Defining the Brides Role in the Bridal Shower

Originally, the bride’s role in the bridal shower was quite simple: according to legend, a well to do Dutch or Danish girl who fell in love with a poor miller’s apprentice was said to have become engaged to the young men against the wishes of her father. In an attempt to dissuade the couple from going through with their marriage plans, the father made it known that he would withhold the dowry, which was customarily used to help the young couple to set up their own household. The legend further states that the townspeople were so upset with the rich father, that they decided to take it upon themselves to equip the young people with the items they needed to being their lives together, and therefore held a bridal shower, where they showered the bride with gifts of household items, linens and other useful things. Obviously, times have changed and we no longer have dowries. Nonetheless, the tradition stuck, and we are now hosting bridal showers for any bride to be who is ready to walk down the isle, notwiths tanding her or her fiancé’s financial wherewithal.

Interestingly, the bride’s role in the bridal shower has not changed that much. She is still pretty much the passive participant while the bride’s maids and other female relatives take it upon themselves to plan and host the shower. All the bride really needs to do is to show up and accept the gifts! Of course, even being the recipient of the honoring is not without rules and regulations, and here are some tips on how to weather the stress of an upcoming shower with grace and how to make throwing your bridal shower a joy to your brides maids.

Allow your maid of honor access to your address book. This sounds simple, but how often do we think of letting someone else know whom we would like to see invited to a party? Since the maid of honor is probably a close friend of yours, she will know most of your friends already, but does she have their telephone numbers? Additionally, since she probably does not know everyone to whom you sent a wedding invitation, and since etiquette mavens suggest that it is proper to invite all the female guests to the bridal shower, it is important that she has access to the guest list and your address book to make sure nobody feels slighted. At the same time, since it is your brides’ maids and maid of honor who will be footing the bill for this event, do not insist on inviting everyone and anyone. If they would prefer -and can only afford- to only invite close friends, go along with a smile.

Stay out of the maid of honor’s way as much as possible. Sure, you probably have an opinion on everything from where to hold the shower to what games to play and how to word the invite. In one word: “don’t.” While your wedding may be the event of your dreams come true, your bridal shower is not, and while the hostess of the event may consult with you on your preferences, it is not mandatory, nor should you tell her how you want it done. This is a party that is thrown in your honor, and you are the guest of honor – not the party planner!

As the day of the shower arrives, please be sure to make your maid of honor’s job easy by taking an active role in mingling with the guests, speaking to each one for a bit, and interacting with all in a gracious manner. Yes, you will probably be nervous and a bit harried as the big day rapidly approaches, but this is not the time or the place to show it.

The week after the shower, be sure to sit down and write “thank you” notes to the shower guests who came, and also mention a sincere note of gratitude about the gifts they brought for your. At that time it would also be of great kindness to write some “thank you cards” to your bride’s maids and maid or honor for throwing this party for you.

Give the Gift of a Bridal Shower Theme Basket

Many bridal shower guests struggle with what to purchase the bride-to-be for her bridal party. Even if she is registered, it can be difficult to find the gift that seems “just right” to buy. One cute and irresistible idea for the bridal shower is to create a bridal shower theme basket. The possibilities are truly endless!

Understanding the Bridal Shower Theme Basket

A bridal shower theme basket is a combination of items that are related to each other in one way or another. The items can be useful or fun, serious or whimsical, romantic or funny, or they can be traditional or nontraditional. The bridal shower theme basket can be created in any way that reflects your feelings or personality, as well as those of the bride-to-be.

Destination Theme Baskets

If you know where the bride and groom will be heading for their honeymoon, consider putting together a destination theme basket. For example if the happy couple will be going to Hawaii for their honeymoon or even if they are having a Hawaiian-themed wedding, you can put together a Hawaii basket. In this basket, you can include items such as a Tiki bar handbook describing drinks and appetizers, Hawaiian scented candles, hula girl glasses, and Hawaiian skincare products such as moisturizers, scrub, and sunscreen.

Cooking Theme Baskets

If the bride-to-be loves to cook or needs a little encouragement in the department, you might want to consider a cooking theme basket. The possibilities for this sort of themed basket are quite varied. For instance, if she likes to cook on the grill, you might put together a theme basket containing barbeque spices, an apron, a master grill set, and gift certificates for meat. If she is a gourmet chef, provide her with a basket filled with a variety of herbs. Baking baskets filled with mixing bowls, whisks, and other baking supplies are also a great idea. Or, get more specific with an Italian basket. In this basket, you might include Italian herbs and seasoning, spaghetti sauce, dish towels, a pasta scooper, spaghetti noodles, and a strainer.

