Throwing A Bridal Shower

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of throwing my baby sister a bridal shower. Everything turned out beautifully and everyone had a great time. Here are some of the pictures from the event.




Here are some great and easy tips on how to throw a successful bridal shower:

Tip 1: Decorations. Try to theme the decorations around the theme of the wedding. Even if you don't know the exact floral schemes and colors, you can usually get a pretty good idea from the wedding invitation. Be sure to display a picture of the couple and also frame or place the bridal shower and wedding invitation on a stand.

Tip 2: The Mood. From the moment the bride walks into the room, she should feel like a bride. Make a cd with classic bridal music like "Going To The Chapel," "It's In His Kiss," and "The Way You Look Tonight." Bring in fresh flowers and be sure to light many candles. Girls just love that stuff.

Tip 3: The Food. If you plan on preparing your own food make sure you adjust the menu to the time of day. If you are hosting the party at Noon, a typical lunch hour, you'll need to provide a larger menu. If your party is at 3 in the afternoon, you can cut back on the amount of food since your guests have most likely already eaten. No matter the time of day, choose items that can be prepared in advance so you don't have to do much cooking the day of shower. You'll want to greet guests as they arrive and if you are busy in the kitchen you won't be able to do this.

Tip 4: The Beverages. No matter what beverage you serve, its always fun to drink out of champagne flutes. Serve sparkling wine, lemonade, pear cider or even water with lime, but whatever you choose keep the beverage options to a minimum, perhaps one or two options. That way you won't have to play bar hostess and you'll be able to save money.

Tip 5: The Entertainment. What is a bridal shower without games? But if you are like most of us and have been to many bridal showers over the years, you know the typical drill. So be creative with your game choices. If you can create a custom game that is great, or if you are looking for game ideas, check out banquetevent.com's free bridal shower games. Our favorite is the Madlib activity. Divide your guests into three groups and have them each fill out the madlib. Then have them read their stories aloud. Trust us, its hilarious and helps break the ice.

Tip 6: The Traditions. Whatever you do, don't forget the timeless traditions that have been passed down for years and years. Be sure to make the classic ribbon bouquet from the bows and ties from the gifts. Take notes during the gift opening time of the things the bride says and read them aloud as a prelude to the comments she'll make on her wedding night. And be sure to give the game winners a small prize.

Above all, have fun and be creative. If you have pictures of your own bridal shower, we'd love to share them. Email us your pics.