A Wedding Shower Checklist
Bridal showers are one of many pre-wedding parties and are great fun. They are known as parties with a purpose. The purpose of a shower is to assist the couple in equipping their new home or for the bride to assemble a trousseau. Not only that, but they are a good excuse for the bride to get together with her friends and family to play hilarious games and to enjoy the food and wine.
Did you know that a trend has started for 'couples showers'? This is sometimes termed as the 'Jack' and 'Jill' shower where you shower both the bride and groom with gifts and good wishes. Either way, if you are having a traditional shower party for just the bride, or decide to have a couples shower, then the planning and the checklist will invariably be the same.
Here is an outline of a wedding shower checklist to get you on your way to organising a great shower party.
Who should host the shower?
Traditionally the maid of honour tends to plan the shower party. But today, anything goes and it is perfectly acceptable for both family and friends to work together to organize, host and share the cost of the wedding shower. It doesn't really matter who actually hosts the party as long as it is planned well in advance and normally in consultation with the bride. If the shower is planned to be in someone's home, then it's always a good idea to choose the person with the largest home or garden.
When to have your party
Because of the busy schedule the bride and her family will have in the lead up to her wedding, it is best to hold the shower about four to six weeks before the wedding. A growing trend is that more wedding showers are no longer a surprise and statistics show that 4 out of 5 brides are employed, therefore it is necessary to include the bride in the planning when it comes to setting a date and time. A traditional 'girl-only' party could be a Sunday brunch, a midweek lunch or an afternoon tea garden party.
Couples showers are best held on a weekend day or evening. The majority of people tend to work between 9-5 Monday-Friday, therefore a weekend is a safe bet in that most of the couples' friends and relatives can attend. If you are having a shower party with work colleagues, then the ideal time would be in your lunch hour or straight after work.
Who to invite
Apart from your family members, the host should invite people you know well whether it be friends, relatives or work colleagues. You don't want to invite too many people, as a large group tends to split off in small separate groups. You want everyone to interact with each other and be a manageable size for everybody to play the hilarious shower games and not feel left out. Taking all this into consideration, a comfortable shower should involve about 10-20 people.
You don't necessarily need to buy expensive shower invitations. Another growing trend is that many brides are doing their wedding research on the Internet. The internet has opened up many 'cheaper' avenues and you can now get some great printable-wedding-shower-invitations. These invitations are customized with your own wording and design, and are printed directly from your own printer.
What's your Theme?
As with the actual wedding, it is wise to choose a theme before sending out the invitations. The theme can then be used throughout the shower and incorporated in with the invitations, decorations, favors and refreshments.
There are literally dozens of topics for a shower party theme. The most popular is the 'kitchen' theme as there are endless pieces of equipment and accessories you can buy for the kitchen. The host knows the bride well and will surely fit a theme around either what the bride and groom need, or their lifestyle. For example if the happy couple are both into health and fitness, then a fitness theme could be an option.
One good idea for a couples shower is a wine tasting theme. This is ideal for a Saturday night party and I am sure the men will enjoy this one and easily get into the swing of things!
Food, Favors and Games
Food: It depends on the theme and location for which type of food to prepare. For example, if you are holding a 'wine tasting theme', then a finger buffet with crackers, nuts and other nibbles goes down well with wine. If you are holding a garden shower party, consider light finger food - cheeses, crackers, fresh fruit, mini-quiches, blueberry cream puffs, crab dip and a bacon, egg and cheese casserole and salads.
Favors: Some people choose not to give shower favors. It really depends on where you live and if it is a tradition in your area or not. If you do, you don't have to go overboard with favors if you want to keep the expense down. Give something small and useful like a scented candle. Most people like scented candles and they are practical. A potpourri satchel is another welcome and practical idea.
Games: Everyone should be included in the shower games. Shower party games are a great ice-breaker for people to get to know each other. Games can include bridal shower bingo as this is always a big hit as is 'what's in the bag (memory game). Trivia questions about the bridge and groom or making a wedding dress with toilet paper are all fun games to be had.