Romantic Baskets

Considering the bride-to-be will be soon embarking on one of the most magical and romantic nights of her life, you might want to help her along the way with a romantic basket. For example, create a basket with a bottle of champagne, two champagne glasses, and candles, a CD of romantic music, bath oils, bubble bath, and massage oils. You might even through in some lingerie or something naughty, depending on the group that will be attending the bridal shower. Or, create a basket for a night in the tub with washrags, towels, bubble bath, candles, and bath toys. Another fun “couples” basket is one set up for an evening together, containing a gift certificate for a movie rental, a gift certificate for pizza, microwave popcorn, theater candy, and soda.

Another romantic idea is a basket of candles. But, these aren’t just any ‘ole candles. These candles are specially selected – 12 candles for the first 12 months together. A white candle is for the night of the honeymoon, pink is for the first Valentine’s Day, green is for the first St. Patrick’s Day (for the luck of the Irish), purple is for the first Easter, red/white/blue is for the first 4th of July (to keep the “fireworks” alive), blue is for the first Veteran’s Day (this is particularly meaningful for a military wife), orange is for the first Thanksgiving, red is for the first Christmas, yellow is for the first New Year, burgundy is for the first company dinner, light blue is for the first fight, and cream is for the first anniversary.

Helpful Baskets

If you wish to go with a more practical, yet fun, approach, you might want to consider a basket of household supplies. In this case, the basket should be a laundry basket. The laundry basket should then be filled with helpful household items that you can never seem to have enough of, such as paper towels, tin foil, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and Ziploc bags. Or, create a basket of those little things you never think about until you need them, like pens, twist ties, light bulbs, toothpicks, gum, and dental floss.

Hobby Baskets

A basket consisting of items pertaining to the bride-to-be’s hobby is another great idea. If she likes sports, painting, photography, or scrapbooking, fill a basket with supplies typical to these hobbies. Or, maybe she would be interested in having her own tools to keep around the house. Whatever her hobby, there are bound to be an abundance of supplies you can purchase.

Miscellaneous Baskets

Other theme baskets you can create are ones centered on a certain time of day, such as a dinnertime basket, breakfast, or bedtime. Another great themed basket idea is to create a basket of “Everything you will need from A to Z.” With this basket, you purchase something for every letter of the alphabet (such as aluminum foil for A, bath soaps for B, etc.) and attach a note explaining the letter of the alphabet each one represents.

Timetable for a Bridal Shower: When to Plan and What Time to Party?

Planning a bridal shower can be a lot of work. So when should you begin? You can begin planning any time you would like. It all depends on how big the party is going to be, where your guests may be coming from, and if any reservations or special accommodations need to be made. As far as how much time to allow between the bridal shower and the wedding that can vary from a couple of months to two weeks before the big event. Another decision that is sometimes hard to choose is the time of day to have the party. There are many factors that help a hostess make all of these decisions.

Once you decide you are going to host a bridal shower you should decide how much time the planning will take. If you want to have the bridal shower at a location that is public, such as a restaurant or bar, you may need to start fairly early, as you will probably have to make reservations for a large group. Another factor is the food; if you are planning a formal meal you may want to start planning your menu and calling caterers right away. Planning an informal shower would definitely save you some time and you would not have to start planning so soon. Invitations should go out at least a month before the shower to allow guests to plan accordingly. Out of town guest should obviously be given more notice so they can make travel arrangements and reservations. The actual date of the party should never less than two months before the wedding. The last two months before a wedding is typically a full schedule for a bride-to-be, with dress fittings, last minute decisions and finalizing all plans.

A mid-morning shower is the perfect time for a brunch. It may be a great time of day for most, as a lot of people typically do not make plans in the early part of the day. If brunch is not something you want to do you could always host a mid-morning tea party. Both of these options can range from very formal to very casual, it all depends on what the hostess or bride may want. A mid-morning time is more suitable if the guests are all local, if out of town guests were to come they may have to stay the night before and that can be difficult when they will probably already be planning to travel to the wedding.

Early afternoon bridal showers are common. The hostess can serve a light lunch or ask guests to bring a dish to pass. Having the food catered is always an option too. Afternoon parties are great as they allow plenty of time for visiting and games. Also one must allow for gift opening. Having an afternoon tea party is always an option too. Hosting an afternoon party for a wine lover could include a wine tasting party with cheese, crackers and other finger foods.

