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When I think of a bridal shower, I get the image of a very elegant event. And little is more elegant than an afternoon Victorian tea. This is a wonderful way to honor the bride-to-be amid luxurious surroundings.
For this type of bridal shower, you should use fine linens, china dishes, and silver. If you don't have any of your own, check with other women friends or a rental equipment business. Also, this type of shower works best with a limited guest list. Too many guests will destroy the cozy and elegant atmosphere usual with afternoon teas.
Invitations
Invitations to your Victorian tea bridal shower should be custom printed and don't forget to include an RSVP card. Also, you might consider ordering matching thank-you notes for the bride-to-be at this time.
Decorations
Fresh flowers are the best decoration for a tea. But a large abundance of flowers should be avoided; one large bouquet on your main table and perhaps a couple smaller bouquets on side tables is all that is necessary.
Food and Drink
Victorian teas traditonally serve an assortment of finger sandwiches with the crusts removed. Sandwich fillings such as chicken salad, tuna salad, or egg salad are typical at a tea. Beverly Clark, in her book Showers also suggests using cream cheese with walnuts, avocado and diced olives, and sliced hard-boiled egg and cucumber. Lunchmeats, such as ham, roast beef, and turkey are not usually served.
Other than sandwiches, the only other food served at a tea is dessert. I suggest having some kind of cake and a variety of pastries, such as eclairs, scones, madeleines, individual tarts, and fancy cookies.
Choose a brand of tea which is favored by connoisseurs, such as Earl Grey or Darjeeling. Have cream, sugar, lemon, and an artificial sweetener on hand for the tea. It's also a good idea to provide some kind of punch, just in case some guests prefer a cold drink rather than hot tea.
Shower Themes
Since a bride-to-be usually is given several bridal showers, it's good to choose a specific theme for your shower. Examples include kitchen shower, lingerie shower, linen shower, etc.
In keeping with a Victorian tea, suggest to your guests they bring shower gifts that would help the bride-to-be host her own afternoon tea. Items such as a teapot, creamer, sugar bowl, serving trays, silver serving utensils are a good choice. Check with the bride to see if she'd prefer china serving dishes or silver.
One final suggestion: If the weather permits, consider having your tea party outside in a garden. Warm sunshine, nice wind, and beautiful flowers make a wonderful scene for an afternoon tea party shower.
Mary Arnold holds a B.A. in literature and history. She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Fiction Writing. Her writing portfolio may be found at http://www.Writing.com/authors/ja77521 Mary Arnold may be contacted at http://www.Writing.com/authors/ja77521 or ja77521@writing.com
Most couples receive wedding gifts on two separate occasions, at the bridal shower and the reception. To avoid receiving multiple items of the same thing that will probably end up being returned or stashed away in the attic, I offer a solution.
Prier to the bridal shower, the bride to be can make a list of items that they would need or like to have for their home. After the opening of the shower gifts, she can check off on the list, the items that have been received.
The host of the shower can now take little strips of paper and write down the items that the bride and groom still need or would like. (One item per slip of paper) Beneath the item, also write or gift card . Place all of the slips of paper into a hat, bucket, or can. The host can then pass it around the room or leave it near the door, where each of the guests can pick a slip before leaving the shower.
The guest will now have the option of purchasing that particular gift for the wedding, or giving a gift card. This idea, cuts down on the double items, and the bride and groom can also use the gift cards to purchase what they still need or want for their new home.
I have listed some unique gift ideas below. Most of these items are sometimes left unthought-of for the upcoming exciting event, but also come in very handy for a new couple and a new home.
Bath Ensemble Tower-, which can be constructed in layers and then neatly held together, tied with ribbon and lace.
4 Bath towels, 4 Hand & Face towels, 8 Wash cloths, Shower Gel, Shampoo & Cream Rinse, Powder, Shower sponges, Back brush, Bath beads, Shower cap, Bath oils, and Candles.
Kitchen Ensemble Tower-, which can be assembled and tied together in the same manner as above.