Thank You Cards: Normally a simple 'thank-you' was enough, but today, with showers being larger and guests busier, a personal note is the only way to make sure that sincere appreciation is expressed.
Summary
Bridal showers are meant to be fun. They do need a lot of planning and organization in advance, but they are worth it. The bride and groom receive practical gifts for their home, and shower party's are a great excuse to get together with friends and family to have one whale of a time!
About The Author
Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com where you will find further tips and advice on invitation cards ( http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html ) and personalized stationery ( http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html ).
Get Paid For 100% of your site's traffic.
Wedding Rings-The Symbol of Love
Now that you have decided to tie the knot, the most important question is the kind of wedding ring that will symbolize the marital status of the couple. Wedding rings have always been a symbol of everlasting love between the couple. Its strange to know that though women have been wearing wedding rings for eons, men started wearing it only recently, since the Second World War to be precise.
Win a Wedding Essay Contest Sponsored by Green Olive Tree Publishing
Win a wedding essay contest released in a conjunction with new book about marrying an ugly man.
Your Wedding Flowers
Flowers are the dressing that can transform a wedding dress from beautiful to stunning or a photograph from plain to perfect
They can make your wedding photographs look bright and colourful and mirror your own personality
Conquering The Three Wedding Vow Fears
It?s safe to say that your wedding day is probably the most important day of your life. It is the day when you officially join your life with that of your life partner. Making this day memorable is one thing. Making it the truly bonding an unforgettable experience is something else.
It's Never Too Early to Renew Your Wedding Vows
When you think about couples who renew their wedding vows, chances are you're not picturing anyone under the age of 50. But the truth is that it's never too early to renew your vows – especially if you didn't get to do exactly what you wanted the first time around.
Author Paints Picture of Bride and Groom as Church and Christ
Examines spiritual aspects of wedding and marriage for brides-to-be.
Your Perfect Wedding Hair Style
You may be now busy planning for your reception and wedding favor Yes you have to consider a lot of details when you are planning for your most important day in your life
How to Host an Elegant Las Vegas Themed Wedding
Las Vegas weddings are known as tacky and have been since Las Vegas opened its first drive-thru wedding chapel. But now, brides want the excitement of a Las Vegas wedding, without the tackiness.
Grand Italian Wedding Traditions
Couples who are of Italian descent may choose to incorporate a variety of Italian traditions into their wedding even if they have never even set foot on Italian soil. This is a fun way to honor your ancestors with a nostalgic glimpse into the past. The religious aspects, dances and food at a wedding may all hold traditional values.
Helping The Control Freak Plan The Wedding
My daughter and fiancé have finally set the "big day" but now comes the fun part of helping the control freak plan the wedding. The control freak being my daughter.
How to Give a Best Man Speech Like a Pro
If you want to learn how to give a best man speech like a pro then you should read on Specifically we'll discuss what makes a good speaker stand out, what makes a poor public speaker and what you can do to make your best man speech exceptional
How to Choose a Pearl Necklace for Your Wedding Day
The elegant beauty of a strand of pearls has fascinated brides for centuries. People believe that wearing pearls on their wedding day will bring bliss to their marriage.
Top Honeymoon Travel and Destination Wedding Specialists Partner with Major Honeymoon Website
Honeymooners Review Guide (http://www.honeymoonersreviewguide.com/), which offers couples online access to 350+ planning pages of tips, articles, ideas on romance, destinations, and a 3000+ top resort finder database, has added direct access to a select few honeymoon travel and destination wedding specialists.
What to Look For in a Wedding Videographer!
Have you chosen a Professional Wedding Videographer yet for your Wedding Finding a Professional one can be difficult and perplexing
Publisher of The Wedding & Special Event Yellow Pages Honored as "Associate Member of the Year" by Industry Group
Wedding & Special Event Yellow Pages publisher Laurie Morgan named 2007 "Associate of the Year" by Association for Wedding Professionals International.
For even more wedding planning tips and ideas, visit FMBrides.com.
Get Paid For 100% of your site's traffic.