If you would like to throw a more formal bridal shower an evening party would be a very nice choice. Having a sit down dinner party is a wonderful idea if including both the bride and groom. But it is also a great idea for a girl’s night out to have a formal meal among friends. Evening parties could also be focused solely on desserts and wine. What woman does not like an evening filled with chocolate, cheesecake and other delicious desserts.

Different twists on bridal showers are combining the bridal shower with the bachelorette party and maybe have a night at a casino and then a stay at a hotel. The night could be filled with gambling, dinner and maybe a show at the casino if offered. In the morning you could all have brunch and have the bridal shower and gift opening right at the hotel or a restaurant if you choose.

Throwing a bridal shower can take as much time or as little time and effort as you want to put into it. It all simply depends on how far and big you want to go. Also always consider the bride and groom and also the potential guests when choosing time and location of the bridal shower.

Who is Who on the Bridal Shower Guest List

When getting married, it can sometimes be difficult to understand the proper etiquette involved with many of the wedding functions. The bridal shower is no exception. Many brides-to-be are left uncertain of the proper procedures to follow when planning a bridal shower and who to invite. In addition, the proper role of different guests on the list can become confusing. With a few simple rules of thumb, however, you are guaranteed to have a memorable and proper bridal shower.

Who Hosts the Bridal Shower?

The maid or matron of honor, and never the bridesmaids, traditionally hosts the bridal shower. It is, however, acceptable for another close friend of either the bride or the groom to take on the responsibility. For the most part, it is considered unacceptable for a close relative of the bride, such as the mother or siblings, to throw a bridal shower. This is because it gives the appearance that the family is scouting for gifts. In some areas of the country, however, it is customary for a close relative to throw the bridal shower. In addition, if the bride does not have anyone else to throw the party for her, it may be acceptable for the mother or a sister to throw the party. The family members should, however, try to have as little involvement as possible. It is never considered acceptable for the bride to throw her own bridal shower.

Sometimes, the coworkers of a bride-to-be also decide to throw a bridal shower. A group of coworkers or just one coworker may host this shower. So far as etiquette is concerned, this is perfectly acceptable. Just be sure to limit the guest list to coworkers. Inviting friends and family to a bridal shower hosted by coworkers is tacky.

Who should be invited to the Bridal Shower?

You can invite whomever you want to your bridal shower. Your guest list should certainly include your mother, your future mother-in-law, and your maid or matron of honor. If the bride or the groom has a stepmother, she should also be invited. Traditionally, a bridal shower involves only women. But, co-ed bridal showers are gaining in popularity. This decision is one you will have to make when creating your guest list.

Typically, brides-to-be invite their immediate family members to attend their bridal showers. They also invite all of the female members of the bridal party, and the male members if the bridal shower is co-ed, and other close relatives. Close friends are also invited to the bridal shower. As a rule of thumb, only people who have been invited to the wedding itself should be invited to the bridal shower. It is uncouth to invite someone to the shower without also inviting him or her to the wedding as it implies you are only interested in receiving his or her gifts. You are not, however, expected to invite everyone who will be attending the wedding. Of course, bridal showers hosted by co-workers are the exception – you are not expected to invite you co-workers to your wedding, even if they do throw you a bridal shower.

If you are having a difficult time deciding who to invite to your bridal shower and who not to invite, take a look at your wedding guest list. First, eliminate all of the females with whom the bride does not know directly, such as the wives of male friends. Next, cross off people who were invited to the wedding simply because it is “proper,” but who are not close to the bride. This can include distant relatives or female friends of the bride-to-be’s parents.

What if there will be more than One Bridal Shower?

If you will be having more than one bridal shower, mothers, stepmothers, and female siblings on both sides, as well as the maid of honor, should be invited to every shower. None of these women, however, should be expected to provide a gift at each shower. In addition, the female siblings of the groom should have the option of choosing to attend only one of the showers. Any other guests should be only invited to one of the showers. If you do choose to invite someone to more than one shower, be sure to make it perfectly clear that the person is not expected to bring a gift each time.

Classic Bridal Shower Gifts NOT on the Bride - Registry

Classic gifts are always an easy choice to make when shopping for any occasion. The definition of a classic gift can be very different when relating to different individuals. Buying a classic bridal shower gift is sometimes difficult as the bridal shower gift is typically less expensive and extravagant than the gift you will give as a wedding gift. It is also hard to avoid buying something on the bride’s gift registry. A gift registry is meant more for the actual wedding rather than the bridal shower. This article will give you some ideas for classic bridal gifts that the bride to be probably does not have on her registry. When buying a bridal shower gift it can be simplified by deciding what category of gift you would like to purchase.