Cutting Board, Table Cloth, Placemats, Linen Napkins, Napkin Rings, Dish Towels, Dish Cloths, Candle Holders, and Candles.
A second Bath Ensemble can be assembled using a slightly different approach.
Wicker Clothes Hamper, Tank cover, Lid cover, Contour rug, and Bath rug, Commode brush and holder, Wastebasket, Tub mat, Matching soap dish, tumbler, and toothbrush holder, Shower caddy, and Decorative soaps.
There is also that magnificent Bed in a Bag , which can be masterfully assembled together with matching throw pillows of various shapes, for an elegant look.
Each one of these ensembles can be arranged and secured together with elegant crafting twines and ribbons, to make a beautiful and useful gift.
This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations. Terrie Cogswell may be contacted at
A bridal shower is a chance for the bride-to-be to get together with her closest family and friends to celebrate her upcoming wedding. And of course to shower the bride-to-be with gifts!
The maid or matron of honor is usually the person that will host the bridal shower with the help of the other bridesmaids. Planning a bridal shower can be a little overwhelming. Most importantly it should be a memorable occasion for the bride-to- be before her wedding day. There are many different themes and ways to throw a bridal shower, from traditional ideas to newer ideas. However, there are certain key components for every bridal shower that you should keep in mind. Below are some tips to help you get started. Be creative and enjoy planning your bride-to-be s bridal shower!
Make a Guest List If the bridal shower is a surprise, you may need to have the groom, mother of the bride and others help you compile a guest list. If it s not a surprise shower you can have the bride help you. The bridal shower should be made up of close friends, family and co-workers. Shower invites should only be sent to those people that will also receive a wedding invitation; unless of course the wedding is small and intimate with family and close friends only.
Set a Shower Date - The shower date should be anywhere within two months of the wedding day. Again, if it s a surprise check with the groom for a good date, if it s not a surprise you can ask the bride herself for a date she will be available. Sunday s seem to be the most popular day for bridal showers and most people are off from work as well.
Pick a Shower Theme - Picking a theme makes planning the shower easier and will allow you to coordinate the decorations, invitations, favors and the like. Some of our favorite bridal shower themes are: a lingerie shower, wine shower, household shower, romantic shower and more. There are literally tons of different shower themes to choose from.
Shower Invitations - Once you have the date set you can send out invitations with an RSVP date. You should also include the theme of the shower as well. Also include information about where the wedding couple is registered. Some people like to buy a gift off of the wedding registry, while some choose to buy their own gift. They can follow the theme or the registry, either way they can t go wrong!
If you are getting close to the RSVP date and you don t have many replies you may want to give them a ring. Some people are busy with work and children and simply forget to RSVP but they do intend on showing up. An accurate number of guests is essential for your planning the shower and having enough of everything.
Decorations, Menus and Activities Oh My! The presentation is everything, from the bridal favors to the food and decorations. It will help set the tone of the bridal shower.
The food menu will depend on the theme of the shower and the timing as well. You may choose to include a lunch meal or light snacks and appetizers. The cake should also match the bridal shower theme as much as possible.
There are many different games to choose from! Games are a great way to get everyone talking and mingling. Remember just because you all know the bride doesn t mean you also know each other, this is a good way to get to know one another. Don t forget to also pick up some prizes for those that win the activities. The prizes can be candles to candy, a special journal etc.
Bridal Shower Favors - It is customary to give each person attending the shower a small favor. The shower favor does not have to be elaborate, it can be something simple yet nice that matches the theme of the wedding shower.
Following these few tips will assure wedding shower success! It may seem overwhelming at first but if you break down the shower into key points it will be much easier for you. Also you can then assign tasks to the family, friends and bridesmaids that have offered to help with the shower planning.
Tara is the owner of www.AllowMe.net a wedding and bridal store that specializes in Bridal Shower Favors, wedding invitations, wedding favors and more! Allow Me is your one stop wedding shop!
Tara Greiner may be contacted at http://www.allowme.net or chrissie@allowme.net
The host of the bridal shower can construct a prop that resembles a wishing well, which can be used to house unbreakable gifts or in this case be used for the entertainment purposes that I will be describing below.
