| Welcome to Bridal Showers
A shower is a party for the bride and her closest female relatives and friends, where she is "showered" with love, good wishes, and gifts. Where to start? We've got shower-planning basics from who plans to invitations. Any budget can be creative, from a picnic at the park, a backyard barbecue, and Italian restaurant, a hotel salon, a botanic garden, a bakery, the choices are endless.
Hostess is in the honor attendant's job description -- but she should ask for help from the other bridesmaids, the bride's sister, even the bride's mom. You can enlist anyone with the time and energy.
A shower can take place six months before the wedding or it can be the week before. It can be a surprise for the bride -- or not. Depending on where most of the guests live, you may need to schedule it far in advance so everyone can make their travel plans. If most people are local, you'll have more options. Once you've picked a date, set up a schedule. Brainstorm about the party -- themes, locations, and entertainment. Divide up jobs such as getting and sending the invitations, making the decorations, and coordinating the menu.
Before you start fantasizing about a full spa treatment for fifteen, determine who is paying for this and how much it is going to cost. It is perfectly fine these days to ask all the bridesmaids to help out. Be clear about what everyone owes from the very beginning.. Make sure all dollar exchanging takes place in advance. Is the bride a tea party girl? Would she be excited about a cozy shower at home, or is she expecting the works in a hotel ballroom almost the size of her reception hall? Keep in mind that themes often make planning easier -- and more fun, because you can use your imagination to add special touches to the invitations, gifts, food, and entertainment.
Everyone invited to the shower should also be invited to the wedding. Ask the bride to help out with the shower guest list. If it's a surprise, ask her mom, groom, or sister. If it's a couple shower, make it a coed guest list.
The invitations should reflect the formality (or informality) and theme of the shower, but they can be as simple as those cute ready-made cards available at any card store. Make sure guests RSVP by a date that's at least a few weeks before the shower. If many guests will be coming from out of town, mail the invitations at least two months before the party, so those who need to can make travel arrangements.
If you're having an at-home shower, think about having the party catered. If you're doing a theme shower, make the food match. Are the bride and groom honeymooning in Venice? Do an Italian theme with a full-on pasta bar. For dessert, serve cake, and/or pastries, cookies, pie, or ice cream. If you're having the shower in a banquet hall or restaurant, work with the manager/host to come up with a menu. Keep in mind the bride's taste and any special guest needs such as vegetarian or kosher dishes.
Activities at any shower: eating, laughing, and gift-opening. One bridesmaid should keep track of which guest gave which present, and another should make sure cards stay with the right boxes.That way thank-you cards won't be a disaster for the bride. Background music, keeping with the theme, is a good idea and some planned activities will keep the party moving at a nice pace.
Most importantly: : Don't stress to o much. Make sure you have fun!
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