Household gifts are a timeless choice when it comes to bridal showers. A laundry basket filled with household cleaners wrapped in cellophane would be a wonderful gift for the bride to be that is moving to her own house for the first time. A similar gift would be a nice wicker basket filled with non-perishable foods that would be handy in case the bride and groom are short on time after the honeymoon. A recipe box with plenty of recipes for every occasion is another great clever, but yet classic, gift for a young couple just beginning their lives together. Bath towels and wash clothes may be on the registry but are still a great gift for most newlyweds. If you want to focus on the bride and want a gift to make her feel special you could get her a gift basket of bubble bath and other great smelling lotions and such. Christmas ornaments are another great classic gift that many people do not realize a newlywed couple would need. How many of celebrated our first Christmas with our new husband with some really beau tiful Christmas ornaments? Picture frames are another great classic gift that any newlywed could use. The picture frame could be geared towards the wedding theme or maybe the couples honeymoon trip or even their pet if they have one.

Clothing attire is also a classic choice; it can be just for the bride to be or for both the bride to be and the groom to be. Matching flannel pajamas for the couple would be a fun and yet practical wedding shower gift. Maybe get the bride to be flannel pajamas with the feet in them. If the couple lives in a warmer area of the world maybe you could buy them a gift of extra large beach towels. Beach towels would be a great idea as the couple would more than likely have a use for them on the honeymoon. A nice accompaniment to the beach towels could be a bottle of suntan lotion or sun block for that tropical honeymoon. A nice comfy bath robe would be another classic gift the bride to be would probably not think of for herself. Give her a nice bottle of luxurious bubble bath or bath beads with the robe. Slippers for the couple would be a cute and useful idea as well. Personalize then with monogram of the newlywed’s initials or simply “Mr.” and “Mrs.”

You could also choose to go with a more unique gift. A picnic basket with all the necessary dishes, wine glasses, napkins, checkered picnic blanket and utensils necessary for a romantic picnic would be a wonderful gift. You could get the couple a nice wine chiller with a nice bottle of wine. Board games such as Monopoly or Sorry would be a great classic gift that a newlywed couple would not think to register for.

Buying a bridal shower gift can be very fun and it should be. You do not have to give wash clothes and spoons. Not everyone needs pots and pans; make the gift fun and unique, but you can still keep it classic. Whether you go with a household gift, clothing, or something completely original the bride to be and groom to be will appreciate the effort. If you choose to use the bride’s gift registry maybe you could put your own unique touch the gift by wrapping it uniquely or having it personalized.

Dealing with Bridal Shower Decor- Easy Ideas that Wont Break the Bank

Bridal showers are becoming more elaborate and themed. The themes can range from something simple like a garden shower or as elaborate as a formal dinner party with a wine tasting theme. Whether you decide to have a simple theme or decide to go all out with a formal setting you can decorate without breaking the bank by choosing the right location and using everyday items to make the bridal shower an economically friendly occasion. Traditional décor, restaurants, nature and bars or taverns can make decorating very simple and cheap.

Simple traditional decorations are probably the first to come to mind. Balloons and streamers are very cheap and very festive. A wedding theme with bells, lace and streamers is another traditional wedding shower decorating scheme. Balloons are sold very cheap and you can get them in all colors. Streamers and paper wedding bell decorations come in a wide variety of colors as well. To put a twist on the traditional balloon and streamer theme you can attach ribbons to helium filled balloons and let them rise to the ceiling. Attach pictures of the bride, groom, family and friends to the ribbons for a walk down memory lane!

Having the wedding shower at a public location would be ideal too if you do not want to spend a lot on decorations. A Mexican restaurant would be great for a Mexican or Spanish theme. Most Mexican restaurants are decorated with sombreros, the Mexico flag and other authentic items. More than likely Spanish music will also accompany such a location. A Chinese restaurant is another great option. To make it extra special you could order special fortune cookies geared towards love and marriage. Coffee shops would be an ideal location to have a bridal shower for a coffee enthusiast, yes they do exist, and you could instruct guests to bring a different kind of coffee or coffee accessory for the honored bride-to-be. All of these would allow the hostess to forego decoration costs completely and allow more focus on the bride and guests. Food provided at the location will also be perfect for the selected theme and most offer a large variety of ethnic and American cuisine.

