Bridal shower ideas

User

19 years ago

I have the bridemaids and matron of honor coming to my house Sunday evening.

Anyone have any shower ideas to share?

Comments (6)

sweet_pea10
19 years ago
Are you the bride? If so, the shower is the responsibility of those who choose to host one. The maid/matron of honor and/or bridesmaids are not all obligated to host a shower, particularly if it would be difficult financially or time-wise. They should volunteer to do it and they should do what they can afford to do, so let them take the lead. The bride is a guest at the shower, so she should be delighted with whatever the hosts plan.
User
Original Author
19 years ago
Ah, Sweet Pea, what a nice thought. No, I'm not the bride--I was the bride over 26 years ago; I'm the groom's mom.

I'm also the stand-in mother of the bride because real mom is in England and not flying in till a month before the wedding.

I'm helping the bridal party with menu and game ideas--and, of course, money.
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Even though I like games, I'm not one for the types of games often associated with showers; they seem kind of silly to me. But I once went to a shower where they did something almost like a game, and I really loved it (as far as I could tell, everyone did). We each had to pull a slip of paper out of a bowl that had a topic on it associated with marriage -- not weddings, marriage. Then when it was our turn, we had to give a piece of advice or an anecdote or something to the bride. It was fascinating, because there were guests of both the bride's and her mom's generation. I learned a lot. It may not work as well if all the guests are the bride's contemporaries. I was just thinking about it today, and that was about 20 years ago! So you can see it really made an impression. When I got married, I had 2 recipe showers. At one, there was a chef who did a cooking demonstration (and that was our lunch). Something like that might work for your group; if not cooking, then scrapbook, flower arranging, some craft relating to an upcoming holiday, or something else your daughter likes. I'm sorry things have been difficult with your daughter. I'm glad there seems to be some progress. Good luck!
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I recommend chocolate punch! Ingredients: Ã¢ÂÂ¢ 4 oz semisweet chocolate Ã¢ÂÂ¢ 1/2 cup sugar Ã¢ÂÂ¢ 2 cups hot water Ã¢ÂÂ¢ 2 quarts milk Ã¢ÂÂ¢ 2 tsp vanilla extract Ã¢ÂÂ¢ 1 quart vanilla ice cream Ã¢ÂÂ¢ 1 quart club soda Preparation: Finely chop the semisweet chocolate, for easier melting. Add to water along with the sugar, in a large saucepan. Heat the chocolate mixture until just boiling. Stir constantly to keep it smooth. When everything is melted and blended, add milk and keep heating until it's warmed right through. Beat in vanilla extract with a whisk. Remove from heat and let cool down to room temperature. Put in the fridge until thoroughly chilled. When you are ready to serve, scoop ice cream into a punch bowl and pour the chocolate mix over top. Add sparkling club soda right before serving this chocolate punch. Serves 12
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Comments (3)
Agree with mary c that a spa day sounds more like a bachelorette party than a shower. Do you know the bride's mother? Can you contact her? She might be a good source of information as to what type of shower is typical in her family, or in her area. And she can help you put together the guest list. One thing you should do first is figure out how much money you can spend. Are the other bridesmaids going to be helping out? Ask them how much money they are willing to contribute. Now you know what your budget is. The bride and her mother may want certain things at the bridal shower, but if you can't afford them, you do not have to have them. Showers vary so much around the US. In some areas, they are small and held in someone's home and cake and punch are served. Elsewhere, they are large, like 80 or 90 people, and held at a restaurant or hall. Start with a firm budget. Get ideas from the other bridesmaids. Make your plans to fit your budget. Another thing to consider--is this going to be her only shower, or will anyone else be giving her one? Some brides end up with a work shower, a friend shower and a family shower. If there are multiple showers, only the MOB and MOG and the bridesmaids should get multiple invites (and the bridesmaids only have to give a present at one shower). When you are looking at your budget, also consider the other wedding costs you are going to have: dress, shoes, accessories, hair/makeup if the bride wants those, dress for the rehearsal dinner, travel, hotel, wedding present, bachelorette party. It all adds up, so don't spend all your money on just one part of the whole shebang.
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I can see both sides of the favor/no favor discussion.. I think it is nice to offer a thoughtful small gift to guests of a shower. Not all gatherings-- but a shower, yes. What is considered "nice" or "thoughtful" will vary greatly by region, age group, personality of the bride/mother-to-be, and personality of the event... so my recommendation is to do them if you have a good idea that seems to have wide appeal. Skip it if you don't. I just wouldn't fret over it. A number of years ago, I hosted a baby shower with a sweet pea theme. It was an outdoor buffet with no place settings so I setup a basket full of sweetpea seed packets as favors for guests. It helped decorate a table.. and it fit the event... and guests loved it. I don't like chocolate (and I especially don't like m&m's) but I know a number of grown women (and men) who would tear into a gift of m&m's. A number of our small little chocolate shops and bakeries will do little boxes that I'd absolutely use as favors for an event with a sit-down meal. I would not give any kind of decor item-- or anything that costs more than $5-$7/person.
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sweet_pea10
19 years ago
That is very sweet of you.
mary_md7
19 years ago
I would say that shower ideas should take into account the personality of the bride. A friend gave me an at-home shower with about 15 guests, a light buffet lunch and wine. It was lovely and perfect. I'm not one for the big restaurant-shower thing, and would have been horrified for my friend to spend that kind of money anyway. Heck, she had to talk me into having a shower at all (I was an "older" bride).

For me, at-home, simple, and personal was the best. You and the attendants probably know the bride best, so think about what suits her.

Oh, and IMHO, no games!
User
Original Author
19 years ago
NO GAMES? Mary, that just breaks my heart! Not a little round of Bridal Bingo with prizes to win? Not a Guess the Famous Couple's first names?

Why, next you'll be telling me no bow hat, either.

Pout.

Dianne, who's lived for too long being serene and self-conscious--I love silly things.
Cheri_C
19 years ago
When my daughter got married we played this game: divide the guest into teams (depending on how many guests you have, we had about 4 on each team), seperate each team so that they can't see what the others are doing. Give each team a roll of toilet paper and have One guest in each team be the "Bride". They have to make her a wedding dress using the toilet paper. We had one team even make her a bouquet out of the toilet paper. Then we let the bride-to-be choose the best wedding dress. We all had so much fun with this!

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Bridal shower ideas

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Bridal shower ideas

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