I found it was rather difficult to try and write out the instructions on constructing this item, because I couldn t provide any diagrams to go with it. However, I have found a helpful web site that offers free and easy instructions along with illustrations and diagrams to do just that. The site is: buildeazy.com/well.html. This simple prop is small enough to fit through most doorways and can later be used as a planter box or garden ornament.
After the construction of the well is completed, it can be decorated with paint, crape paper, flowers, bells, and balloons. The possibilities are endless.
Now onto the filler for the entertainment: Purchase a couple of large bundles of bathroom tissue (12 in a pack) and enough thank you cards with envelopes, for as many guests that will be attending. Open the packs of thank you cards, separating the cards from the envelopes. Put the cards into a basket to save for the bride for later use. As the guests arrive, hand each one an envelope, instructing them to address it to themselves, and then place the envelopes in a bucket that you provide, inside the wishing well. This will be used for two purposes. At some point during the shower, the bride will pull one of the envelopes from the bucket to see who wins a door prize. All of the envelopes, including the one pulled from the bucket will be given to the bride at the end of the evening, to go with the thank you cards in the basket. This makes it easier on the bride later when she sends out the thank you cards to her guests.
As for the purchase of all the bathroom tissue_ never fear_ entertainment is here. During the coarse of the shower, perhaps while the bride is opening her gifts, put your guests into mini groups of maybe 3 or 4 to a group. Each group must decide who will be the bride model while the others will be designers. Hand out rolls of bathroom tissue to each group and instruct them to make a wedding gown or dress on the perspective model, using only the bathroom tissue. They can construct just the dress alone or add the extra touches such as the veil, shoes, flowers, and jewelry. When all groups have completed their mission, the bride must then choose which gown she likes the best, and that group will win a prize. Any leftover rolls of tissue can then be added to the brides collection of goodies to take home with her or even be given to the winning team of the makeshift bride and gown, as part of their consolation prize. This is guaranteed to bring much laughter to the party.
This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations. Terrie Cogswell may be contacted at
It is the maid of honor's duty to organize the bridal shower and to ensure that the party is everything the bride expected. The best way to ensure that everyone will have fun is to create a theme around the bridal shower in which everyone can participate in. The following is a list of fun and exciting themes for bridal showers. Choose the one that suits the bride the best:
The bridal shower theme you choose will have a great impact on the success of your bridal shower. Make sure the theme is suitable for the personality of the bride; otherwise she may be disappointed with the outcome. Also take into consideration the types of gifts the couple could most use. If they already have a stocked bar, a "stock-the-bar" shower won't be a helpful theme. The outcome of this shower may determine whether or not you're ever asked to throw another one. But remember, above all, have fun!
Samantha Taylor spent several years working in the weddings industry as a wedding planner. When she isn t being a mom of two wonderful children, she works as a freelance writer for http://www.yourwedding101.com - a site that offers information about everything related to planning a wedding from wedding dresses to finding the perfect wedding cake and more. Samantha Taylor may be contacted at http://www.yourwedding101.com
Co-ed showers are finally taking a twist and growing every day more popular. Having a co-ed shower will make everyone attending feel more welcome and will also give them a chance to get to know one another before the big day. Give your bridal party a day to remember you by. Take them to the beach or have a barbecue but just make sure your guests are entertained and enjoying them selves.
If you are having a co-ed or more traditional bridal shower it will be so much more fun when you play games or make it theme night. If you love the beach have a pool party, if you love barbecue then cookout or if you enjoy crafts then make a special project, but just make it fun and enjoyable for all your guests and make the memories last.
Make sure they can dance. So I suggest either renting video lessons or hiring a personal dancing instructor. Pick some fun dancing and also some formal dancing lessons so you have dances for all of your music. If your reception party has a country theme, then make sure you take country dancing lessons. When the spotlight is on you and your bridal party it will be so much more fun for everyone when you know what your doing.