Using nature to your advantage is another great option. A local park in the spring or summer season would be a beautiful place to have a wedding shower. No decorating would be required if not you prefer. Guests could be asked to bring a dish to pass to lessen the cost of food or you could simply have finger foods or picnic items. Sandwiches, chips, dip and veggies would be more than adequate. If the bride is an animal lover a zoo is another great option and also is a great idea if you would like to take a stroll as a group. Again picnic items, catering or a potluck are great possibilities for the food ideas. If your city has a public garden or you know of someone with a beautiful garden it would be a great place to have a garden theme party for the gardening bride. Guests could be asked to being garden tools, plants or seeds as gifts. Another advantage to all of the natural locations is that they are child friendly if you have a lot of guests that may need to bring children.

Jack and Jill parties are growing in popularity. These parties are centered on both the bride and the groom and are typically co-ed. Great locations that allow for little decorating are easy to come by. The aforementioned locations would work for these parties but there are a couple more that may be more suitable. For instance, you could host the party on a beach and have a barbeque party with beach volleyball as an activity for guests. Since men attend the party along with their significant other maybe a sports bar would be a fun location. Food, drinks, pool, and television allow for an activity for all guests to enjoy. Again neither of these locations would really require any decorations and would allow for more focus on the guests and the celebrity of the party, the couple to be.

All in all bridal shower décor does not have to cost you a lot of money. Actually it could cost you nothing. Most of the places mentioned do not charge for parties however food and drinks would have to be purchased at some of them. This cost could be passed on to the guests attending and if you choose to have it catered there are many reasonable options. Whatever you choose always keep the bride’s likes in mind as she is the one who is being honored.

Can Kids Come? Laying the Ground Rules before the Shower Event

How often has it happened that you attended a bridal shower, wedding, or other event and wondered if the gaggle of children you watched really should be there? At times you might have inwardly rolled your eyes, while at other times you might have actually questioned the sanity of the hostess. Is the attendance of children at a bridal shower appropriate? The short answer is a resounding “maybe.” While this may be a bit vague, it is important to remember that all bridal showers are not created equal. There is a time and a place for everything and the presence of children is no exception. There are bridal showers where the attendance of children is most welcome, appropriate, and enhances the occasion, while there other differently done or themed bridal showers where a child’s presence would be inappropriate. Set these easy ground rules before the shower event and you will be sure that your enjoyment, and that of your guests as well as their children, is ensured:

If the bride will have a little flower girl to precede her in the procession, it is most appropriate to invite the little girl, and her mom, to the bridal shower. Consequently, if the bride will have one or more junior brides maids, these would be little girls aged ten to thirteen, they, too, may be invited to the bridal shower. Inviting these children to the bridal shower is only fair, since they are part of the bridal procession, and since the bridal shower is usually attended by the women of the bridal party. It is appropriate to invite the little girls even if no other children are invited or will be present.

If you are planning on having a more adult party, will be serving alcohol, or will make lingerie modeling a part of your bridal shower, please be sure to clearly state on the invitations “adults only, please.” This will take the guesswork out of the planning, and will alert guests with children to the fact that they will need to arrange for child care ahead of time. In addition to the foregoing, it will prevent a guest from bringing a child into an environment that is clearly unsuitable for the youngster.

On the other hand, if you wish to include the children, it is only fair to state so on the invitation. “Please bring your children” or something to that effect will signal to everyone that children are not only allowed but most warmly welcomed. Additionally, this will spell out to the harried parent that at this party there will be food supplied that children will like to eat, and that there will be activities that will keep the kids busy for a while and without the need of constant parental interaction and supervision.

Of course, if you do wish to expressly include children, please be sure to have foods that are appropriate for them. While most adults will cherish the idea of sushi, most children will not and thus some hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and other child comfort foods should be included in the menu. Additionally, please be sure to plan some activities that will keep them entertained, since it is most unrealistic to expect a bunch of kids to be excited about a new mixer, or set of Tupperware bowls and dishes. Coloring books and crayons are a nice idea, but will keep the kid entertained only for a little while. Thus, if you advertise in your invitations that you wish to include the children, you will also need to plan and provide for their entertainment. Perhaps you could hire a few babysitters who will have some activities for the children. Ideas for such activities are plentiful and the Internet can offer endless printable coloring sheets, word puzzles, and such, while party rental companies will be able to provid e you with bouncers, jumpers, and other outdoor playthings that will keep the kids busy and entertained.

As you can see, communication is the key to planning a successful event, such as a bridal shower, and the presence or absence of children needs to be communicated well in advance of the actual event. Failure to do so will result in a room full of bored children, quite possibly a lot of acting up, and some rather frazzled bridal shower guests.

