The main decoration is already here: living tree canopies, daylight and fresh air. A celebration can therefore be beautiful without a mass of things used once and thrown away the next day.
One possible scenario: Solomiia and Denys, 18 guests
Please note: Solomiia and Denys are fictional, composite characters. The event described is an example scenario, not a real story or review from NAMETY guests.
They did not want to divide guests into two teams, see who guessed correctly or make their future child the subject of a competition. They liked the idea of discovering the news together, but bringing the two families together mattered more.
A group of 18 people gathered on the meadow. First, everyone sat at one table, and Solomiia's and Denys's parents each brought three childhood photographs. The guests guessed which of the parents-to-be appeared in each photograph, rather than the baby's sex. The pictures led to stories that the other half of the family had never heard.
The couple saved the news itself for the middle of the day. At their request, one trusted person received the test result. That person passed the information to the cake maker, and the colour of the filling became a quiet signal for everyone at the table. No countdown, explosion or cloud of powder. Solomiia and Denys first saw the colour together, then showed the cut cake to their guests.
This is just one possible approach. The point is not to copy it exactly, but to capture its tone: the news belongs to the parents-to-be, and the guests share the moment rather than watch a spectacle.
What to call the event in Ukrainian
In English, this type of event is commonly called a gender reveal. An invitation in Ukrainian need not copy that wording literally. 'A celebration for our baby-to-be', 'a gathering for our closest people', 'a day for our growing family' or 'revealing a family secret' can sound warmer and more fitting.
It is also perfectly fine if revealing the baby's sex is not the main focus. You can skip the surprise altogether and devote the gathering to the future: collect family stories, write letters to the baby or make a list of places your loved ones would like to show this new person one day.
Five ways to share the news without leaving a trace in the forest
1. A letter from the parents-to-be
The couple open an envelope together and tell the guests themselves. The simplest option is often the most emotional, because everyone sees people's reactions rather than a device.
2. A cake or dessert filling
The colour stays inside the food rather than scattering around the venue. Agree in advance who will receive the information and pass it to the cake maker, and make sure the secret does not appear on an invoice or in a message.
3. A ribbon in a closed box
One long fabric ribbon, taken home after the event, creates a striking photograph without hundreds of tiny objects. The box can later hold letters to the child or keepsakes.
4. Flowers in a single shade
A trusted person brings a bouquet or unveils an arrangement. The flowers go home after the celebration rather than being left in the grass. Before choosing them, make sure nothing will scatter or be discarded in the forest.
5. A photograph together after a private moment
The parents-to-be can learn the news privately first, then show guests a portrait, a ribbon or a small card. Not every powerful moment has to happen in front of twenty phones.
What to keep out of the forest
Plastic and paper confetti only seem harmless for the first second. After that, tiny pieces settle in the grass, leaves and bark, and collecting every last one is almost impossible. The same applies to glitter, coloured powders, plastic petals, balloons released into the sky and anything designed to scatter.
Even a material labelled 'natural' or 'biodegradable' is not automatically allowed to be left in the forest. There is a simple rule for celebrations at NAMETY: everything brought into the forest must leave afterwards, apart from happy memories.
The expectant mother's comfort matters more than the photograph
Do not build the day around long periods of standing, dozens of retakes or surprise tasks. Agree the route to the meadow, places to rest and any conditions you specifically need with the NAMETY team in advance. Mention the forest setting, suitable footwear and the weather forecast in the invitation.
If guests would like to add a sauna or hot tub, book an available time in advance and agree capacity with NAMETY. The expectant mother should decide whether to take part only after receiving individual advice from her own doctor. Do not make the sauna a compulsory part of the programme or give the impression that all guests can use the sauna and hot tub at the same time.
What a three- to four-hour programme could look like
A lovely celebration for a baby-to-be does not need a fifteen-point schedule. A simple rhythm is enough:
- an unhurried arrival and introductions between the families;
- a meal together;
- photographs and two or three family stories;
- sharing the news privately or together;
- letters or wishes for the future child;
- dessert and time with no planned activities.
This describes the rhythm of the celebration, not an hourly booking: the meadow is offered as a day package. Access to the grounds is from 10:00 to 23:00, with the event itself taking place between 12:00 and 22:00.
For more than thirty guests, exclusive hire of NAMETY is required, and one person should take responsibility for timing and practical matters. Exclusive hire includes all five cabins, which can accommodate up to ten overnight guests in total. The package also includes one session with a sauna and two hot tubs, lasting up to two hours.
With ten or fifteen guests, the gathering can feel almost like being at home. The maximum is 50 people, but this kind of occasion does not need to aim for the largest possible number.
A gift the child will open later
Instead of giving every guest the same souvenir, invite each person to write a short letter: 'What I want to show you in this world', 'A quality I love in your parents', or 'The advice you can always come to me for'. Put the letters in one box and choose a date when the child will read them.
This creates no waste for the sake of a single photograph. It preserves the voices of people who were waiting for the baby before they first met. And perhaps, many years later, that box will explain the meaning of the day better than any cloud of coloured smoke.
Planning an event? Tell the NAMETY team how many loved ones you would like to gather and whether you plan to reveal the news during the celebration. For up to 30 guests, we will discuss the meadow with Male Lito and available extras; for 31 to 50, exclusive hire, overnight accommodation in the five cabins within their capacity, and the included sauna and hot tub session.