The bridal shower is the time when all of the bride's friends all get together and everyone meet one another. All of the bride's friends should bring something that they remember her by. They can bring friendship bracelets, class rings and photos. This will really make the shower more enjoyable and gives everyone a chance to share there memories of each other.
Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas wedding favors, Author and wedding planner. She really enjoys planning weddings the most. The best thing she likes about weddings is seeing all of the different wedding party favors, decorations at the weddings and seeing the brides face when her day has finally came. Yolanda Nash may be contacted at http://www.yolandasweddingfavors.com
With wedding season gearing up, it's a sure bet that someone you know will be tying the knot this year. Whether the bride is a friend, a relative, or a relative-to-be, as a woman you're bound to be invited to at least one bridal shower. You may even have the sometimes-dubious honor of being the hostess. It doesn't matter if you're the bride's best friend or a mere acquaintance, a bridal shower can take a big bit out of your budget if you're not careful. With a bit of forethought, however, you can take advantage of sales to make hostessing a bridal shower a breeze.
To ensure that the bridal shower is a success, follow these simple steps:
Guest List: First, decide upon the number of guests your venue (most likely your home) can reasonably accommodate. Then work with the bride-to-be in determining whom to invite. Most importantly, get a sense of the demographics of the invitees. Are they her co-workers, friends of her mother's, or her best buddies? The guest list will determine the theme and tone of the shower.
Activities: Depending on the guest list, silly bridal shower games can be fun. If it's a crowd of sophisticates, though, you may want to stick to the basics and pass on the games.
Supplies: Bridal-themed paper products and decorations can bust your budget. If you have serviceable dishes, flatware, and glass ware, by all means use those. Keep an eye out for sales and discounts on shower decorations, or get creative and make your own.
Gifts: When guests RSVP, they're sure to ask about gifts. You can circumvent that by making the shower a themed event. Perhaps the bride-to-be really wants cutlery, or maybe she needs luggage for her honeymoon. You can suggest that guests pool their money and buy a big ticket item - like a piece of furniture or a TV - or suggest gifts that will indulge the bride - such as lingerie, fragrances, and jewelry. You could even opt for something more out of the ordinary. One idea is to get a list of the bride and groom's all-time favorite movies, and ask guests to bring one DVD and to make a contribution toward a DVD player. This will get the couple's entertainment center off to a great start.
During the Shower: When guests arrive and you take their coats and handbags, ask them if they wouldn't mind turning off their cell phones. Everyone will enjoy the shower more if cell phones aren't ringing every few seconds. Ahead of time, ask one of the guests to bring her camera, or distribute disposable cameras to each of the guests as they arrive. Ask for the film or collect the cameras at the end of the evening so you can get the photos developed and present the bride-to-be with a scrapbook of the occasion. You should also have a camcorder on hand, along with a volunteer who will record the party. The bride-to-be can share the video with her fiancé, and it can also serve as an insurance policy should she happen to forget which gift came from whom.
Have Fun: Don't let the task of hostessing prevent you from having a good time. If you've played your cards right, you've been able to take advantage of sales and throw a terrific party that the bride will remember for years to come.
Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon International is one of the world's MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://www.majon.com (NOTE: Content article shown above may be linked and circulated freely on web sites, ezines and other publications as long as ALL article content, links and author information remain UNCHANGED in any way whatsoever.) Chris Robertson may be contacted at http://www.majon.com/directory/
Copyright 2006 AllInOneFunFavors.com
The initial instinct when hosting a bridal shower is to choose wedding related or bridal ideas for the décor, shower favors and theme of the event. It s easy to forget, but just the simple fact that it IS a Bridal Shower that you are inviting people to sets the theme there s no need to drive it home with umbrellas, white bells and all the other imagery that being a bride includes - unless of course that s what you think the Bride-to-Be would want! So if that s not the case, why not venture away from the expected and go in a direction that will create a lovely event that everyone will enjoy especially the Bride-to-Be! Choose one of these creative ideas or use them for your inspiration:
Destination Honeymoon! Get the Bride ready for her honeymoon by creating the shower theme around their post-nuptial destination. Are they heading for Paris? Why not serve yummy French favorites like croissants and fancy pastries and ask guests to include something in their gifts that will signify France or will be useful when they re there. One Bride recently told me about the Bridal Shower her best friend and Maid of Honor hosted that was themed all around the tropical Mexican honeymoon that her Groom had planned for them in Cancun. She cleverly asked a local Mexican restaurant to help her out by saving their Cinco de Mayo decorations for her (which they were going to just throw out), served Margaritas and all kinds of yummy Mexican appetizers and a traditional tres leche cake for dessert. She requested that guests brought a little something with their gift to add into a beach bag for her. She received some wonderful sunglasses, beach towels and sunscreen along with a couple of fun girlie novels to take for her time at the beach. In turn, all the guests went home with a shower favor of mints in a colorful tin with palm trees and the ocean, the Bride s name and Viva Cancun! personalizing the front. I m sure it reminds them not only of the fun time they had at the shower, but makes them think of the couple off in their tropical spot.
Floral Delight! Another friend recently told me about a shower she had just attended for a family member. Apparently the budget for the actual wedding was quite small and so as is very often the case these days, corners had to be cut wherever they could. The Bride-to-Be had been shocked when she was quoted thousands of dollars for the professionally done flowers she had always dreamed of having fill the church and reception. Because of cost, she had to cut back dramatically. Knowing this, her close friend and the hostess decided to include flowers she could do herself wherever possible for the bridal shower. From the invitations to the décor, the cake and the shower favors, live flowers or floral decor was everywhere. She even had shower favors for the guests that were fun plantable daisies that would grow into their own wildflowers reminding them of this day and the Bride for seasons to come. She filled vases with all colors, shapes and sizes of the Bride s favorite flowers and used them to brighten the tables and decorated the whole shower with them. The Bride was even given her own mini-bouquet, a simple but pretty posey, at her seat to take home and the bridesmaids all had corsages that matched. To all the guests, it was simply a floral themed delight, but unbeknownst to all but a few, it was deeply meaningful and special to the Bride who had her dreams come true in a different way.
As you can see, with just a little planning and attention to the Bride an event like a bridal shower can be unique and really fun to plan right down to the shower favors! The possibilities really are endless and it doesn t take much to think of something special. Once you ve established if the guest of honor has any expectations for you to follow, just get creative and start imagining. The Bride-to-Be will have a day she ll always remember and your guests will enjoy something different than what they thought would greet them!
About The Author Cheryl Salto loves helping to make celebrations personal and meaningful as the owner of AllInOneFunFavors.com specializing in providing an extensive online selection of event favors for life s special celebrations. http://www.allinonefunfavors.com Cheryl Salto may be contacted at
As the story goes, once upon a time a rich girl wanted to marry a poor man. The father of the bride refused to provide the dowry to set up their home. Therefore, the friends of the girl decided to come together and "shower" the couple with gifts for their new life
Now days usually the couples get together for a great party.
A bridal shower can be based on many themes. A theme provides direction to a party. The invites, d?cor, favors, gifts and food all reflect the theme. Here are a few themes for a bridal shower.
Remembrance : Each guest brings some token of remembrance that kindles old memories. It can be a photo, a letter or card along with few lines describing the event. These can then be put together in an album. The invite can be pretty and elegant with lots of flowers. Make collages of the photos of the bride and groom. Make posters of any special achievements of the bride and groom. You can also display pictures of childhood heroes. For the centerpiece, put pictures of the bride and the groom as kids in ornate frames. The party favor can be glass frame coasters having the pictures of the bride and the groom and a thank you note.
Baskets : In this theme, the guest brings baskets full of gifts. You can assign them a specific genre when they RSVP. E.g. kitchen utility items, picnic basket or hobby basket. The invitation can have a picture of a basket full of goodies. The d?cor will have loads of baskets. The centerpiece for the tables can be a basket full of flowers. Arrange snacks in baskets around the room. Place a big basket near the bride to keep the gifts. The party favors can be small baskets, filled with chocolates, and packed daintily.
Wine and Cheese : Each guest brings two bottles of wine. Keep a wine rack handy. One bottle is the gift for the bride and goes in this rack. The second can be used for tasting by the guests. You supply the cheese and crackers to go with it. For the finger food and dips and spreads it's best to set a seperate table aside. On the invite, put pictures of wine glasses, candles and hearts. For the centerpiece, put two wine glasses filled with water having flowers floating in them. The room can be decorated with artificial grapes, posters of vineyard and interesting empty wine bottles. You can gift good cheese, packed in a wine bottle shaped container as party favors.
Hawaii : This is a very exciting theme for fun loving people. It should be arranged at the beach or by the pool. The guest should be asked to bring beachwear. The invite will have the printed details encircled by a huge lei garland. Each guest on arrival gets a lei garland to wear. The d?cor will have green streamers and abundant flowers. Put inflatable, paper or potted palms around. Put a hula skirt around the table. Let the centerpiece be colorful paper parrot. If you can arrange a few hula dancers, nothing like it. Tropical drinks and matching seafood salads are served. Party favors can be a pack of tea lights in shell motifs.
Garden : This theme is great for the nature lovers. A spot in the garden would be ideal. Bringing the garden into the room with flowers and potted plants is always a possibility. The invitation can depict a potted plant with a single flower painted on it. The guests can bring gardening supplies and tools as gifts. Have food with lots of herbs and greens. Put posies of flowers tied with ribbons on the walls. The centerpiece can be a live potted plant. The whimsical party favor will be flower seeds in a prettily decorated packet tied with a ribbon.
So, choose your theme and make it a much-remembered bridal shower.
Picnic Baskets make romantic gifts
michael kanehl may be contacted at http://www.epicnicbasket.com/ or mkane@desmira.net
Throwing a sexy bridal lingerie shower for your girlfriend or family member can be great fun for everyone. Regular bridal showers are so boring compared to one where everyone gives the bride-to-be some sexy bridal lingerie.
Once you decide to throw tradition to the wind, make it clear that the shower is for sexy bridal lingerie in the invitation. You can find some great invitations for sexy bridal lingerie showers online, or you can get creative and make your own. Just be sure the invitations are clear that gifts are to be some form of sexy lingerie.
You're probably asking yourself if a sexy bridal shower is a good idea when you think about the bride-to-be's mother or Aunt Edna. You have several options if you are afraid some guests might be offended or embarrassed when surrounded by sexy or erotic lingerie.
One is that you can ask the bride-to-be's opinion. Her mom may not mind a bit--in fact, she may enjoy it as much as anyone else would! Another is to limit the shower invites to women you know would enjoy buying and giving sexy lingerie. In other words, the sexy bridal lingerie shower could be limited to close friends of the bride-to-be. The third option is to say the heck with it, and just invite anyone you'd like and refuse to worry about anyone's reaction. After all, they can decide not to participate in the sexy bridal lingerie shower if they feel uncomfortable with the idea -- but not many people do.
Setting the tone for a sexy bridal shower can be exciting and amusing. Give over to your wild side when it comes to thinking about decorations and games. Again, the Web is a great source for searching out erotic items that would make terrific decorations for a sexy lingerie shower. You're sure to find some enticing games as well.
Any time you give a shower of any kind, people are going to ask you for suggestions for gifts. If you're giving a sexy bridal lingerie shower, you're going to get those requests, to be sure, so plan ahead.
First of all, learn the bride-to-be's size! It wouldn't do her any good to receive erotic lingerie that won't fit, so get her size for lingerie, bras and panties. Next, you'll want to do some research into great online sources for everything from all-out-sexy bridal lingerie to elegant bridal lingerie to naughty bridal lingerie. Pass on the websites to friends and relatives for their shopping convenience.
Having online sexy bridal lingerie shops to browse will put your shower invitees at ease if they're a bit hesitant or embarrassed about shopping for bridal lingerie of any kind. If you aren't planning to surprise the bride-to-be with a sexy lingerie shower, you may want her to do some browsing and compose a wish list for her guests to choose from so she gets just the sexy bridal lingerie she wants.
Finally, the big question: Do you tell the bride-to-be or surprise her with a sexy bridal lingerie shower? The best answer to this is if your friend is the least bit shy about intimate matters, you should probably warn her first. If she's a bit of wild child, don't tell her. You already know she'll love the idea of a erotic lingerie shower, and, besides, if she does enjoy a walk on the wild side once in a while, she'll appreciate a thong more than she would a spice rack any day. You may be surprised to find out Aunt Edna does too!
Amanda Cotterill has been involved in the erotic lingerie market for many years. This article outlines the benefits of bridal showers and bridal lingerie as if that needed much explaining!
Amanda Cotterill has been involved in the sexy lingerie market for many years.
A Cotterill may be contacted at http://www.maryjanelingerie.co.uk or marketing@maryjanelingerie.co.uk
The truth is that if you're a woman, there's a good chance that at one point or another you have been invited to a bridal shower that left you scratching your head or ready to gnaw off your arm just to get out of the room. Remember the dreaded bridal shower game of dressing up one or more of the ladies in the room with a mock wedding dress made from toilet paper?
Or perhaps you are more familiar with the embarrassing questionnaire that the guests were to fill out, only then to have to stand up and read answers to questions you wouldn't even spell out in the Sunday confessional. Perhaps it is for this reason that bridal showers have become a bit of a bad reputation, and why so many invitees are sending their regrets and a gift certificate. Fortunately there is a movement underfoot to breathe some new life into the borderline dead radition of the bridal shower that has so many women roll their eyes at the thought of actually attending.
The times of embarrassing games and activities are coming to an end and instead new and improved activities ensure that the bride still receives her shower, guests still bring lots of presents to help the new couple start out their life together in style, and games are still being played - but with new twists! Follow these easy tips and you too will be able to throw a bridal shower for a young or more seasoned bride with easy boredom-free ideas!
Decide on a theme and run with it. Just because presents are involved, this should not make everything else about the occasion melt into the background. Instead, you may wish to contact your local jewelry sales lady, candle gal, or make up aficionado and see if their companies offer some kind of party package. Most of them do, and this will go a long way to allow the girls to sample some make up, try on some jewelry, and sniff the soothing smells of sweet candle wax.
You may want to serve some finger foods so that nobody will be stuck in the kitchen, and everyone will be able to participate. Maybe a student masseuse could be hired for a couple of hours to give foot massages or a student cosmetologist for manicures and pedicures. Food should be kept simple if at all possible. Nobody should be in the kitchen cooking, heating up, or assembling, while at the same time a mess for the hostess should be avoided altogether. A good idea is the potluck, or if you have the funds, have some finger foods catered.
Gourmet cheeses and crackers, some wine, canapes, petit fours, crab cakes and grilled vegetable foccacias make for a wonderful spread that is easily put together and does not require much in terms of reheating. Advice is a big part of the party. Especially if the bride is walking down the isle for the first time, many well-meaning ladies have oodles of ideas and tips on how to keep the marriage blissful. Usually a book is sent around to capture those pearls of wisdom, but how about trying a new twist? Instead of putting together a book, why not all each guest to write out their advice on a piece of parchment paper and then affix it to a bottle of wine. Both the wine and the advice can then be enjoyed together by the married couple and make for great conversation starters.
If the bride or groom happens to be teetotalers, the paper can easily be affixed to chocolate bars or any other food or drink item the couple will be able to enjoy together. So go ahead and allow yourself to enjoy the celebration of the bridal shower again. Revel in the changes, and allow your ideas to roam free, and no longer feel the obligation to follow in the footsteps of boring old games that are long past their prime. Have fun with the shower and during the shower! The bride will thank you for years to come for the thoughtful afternoon or evening you put together for her.
The Bridal Shower Center offers great ideas for making the most out of your next bridal shower, with informative articles from a variety of authors and tips for great bridal shower gifts. Shelley Anderson may be contacted at http://www.focusdot.com/
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