Important Info to Include on Bridal Shower Invitations

Preparing bridal shower invitations can be a huge chore, especially if you are inviting a large amount of guests. There is a lot of information that should be included on the invitation and getting it right the first time will actually save the hostess time. If you do not include the important information potential guests may need to call and ask questions and this will be a huge waste of time for the hostess. Another reason having detailed information that covers all the bases are so important is that is helps the potential guests plan for the event. Planning their travel arrangements, clothing attire and gift possibilities are just some things the potential guests are going to want to plan for.

Of course the first thing on the invitation should be the bride to be or the couple’s names. This is some thing that the hostess may want to consult with the bride to be about. If the party is a women only party then the bride to be will probably just be the name listed on the invitation. If the party is for men and women then the hostess will probably want to include the bride to be and the groom to be on the invitations.

The date of the bridal shower should also be included. This is vital, as the guests will nee to plan for it and avoid other appointments or priorities. The date will also help the potential guest determine the weather at that particular time of year and they can plan travel times around winter weather or rainy weather conditions if it applies. Also if the guests are out of town or have to travel a long distance they may need to make flight reservations or other travel plans. They may also need to book a hotel room if they need to travel overnight.

Time of day that the shower is going to take place should be the next thing included on the invitation. This one is pretty logical. If it is not listed how are the guests supposed to know when to show up? Unless you want a bunch of phone calls questioning the time of the shower, include it on the invitation.

The address of the location that the bridal shower is going to held is another vital fact that should be listed on the invitations. This is like the time of the bridal shower, if it is not on the invitation how are people supposed to come? Also do not just list the name of the person who is having it at their home or do not just list the restaurant or any other place you may be hosting the party. Always list the complete street address including the city, state and zip code.

The name of the hostess along with a phone number where she can normally be reached should be included on the invitations. If the hostess can be reached at one number by day and another by night include both numbers and specify when to call each of them. If a potential guest has a question they will need contact the hostess.

If the hostess requests to be contacted by a certain date, notifying them who can attend, then the RSVP date and time should be included in the invitation. This is only necessary if this information is required for a bridal shower that may need reservations or catered.

Bridal shower theme should be included on the invitation if there is one. This will help the guest plan for a gift and clothing attire. If the hostess has designated a theme and would like particular gifts brought to the shower then she should include the gift suggestions on the invitation as well.

Other things you may want to include are the couple’s home decorating colors, a map to the location of the bridal shower, and where the bride has registered. Also remember that if the couple has made any special requests to include it on the invitation. Whatever you decide all of the above will save you time and energy during the planning stages by giving the most information to the potential guests. The guests will also appreciate a thorough invitation so that they can plan accordingly.

Words Say It Best - Great Ideas for Your Bridal Shower Invitation

Bridal showers are an essential part of the wedding process. In simpler times, they helped the bride get the gifts she would need to start her new life as a wife. They were essentially gifts she would need around the house. Our society tends to be much less traditional these days. Now bridal showers are typically structured around a theme. They are, essentially, parties with a mission. Sometimes the mission is the more traditional getting the bride ready to run a house of her own, and other times the mission is equipping her kitchen or preparing her for a life of camping trips with her husband-to-be. Whatever the overall goal of the shower, the invitation is the most important part, as it is what guests will respond to.

When you get ready to send out invitations, the first thing you must consider is design. You have a few options in this arena. First, you could look at the wedding invitations the bride and groom are going to send out. This would give you the chance to send out similar invitations and stick with the overall theme of the wedding. If, however, your wedding shower has a theme of its own, you will probably want to choose an invitation that reflects that theme. You can be as creative as you like in this arena. For example, if you are having a kitchen shower, you could create an invitation that mimics a recipe card. If you are having a beach party shower, you could create invitations that look like little beach towels. You can either create your themed wedding shower invitation yourself or you might look into having someone create it for you. Some places, party stores and such, have bridal shower invitations that are preprinted. You simply fill in the necessary information. If you'd like to have something a bit cla ssier, you can look into having the bridal shower invitations specially printed for your party.

Most printers have a portfolio of invitations they would be willing to create for your party. This tends to look a bit classier and more sophisticated. If neither of these options meets your needs, you will have to create the invitation yourself. With the renewed interest in things like scrapbooking, though, this shouldn't be a difficult process. Because so many people are interested in creative paper goods, many hobby stores carry a large selection of creative papers, scissors, stamps, and stickers to help you create the invitation of your dreams. Most even have a section of paper that can be fed into your home printer if you wish to computerize your text. For example, if you want to create a beach party wedding shower, you might go to the hobby store and choose a paper with a sea shell background. Print out the invitation wording, cut the edges with a clam shell shaped scissor, and decorate with some beach chair stickers. You suddenly have a much better invitation than you could ever have ordered or purchas ed in a store.

The invitation design is important, but the invitation wording is equally as important. One of the most important things on the invitation is the name of the bride. You will also need to list the date and time of your wedding shower. Moreover, do not forget to list the location. You will need to list the person who will be handling the RSVPs and their phone number. Listing a deadline to reply to an RSVP is common. Two weeks prior to the shower should give you enough time. You should also consider listing who will be hosting the shower. If you wish, just list the names of the hostesses. You could, though, list the hostess’ titles instead of the names. For example, if the hostess’ are the bridesmaids, you could just say something like “The bridesmaids of Jane Doe invite you . . .” Additionally, it is essential to list where the bride-to-be has registered for gifts so your guests can get her something she really desires. A typical wedding shower invitation wording would read something like “Please join us for a bridal shower in honor of Jane Doe on Sunday, January 31 at 2 p.m. at the Franklin Mobile Home Park Clubhouse, 123 America Street, Anywhere, Arkansas.”

Send your invitations out about one month before the shower, and you will give the bride the best party she could hope for.

Gauging the Bridal Shower Guests - Running the Risk of Being Risqué

You are the maid or matron of honor, and it is up to you to throw a bridal shower for your very best friend. You have known her since the early days of kindergarten, and you have been inseparable for most of your childhood. You have laughed with her, wondered who liked her in high school, double dated with her, and were as stunned as she was when her beau proposed marriage. It was only natural that you would be the maid of honor, and you plan on sending her off to her new married life in style! You have been working with the bridesmaids and a time for the shower, a guest list, food, and a location have been nailed down. Now you are wondering about a theme for the party, and you are thinking lingerie - but you hesitate. How will Aunt Martha react to the display of negligees? How will the bride’s mother take to your notion of giving some very intimate apparel to her little girl, do you really want to rub it in that pretty soon her baby will belong to someone else in more ways than one?

Gauging the bridal shower guests is no easy feat, and since ideally there is only one bridal shower, it is important to think it through whether running the risk of being risqué is appropriate or maybe should be reserved for a girls’ night out.

Generally speaking, if the guest list for the bridal shower involves older people, especially the bride’s mother or other close female relative, keep the risqué gifts and games on the shelf. It is inappropriate in this setting and will not only embarrass the bride to be, but also make the experience a trial for the family members who will attempt to sit through what is akin to an insult to their little baby.

If children are present, or if it is possible that children could attend because you neglected to very clearly state on your invitations that the party is for “adults only,” do not run the risk of being risqué. Such behavior in front of children is not only inappropriate, but could also get you in a lot of trouble.

If the groom to be is present, even in the next room, it is not a good idea to have the girls display any behavior that may be considered risqué. This may quite possibly impede any serious interaction he may have in the future with his bride’s friends whom he might only remember as a gaggle of silly geese with a questionable sense of humor.

Another reason to eschew any risqué games or gifts is the bride’s disposition. If she is an active member of her church, turns bright red at certain TV programs, and overall is not in favor of any risqué behavior, it is not a good idea to force it upon her, even if you are doing it in jest or because you feel she needs to loosen up. This may drive a serious wedge between you and her, and thus should be avoided. You might want to run by her some of the ideas you have and see how she reacts.

On the other hand, if you and the bride are on the same wavelength and she enjoys being a little risqué now and again, then you might want to consider adding some spice to the party.

Obviously, there are no hard and fast rules as to how much is too much. While some guests may turn bright red at some risqué games, others might fade away with the exchange of lingerie. It is therefore a good idea to be risqué “in stages.” For example, start with a few silly games and see how the crowd does. If you notice that suddenly a few of them are pairing off and having conversations instead of participating in the games, it is a good indication that their threshold is reached. At that time it would be bad form to bring out the increasingly risqué entertainment that you have planned, and it would be best to just resort to the tried and true games that would make even the bride’s granny happy!

Ten Tried and True Bridal Shower Gifts that are made for Personalizing

Personalized gifts are great for any occasion. Personalizing a gift shows that you care and is a fun way to show how special the recipient is. Personalized gifts are unique in there own way and there are many ways to personalize a gift. Personalized does not just mean you had someone’s name or initials on the gift. You can make a gift personal by adding a photo or a special phrase. The personal touch could just be that you hand made the item or get a gift that is symbolic of a special event or time in the recipient’s life or future. Giving a personalized gift for a bridal shower is a wonderful way to welcome the newlyweds into this world. Personalizing a gift meant for the bride to be is great especially if it is using her new last name or initials. This article will cover just a few tried and true bridal shower gifts that are perfect for personalization.

