Bridal Showers: Parties with a Purpose – Part 2

If you are planning a shower, one of the first things you will need to decide is what kind of shower to have. Are you going to have an all-girls shower or a co-ed shower? Barbecues are popular for co-ed parties. Guys are not usually interested in the gifts received and might get bored during gift opening, so consider having an alternate activity for the guys during this part. Depending on the guys, they might also not be into games. If you think the guys might be up for shower games, give it a try. Most games work with co-eds or can be slightly modified to fit the bill. As with the wedding, it is wise to choose a theme for the bridal shower. The theme can be used throughout the shower and incorporated in with the invitations, decorations, favors and refreshments. There are countless ‘theme’ choices for bridal showers. Some of the most popular are Room theme (kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc.), Pamper the Bride (soaps, perfumes, etc.), Lingerie, and Honeymoon (luggage, travel gifts), etc. You should fit the theme around the bride’s (or the groom’s) likes or lifestyle. The food served at a bridal shower should also fit the theme of the party. For example, if you are planning a Honeymoon themed party, you can serve foods that are relevant to the place the bride and groom plan to honeymoon.

A bridal shower can be held anywhere, a restaurant, a spa, a garden, or at someone’s home and at any time. If you are having a Jack and Jill shower, it is best to schedule it on a weekend. The majority of people tend to work Monday through Friday, therefore a weekend is a safe bet in that most of the couples’ friends and relatives can attend. If you are planning a shower with work and business colleagues, the ideal time would be on your lunch hour or right after work.

When planning a shower, you should keep the guest list to a comfortable 10 to 20 people. You do not want to invite too many people, as large groups tend to split up into smaller groups. You want everyone to interact with each other and the best way to do this is to keep the guest list small.

After you have finalized plans for the shower, it is time to order the invitations. You do not necessarily need to buy expensive shower invitations. Since the guest list is relatively small for a shower, handwritten invitations would also be appropriate. Or you can purchase blank stock invitations and print them from your computer.

Every bridal shower should include games and everyone attending should be included in the games. Shower party games are a great ice-breaker for people to get to know each other. Games can include bridal shower bingo, “What’s in the bag” (memory game), trivia questions about the bridge and groom, or making a wedding dress with toilet tissue.

After the party is over, do not forget to say thank you to the guests. Not only should the bride send a thank you, but the host should send them as well. A personal, handwritten note sent to each guest is the best way to express your appreciation.

Even though bridal showers require a lot of careful planning, they are meant to be fun. It is a great way to ‘shower’ the bride and groom with gifts for their home, or just an excuse to get together with family and friends and have a good time.

Read Part 1

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