Hosting an Online Gender Reveal for Your Long-Distance Friends & Family

Pregnancy is an exciting time for expecting parents, and wanting to share your news with your close friends and family is only natural. If an in-person gender reveal isn't possible for you, that's okay. You still have options. Read all about how to have an online gender reveal right here...

No matter your situation, whether you've recently migrated or moved for your partner, you aren't alone.

Lots of people go through pregnancy without their friends or family down the road. That doesn't mean you have to miss out on fun pregnancy events like gender reveals.

Living in our current digital age, the possibilities are endless, and you now see people opting for online gender reveals.

Parties on Facetime? Lockdown made that normal. TikTok gender reveals? Everybody's doing them. So don't worry about seeming strange or too low-key for having an online reveal. This happens to be the new norm.

What is an Online Gender Reveal?

Gender reveals online are becoming more typical each year.

Whether that's having an online party through Zoom or simply sharing your news on your socials, people these days are choosing the stress-free and minimal-effort option.

That doesn't mean to say there aren't other benefits to having an online gender reveal, oh no.

Here is why an online gender reveal is desirable:

You get to share your news with your loved ones simultaneously – nobody gets left out of the loop.
It's completely free. There are no payouts for having an online gender reveal (unless you plan some games for an online party, but even then, you can make them cost-free).
You decide exactly how you announce the gender of your baby because you can pre-plan it! For those parents who like to keep control, this is for you.

Your friends and family all over the globe get to be part of your special announcement. Having your loved ones involved with your pregnancy in some way can have a calming effect on mum-to-be.
If you're unwell or have been told to go on bed rest for the remainder of your pregnancy, an online gender reveal will be perfect for you. You don't need to miss the exciting moments of pregnancy.

How Do I Keep My Family & Friends Involved in My Pregnancy?

Staring your pregnancy journey while your loved ones are dotted around the world can be a daunting time for parents-to-be.

Having your loved ones involved in your pregnancy is important for your emotional well-being, and you should seek advice from people who have been through pregnancy before.

But all this doesn't necessarily have to be in person. You can always text. (And if you get advice that isn't so well-received, simply delete).

Here are some ways to keep long-distance friends and family involved with your pregnancy:

Build excitement by sending your close friends and family regular updates on your pregnancy journey. Whether that's nursery updates or your bump has grown, share it all!
Involve them in the prep by asking for their opinions on baby cribs, crib bedding, nappies – everything. Even if you don't take their advice, it'll still make them feel they have a connection to your baby.

Events! Gender reveals are perfect ways to keep the family involved with your pregnancy, even if it is online.

Ideas for Hosting a Virtual Gender Reveal Party

If you're not sure where to start with your online gender reveal, don't worry; we've got some unique ideas for games and announcements that might help you clarify what you want for your special day.

Let's get straight into it.

Online Gender Reveal Games

Playing an online gender reveal game can be beneficial for getting the vibes going at your virtual or long-distance gender reveal.

They're also typical at in-person gender reveals, and you'll want to make your virtual one as similar as possible.

Here are some ideas:

Easy Gender Reveal Prediction Game

This is a great ice-breaker to play at the start of your virtual party. Guests can either verbally make their guesses or write them down.

Guests can also predict other things about your new little one (weight, height, hair colour, etc.) and jot down their guesses. This is a fun way to start the celebration!

Old Wives' Tales Quiz

Prepare a list of old wives' tales related to predicting gender during pregnancy, and get your guests to vote on what they think the gender is based on the tales.

Include things like cravings, face shape, and your partner's weight.

You can either reveal the gender at the end of the game (this obviously acts as your virtual reveal) or leave people hanging until the end of the party.

Baby Pictionary

Let your guests draw baby-related words or items (sleeping bags, storks, dummies, etc.) in sections, and have your other guests guess what they're drawing.

This is a fun gender reveal game suitable for all the family. It can also encourage laughs and jokes for a light-hearted and funny day!

The Big Reveal

Of course, your guests are here for one thing and one thing only: the all-important announcement.

Here are some fun ways to reveal your baby's gender that'll have your guests jumping for joy!

Temporarily Dye Your Hair

Start your gender reveal party with the main surprise by dyeing your hair blue or pink (you can get coloured hair spray, don't worry – you don't actually need to dye it!).

Your friends and family will get an immediate shock and set the tone for the rest of the party. It's a simple gender reveal but effective.

Create a Festive Backdrop

Set up a backdrop behind where you and your partner will be sitting during your online gender reveal with boy and girl balloons.

Somewhere within your display, have a balloon filled with blue or pink confetti, and when the time comes, pop the balloon for your guests.

The thrill and excitement of popping the balloon will be a special moment between friends and family.

Word Search Reveal

For an interactive gender reveal that all your guests can participate in, create a small word search for everyone.

You can do this virtually (create a document with your word search and send it to your guests) or post a physical one to them.

This will create suspense and ultimately surprise your guests in a wholesome way.

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Ideas for a Social Media Gender Announcement

Even if you decide to have an online gender reveal with your closest friends and family, it's likely you'll want to reveal your news to your socials to let everybody else know.

For ease, many new mums and dads decide to reveal their news only to social media without a virtual party, which is a great option, too.

If you don't know how to create the most impactful social media post, here are our ideas:

Gender Reveal Photo Ops

Turn you and your partner into professional photographers with our easy photo ideas for revealing the gender of your baby!

1) Sibling Clothing

If you have other children, this is perfect for you. Have your other child wear an item of clothing (baby grow, T-shirt, etc) that has been made with your gender reveal in mind.

Go obvious by having some wording printed on the clothing (e.g. I'm so excited to meet my little brother/sister!), or just picture them wearing a blue or pink outfit.

See how many of your friends and followers catch on!

2) Black & White to Colour Gender Reveal

We've been seeing this one a lot recently, and it's especially effective if you have Instagram (you can swipe to reveal your baby's gender).

Have a private gender reveal with you and your partner, and make sure this involves colour. Whether you cut a cake or pop a balloon, capture the moment with an image.

Edit the photo to black-and-white and use it as the first image on your tile (we're creating suspense here). For photo number two, post the colour version and let your followers swipe to reveal the gender!

3) Baby Display

Another popular option is to create a display of baby items arranged in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Use blue items if you're having a boy and pink for a girl. It couldn't be easier!

Gender Announcement Captions

To accompany your photos, you'll need a caption. Or, you might just want to post a Facebook status to reveal the gender to your friends.

So, here are some cute captions and quotes you can use to do so:

"Our hearts are so filled with joy! We are having a baby, and guess what? It's a boy!"
"Our world just got a little more pink!"
"We can't wait to meet you, little girl/boy."
"Tie or Tutu? It's a girl/boy!"
"Twinkle twinkle, little star, how we've wondered what you are. Baby girl/boy coming soon!"
"Ten little fingers, ten little toes, two little eyes, and one little nose. Boy or girl? We finally know! Baby girl/boy coming soon."

Key Takeaways: Online Gender Reveal Ideas

Now that you've reached the end, you should have a good idea of what an online gender reveal is and how to do one.

We hope the planning brings much excitement to you and your partner during this special time!

If your situation allows for one, and you're considering an in-person gender reveal, or perhaps you’re planning one for a friend, check out our selection of blog posts to give you a little helping hand: