Planning a Bridal shower can be fun and rewarding! If the Bride to be prefers a more dignified get together with friends and family, try one of the ideas below:
If she's looking to have some fun with the girls, see our Bachelorette party page!
Bridal Shower Invitations:
Although themed bridal showers are becoming increasing popular in recent years, a traditional wedding shower for the bride is still the most common form of pre-wedding celebration. Many times the party is held in the morning over brunch, but it can also be hosted in the afternoon or evening with a dessert menu or light appetizers and drinks. The guest list for this event typically includes the bridesmaids, close friends of the bride, and family members of both bride and groom.
A shower can take place anywhere between six months before the wedding up to two weeks before the big day. Whenever is a convenient date for the bride! Send the invitations so that they arrive at least two weeks before the event. If you are inviting guests from out of town, a six to eight week lead-time would be more appropriate and appreciated.
Be sure to include the following information in your invitation:
• Date, time, and length of shower
• Who is invited (i.e. children, or adults only)
• Name & location of bridal registry
• Bride’s name & groom’s name
• Map to the party location
• Description of theme (if applicable) and if gifts and attire should be tied to the theme
• RSVP phone number If you are inviting a large group of guests to the shower, you may want to consider having a formal invitation printed to give your hands a rest from writing each one. A beautiful choice for this occasion would be the Celestial magic Invitation. What's Her Bridal Shower Style?
By Jennifer Baumann
So many shower options and so little time! Not sure whether the bride-to-be is a Tame Tracey or a Wild Winona? Take our quiz and find out.
1. Her Wedding Dress Could be Described As...
A. expensive and timeless, something that Michelle Pfeiffer or Nicole Kidman might wear.
B. different, something that Gwyneth Paltrow or Renee Zellweger might wear.
C. whimsical and fresh, something that Julia Roberts or Kate Hudson might wear.
D. comfortable and possibly off-the-racks, something that Sandra Bullock or Meg Ryan might wear.
E. silky, sleek, and a little naughty, something that Jennifer Lopez or Catherine Zeta-Jones might wear.
2. The Music At Her Reception Will Feature...
A. every love song ever written.
B. a mixture of music from classical, to folk, to alternative, to rap.
C. well worn dance ditties to get them up and make 'em smile.
D. a local DJ keeping the tunes mainstream.
E. the best kick-butt band my money can buy.
3. The Bride and Groom Will Exit The Reception...
A. limo all the way.
B. in a horse-drawn carriage or a rented Jag.
C. in his car, bedecked with "just-married" stickers and the requisite cans tied to the bumper.
D. in her Dad's car, no big deal.
E. in a helicopter (they'll throw rice as they lift off!)
4. Her Gift Registry Is All About...
A. formal and informal china, basic white linens, and a well-appointed kitchen.
B. pottery, mix-and-match place settings, retro appliances, and a bonsai for every room.
C. his-and-hers towels; matching bathrobes, themed bedroom décor, and set-ups for the breakfast nook.
D. one set of all-around china, handsome but practical flatware, easy lifestyle décor for the livingroom, and pretty much anything that is useful for the kitchen.
E. their honeymoon to Tahiti; an honest-to-goodness Tiffany lamp; custom-made lawn furniture; and scuba diving equipment.
5. Her Engagement Ring Has To Be...
A. a white princess-cut diamond, large enough but not too showy.
B. a tanzanite set in white gold.
C. a sweetheart diamond band.
D. something attractive and unobtrusive.
E. a rock the size of Gibraltar.
Read On For Her Bridal Shower Style:
Mostly A's:
Her style is classic, and that means she's probably going to feel most comfortable with the traditional bridal shower. Traditionally, the MOH is the one who is to plan and throw it. The classic bridal shower is all about what's done, and correct etiquette counts.
Typically, it should occur 2 to 3 weeks prior to the wedding at the MOH's house. Keep it female only, and send out the invitations 3 weeks prior to the actual party. Traditional bridal shower fare includes finger foods, cake, coffee, and punch; gifts are tasteful, useful items for the home; party games are out, and after the initial introductions, general chit-chat, and canapés, the major activities include opening the gifts and cutting the cake. The classic bridal shower is tame, time-honored, and functional.
Mostly B's:
Her style is creative, so a bridal shower that leans toward the unique will be right for her. If you're smart, you'll consult the bride to find out what pleases her. Today's bride with a creative side is being showered at spas, restaurants and jazz clubs, to name a few. Sometimes called no-host showers, you may opt to provide invitations, entertainment, and favors. In short, pretty much everything but the venue and the food. And because the location is out-and-about, it makes sense for the group to give the bride one gift, generally something significant that you couldn't afford on your own.
Mostly C's:
Call her style cutsey. Let's face it, decorating with little umbrellas and wearing the "ribbon hat" just appeals to her. In order to access her inner child, be sure to plan plenty of games.
While cutsey showers don't appeal to guys (so don't bother inviting them), they do provide the you the perfect opportunity to go with a theme. Think room-of-the-house showers (gifts to fit each room) or white elephant showers (guests bring the worst gifts in order to gain the biggest laughs, the real gift is opened later). Finally, to keep the fun rolling, food should be simple like pans of lasagna or order-in pizza, salad, cake and coffee.
Mostly D's:
This bride is casual all the way. Creativity, charm, and tradition can all have their say in her shower, but they'd best be laid-back about it. Backyard barbecues and his-and-her showers are perfect for the bride with the casual side. More party than anything else, the casual shower can dispense with most of the niceties, ask guests to bring a covered dish, and offer tried-and-true foods sure to please the crowd: giant heroes, burgers and hotdogs, chips and dips. For brides and grooms with large families and lots of friends, the casual shower is absolutely the way to go.
Mostly E's:
You'd better tighten your seatbelt, for this shower is sure to provide a bumpy ride. Her style could be termed crazed, so already it might be best to think that guest list through. After all, male strippers might be a bit much for Grandma and Great Aunt Millie. All kidding aside, some brides like to walk on the wild side so that tamer affairs are just not for them. In these cases, the group can go out clubbing or bar-hopping (with a designated driver, of course) or simply set up a night of all-in-good-debauched fun at someone's home. In the latter case, the theme of "naughty" might prevail with lingerie gifts, racy games, and R-rated edibles.
Keep these tips in mind when planning any shower:
No matter how wild she is, don't plot or plan anything that will embarrass the bride so much she'll be upset or angry. So find out ahead of time if a stripper really is her cup of tea and never let the fun go too far. No bride wants to wake up with a hangover and find out she shared the stage with guys in thongs.
Don't plan the shower too close to the wedding date.
Offer your services in the planning of the shower, whether you're the bride, a bridesmaid, the MOH, or a guest.
Ask the bride for input regarding the guest list if you're unsure whom to invite and be certain that her fiancé's female relatives are invited.
Be sure to look for group rates where appropriate (spas, restaurants, entertainment).
Plan on two separate showers if one is going to be a tad too wild for some guests. By Jennifer Baumann
top Bridal Shower Guest List Tips
The guest list for a bridal shower typically includes the bridesmaids, close friends of the bride, and female family members of both bride and groom's. If you are hosting a shower for "work friends", or a "church" shower, you would not be obligated to include anyone outside that circle of friends.
Today, more and more wedding showers are co-ed events for both the bride and the groom. Typically referred to as a Jack & Jill Party, it really is much more like a "party" than the traditional bridal shower. If you are hosting a co-ed wedding shower, the groomsmen, ushers, friends of the groom, and male family members would also be included.
How many people should be included? There are no rules as to the number of guests that should be included. The hostess really is the one who needs to define the number that she feels comfortable with, and the location and/or budget may be determining factors in the decision.
Concerning multiple wedding and bridal showers, the only "rule" that generally applies to this situation is that (with the exception of immediate family) each friend or extended family member should appear on only one guest list. It can be a strain on the budget for anyone to have to purchase 2 nice gifts in such a short time frame.
Consult with the bride about the guest list. If the shower is a surprise party, consult with the mother of the bride, or the honor attendant as to the makeup of the guest list.
It is generally considered to be in good taste to include only people who will be invited to the wedding to a shower. There are some exceptions to this "rule". If the couple is getting married in the bride's home state of New York, and they reside in California…invite everyone to the shower held in California…chances are 95% of them wouldn't make it to the wedding even if they were invited. Other exceptions include: acquaintances or colleagues who might be included in a church or work shower, but who aren't close enough to be invited to the wedding; if the couple are having a small intimate wedding with only family members; or if the couple has chosen to marry at a location away from their home town (exotic destination weddings have become extremely popular).
top Bridal Shower Locations
Traditionally, the most popular location for a wedding shower has been the home of the hostess. That remains a popular option for the following reasons:
Least expensive option – no rental fees
Easy to prepare for if your time is limited (no booking, negotiating fees, contract signing, etc.)
You won't have to transport your shower goodies (gifts, decorations, party favors, etc.) elsewhere
Decorating and cooking can be done in advance
Whoever's home the party is held at will receive the majority of thanks for the party.
The following factors have caused some busy hosts to consider alternative locations to their own home:
After the party is over, the mess will be yours to contend with.
Amongst all the other preparations, your home will have to be cleaned and tidied.
For a few hours, you will need to empty your home of children and pets.
Guest list may be limited by size considerations.
Someone else can see to all the fun details (for a fee).
If you are co-hosting a shower, choose the home that will be most practical in terms of convenience for other guests, and space requirements.
For choices on alternative locations for their party, consider one of the following:
A hotel tearoom
A favorite restaurant (many have private rooms and don't add a surcharge for using them)
The home or grounds of the parents of the bride or groom, or a favorite relative
The beach
A park
A zoo
A community center or reception hall (VFW, etc)
A church hall
The Country Club
An art gallery or museum
An athletic facility or field
A building on campus at the bride or groom's Alma Mater
A barn (great for a Western theme – complete with bonfire)
Consider the interests, hobbies, honeymoon destination, careers, or family heritage of the bride and/or groom, and tie the theme and location together to honor the couple. top Bridal Shower Party Decorations:
Use Gossamer!. Choose either a bridal white or the colors of the wedding and simply drape the fabric over tables, tie bows on the backs of the chairs, swag it across a mantle, wrap it around pillars, and hang it from the ceiling. Add Twinkle Lights under the lightweight fabric.
Place pictures of the bride and her groom around the room. Make collages of them as babies and young adults. Be sure to include a collection of pictures of them together!
Hang a set of three Tissue Bells from the ceiling either over the food table or where the bride will be sitting.
Don’t underestimate the power of Balloons even for a more formal setting such as a bridal shower. Tie Curling Ribbon onto each balloon and hang them from the ceiling at varying heights.
Large bouquets of fresh flowers are a beautiful addition to your décor. Have them arranged using the colors of the wedding or an assortments of brightly colored flowers in season.
Place a White Parasol on the floor next to the bride’s chair. To “shower the bride” with gifts, have your guests place their packages under the umbrella as they arrive.
Plastic Lace Table Cover is an excellent choice. Can be placed over the top of a colored cloth for extra dimension. If you don’t have enough good china to serve all of your guests, plastic tableware is perfectly acceptable as a great alternative.
Great wedding and anniversary gifts for the beautiful new couple!
For your wedding or bridal shower centerpieces, we suggest one of the following options.
You can continue with the fresh flower suggestion and have a large arrangement at each table.
Purchase a beautiful wedding shower Centerpiece
Use framed pictures of the bride on each table.
Place a variety of Candles on your tables varying the height of each one for the most appealing look. A small piece of gossamer tied in a bow on pillar candles is a fantastic look.
Use your food as a centerpiece. Place large upside down buckets and paint cans of various sizes under your tablecloth. Place your food on beautiful serving pieces and place them on top of the makeshift platforms. Sprinkle rose petals between dishes. top Bridal Shower Games and Activities:
Make sure as guests arrive, they are introduced to one another. One way to break the ice is to provide name tags with a small note, such as, "I attended grammar school with Susie". This is a sure way to start conversations. Make sure to offer your guests liquid refreshments and whatever else you have provided. Set the mood with lighted candles, flowers, and decorations. You want your guests to enjoy the day (or evening) as much as the guest of honor. A fun game that allows your guests to become familiar with the groom as well as the bride, is the “How Well Do You Know The Bride” game. Here’s how you play: Before the day of the shower, ask the groom several questions about the bride. For example, “What is her favorite flower?” or “What is her dream date?” Videotape his answers to each of the questions. At the shower, ask the same series of questions to the guests and have them write down their answers. After all the questions have been answered, ask each one to the bride and have her give her answer. Next play the videotape of her fiancee’s answers – just for fun. The one that gets the most answers right wins! Not only is this a fun way to include the groom, you learn more about the guest of honor!
Hanging Out To Dry - Each visitor is given a clothespin upon arrival to shower. They are told of two words they can not mention (i.e. "wedding", and the groom's name). If they do, they lose their clothespin(s) to the one who caught them mentioning the forbidden words. The one who has the most clothespins at the end of the day, wins the prize!
Playing “Bridal Gift Bingo” ensures that the guests will pay close attention to the gifts as they are opened! Before the bride opens any presents, have each guest create their own bingo card (to make it easier, print up blank cards before hand for them). They must fill in each square with a shower gift that the bride might open that day. For example, one box would be bath towels, another box might be pots and pans. As the bride opens her presents, the guests can mark off a box if they wrote down that particular item. The first person to get bingo wins!
For this “Think Fast” game, everyone sits in a circle. The bride begins the game by throwing a Garter to someone. While attempting to catch it, she must name something found in the wedding ceremony (i.e. flowers, alter, camera). Once the garter is caught, it is quickly tossed to someone else who must name something. If she cannot answer quickly enough, that person is out of the game. Play until one person is left!
“The Mystery Spice Game” is always fun. Before the shower, take the labels off of 10 spice jars and number them. Pass the spices around and have the guests guess what they are by sight and smell - but no tasting! The guest with the most correct answers wins!
Have a “Bridal Shower Scavenger Hunt”. This activity actually takes place inside the guests’ purses! Make a list of items and assign a point system to each item. For example, 20 points for – dental floss, $100 bill, or nail polish remover; 10 points for tweezers, rubber band, or shopping list; 5 points for pen, comb, or photos. Set a timer for 4 minutes and have the guests see how many of the items they can find in their purse. The person with the most points wins!
For a funny yet meaningful moment, play “Name That Advice”. Go around the room and have the guests give the bride a piece of advice on marriage. The fun part of this is that the advice must be something that starts with the first letter of their name. For example, Jodi could tell the bride that “Jell-O is easy to make for a quick meal!”, or Laura could tell the bride to “Love him every moment”. At the end of this game, you could, as a group, award the bride with a Bridal Survival Kit.
"Toliet Paper Bride" - Each table receives a roll of toilet paper. Then, announce that each table must choose a "bride", preferably small in size, like a child. Then, tell the guests they must use the toilet paper, and ONLY the toilet paper to give their "bride" a dress. The real bride then chooses the table with the prettiest dress, and the winning bride gets a prize.
"I Never" This game works best if the attendees are good friends or all relatives. It brings a little embarrassment and lots of laughs! First, pass out 10 pieces of candy to each person. The object of this game is the keep your candy while making everyone else eat theirs! The guest of honor starts by stating something true about herself. For example, “I never dated two guys at the same time”. Any one that has done that must eat a piece of their candy. The game continues to the next player who makes a true statement about herself. After everyone has had a turn, the person with the most candy left wins. top
Bridal Shower Recipes and Food Ideas:
Appropriate selections to serve at a bridal shower are endless. Because usually just female guests attend a traditional shower, you will want to consider dishes that are not only tasty but appealing to the eye as well. Here are some ideas to make ordinary food look extraordinary:
Present the food with small edible flowers, herb leaves, or a few berries as accents. Some bakeries will bake specialty breads in lively colors (pink or purple). Using a flower-shaped cookie cutter, cut each slice into a pretty shape and top with a spoonful of chicken, egg, or tuna salad and place a garnish on top.
Drizzle a homemade raspberry sauce on each plate before placing the dessert in the center. Top with shavings of white chocolate.
Candy-making stores and specialty shops carry an edible glitter than can be added to any food for a dazzling effect!
Freeze a Jell-O™ ring mold with water and pansies for a floral float in a punch bowl.
Use goblets or Flutes to serve mousse or gelatin – looks impressive, but so easy to do!
For brunch or lunch dishes, try one of these ideas!
· Egg Casserole
· Stuffed French Toast
· Quiche
· Belgium Waffles and Strawberries
· Seafood Salad
· Fruit Plate
· Chicken Salad
· Caesar Salad
· Scallops with Fettucine
Finish the shower off with a delicious dessert! Here are some suggestions.
· Lemon Meringue Pie
· Cheesecake
· Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
· Cherry Delight
· French Silk Pie top
Bridal Shower Party Favors:
Most hostesses wish to provide all of the shower guests with a small token of appreciation for attending and honoring the bride. We suggest a couple of choices for simple yet special favors that make a perfect way of saying, “Thank you”.
Cake Bubbles are adorable and a great reminder of the upcoming special day!
Fill Favor Ribbons with small candies in the colors of the wedding. These lace favors look great on the table at each place setting. You can attach a small card with the guest’s names on each one and use them as placecards for assigned seating if desired.
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