Is It Worth It? A Host's Honest Guide to Event Add-Ons
Planning a wedding, baby shower, or bridal shower comes with a long list of "extras" — and not all of them are worth your budget. At Bat Haus, our Williamsburg, Brooklyn event venue, we get asked the same questions every week from hosts trying to figure out where to spend and where to save. So we put together this honest, no-fluff breakdown of the most common add-ons, and whether they're actually worth it depending on your event type.
Are flowers worth it for a wedding or shower?
Yes — flowers are one of the few add-ons we recommend across the board. A floral arrangement instantly elevates a room, tying your colors and theme together in a way few other details can. You don't need a huge budget either: bring in your own arrangement, work with your florist, or add our in-house styled floral package. Either way, this is one investment that consistently pays off in photos and in person.
Is a balloon arch worth it?
This one is genuinely 50/50, and it depends on your taste and budget. Balloon arches are still popular and plenty of hosts love the bold, colorful look for a wedding reception or baby shower backdrop. But if you're trying to trim costs, a simple hanging banner delivers a similar visual impact for a fraction of the price. Neither choice is wrong — it comes down to whether the arch is a "must-have" for your vision or a nice-to-have you can skip.
Do you need to hire a bartender?
For a wedding: yes, absolutely. A dedicated bartender keeps the reception moving, manages your bar responsibly, and frees up you and your guests to actually enjoy the night. For a baby shower or bridal shower, though, you can skip it. These events are shorter, smaller, and rarely need the same level of beverage service — a self-serve drink station usually does the job just fine.
Do you need full catering?
For weddings, full catering is a clear yes — guests expect a proper meal at a wedding reception, and it's worth the investment. For baby showers, it's a different story. Full sit-down catering is often more than the moment calls for. Today's guests don't expect a full meal at a shower, so a sandwich spread, grazing table, or light bites setup is more than acceptable — and it saves you a meaningful amount of your budget.
Is a wedding cake worth it?
Increasingly, no. We've noticed a real shift: fewer guests are eating cake at events, and we've seen a lot of beautifully decorated cakes go straight to the trash at the end of the night. If dessert matters to you (and it should — it's a fun moment), consider cupcakes instead. They're a smaller, easier-to-eat bite, there's less waste, and guests can grab one on the way to the dance floor without needing a plate and fork.
Do you need a special chair for opening gifts at a baby shower?
No — this is one you can cross off your list entirely. There's no need to rent a decorative "mom-to-be" chair or bring one from home. Any venue with proper seating, including ours, already has a chair that works perfectly for the gift-opening moment. Save the rental fee and put it toward something that actually shows up in your photos, like flowers.
The bottom line
The add-ons worth prioritizing are the ones that show up in every photo and set the tone for the whole event — flowers, a great bar (for weddings), and a thoughtful dessert option. The ones you can skip or scale down are usually the ones guests don't notice as much as hosts think they will: a rented chair, a full catered meal at a shower, or an elaborate cake that ends up half-eaten.
If you're planning a wedding, baby shower, or bridal shower in Brooklyn and want help figuring out what's actually worth it for your specific event, reach out to Bat Haus — we're happy to walk through it with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bartender for a baby shower? No. Bartenders are worth the cost for weddings, but baby showers and bridal showers typically don't need one.
Is a balloon arch worth the money? It depends on your budget. It's a popular choice, but a simple banner offers a similar visual effect for less.
Do baby showers need full catering? Not usually. Light bites like sandwiches or a grazing table are now considered totally acceptable for a baby shower.
Are cupcakes a good alternative to a wedding cake? Yes. Cupcakes are easier to serve, easier to eat, and create far less food waste than a traditional cake.
Where can I host a wedding or baby shower in Brooklyn? Bat Haus is a creative event venue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, suited for weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, and private events.