Lingerie is a great gift that the bride to be will love and is sure to please the groom to be as well! Have the lingerie personalized with the bride’s new initials or a special phrase that will mean something special to the couple. Bathrobes for the couple can be personalized with the usual names but what about something that indicates they are newly weds, perhaps a cute little drawing done by you the gift giver? Maybe you could write a poem to the special couple. Pajamas are another wonderful little gift that can be personalized with a unique appliqué, a set of wedding rings or a bride and groom having their first kiss along with the wedding date of the couple to be.

Candles symbolizing the colors of milestone anniversaries are another way to give a personal touch to a wedding shower gift. For example buy a bunch of candles in a variety of colors and write a special instruction sheet to accompany them. The instructions could include things such as a color chart and a timeline for burning, such as, “Red is for passion, burn these on your first night together.” Wine glasses and picture frames are another great gift that can be personalized with the wedding date or couple’s name. In the picture frame you could also add a picture of you and the bride to be or a picture of the happy couple. A welcome mat with the bride and groom’s new shared last name would be a great idea for a gift that could be given at a party focused on the bride and groom to be.

If you are a crafty person the possibilities for a personalized gift are endless. Just knowing that you crafted the gift yourself will tell the bride to be that you care enough to make a personal gift just for her. As a hostess of a bridal shower you could purchase a scrapbook and pages to go in it. Send the pages to each of the guests and ask them to create a page just for the bride to be. When they come to the bridal shower they can place the pages into the scrapbook and the bride to be will have a memory of all of her friends and family that made the pages. Another personal gift that the guests at the bridal could all contribute to is a cutting board signed and personalized with little messages by all the bridal shower guests. After everyone has signed the cutting board you may want to put a clear coat on it to protect it but the bride to be will probably just display the cutting board in her new kitchen. If you are a hobbyist craft painter maybe you would want to paint a mailbox for the bride and groom to be. You could paint on their house numbers, shared last name, or get creative and maybe paint it with the couple’s wedding color and they could use it for cards at the wedding reception.

Personalized bridal shower gifts are a great idea and can really show the bride and groom to be how special they are to you. No matter what gift you give remember that it is not the gift that counts but the thought you put into it. Try to get the couple or bride to be something that has a purpose.

Spa Inspiring Bridal Showers

Getting married is a joyous occasion for every woman. Planning the wedding can also be a bit stressful and hectic. For this reason, it is a great idea to plan a spa inspiring bridal shower before the big day. With a spa bridal shower, the bride-to-be can relax and enjoy the company of a few of her closest family members and best friends in a fun and memorable way.

Get Started with Invitations

To get the mood started off right, look for bridal shower invitations with a spa theme. Even if the card isn’t specifically for a bridal shower, do your best to find one that refers to the spa theme in some way. More and more bridal showers are going spa-rific, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find an invitation depicting this theme. If you do have trouble, however, he might want to consider making your own spa bridal shower invitations.

Be sure to also include a special note that clearly expresses what will be included at the spa bridal shower and whether or not guests should include gifts. At the same time, try to make the note fun, such as:

It’s a day to be spoiled

And be pampered all the way

With a day at the spa

Before Tricia’s big day!

We have reserved a room at XYZ solon for 2 pm, Sunday May 1. Please be sure to bring $30 for your pedicure and manicure treatment, as well as a spa or beauty themed present for Tricia. We will each enjoy a day of pampering as we toast Tricia’s upcoming nuptials: RSVP to Cindy or Tanya at 555-1234.

Activity Planning

A great way to start off a spa bridal shower is to first attend a yoga class together. The class will help get everyone’s mind and body focused and prepared for a day of fun and pampering. A spa with a steam room or Jacuzzi is another good place to host a spa bridal shower. That way, everyone can enjoy a break in either the steam room or Jacuzzi (or perhaps a bit of both!) between treatments.

The middle of the spa adventure is a good time to grab a light lunch, share a cake, and open presents. If cost is a factor, however, you can wait until after all of the treatments are complete and eat lunch or early dinner together afterward at a restaurant. Gifts can then be exchanged at the restaurant instead.

Gift Ideas

One idea for the spa bridal shower gift is to simply have all the guests pitch in to pay for the bride-to-be’s spa treatments. Check with the spa you will be visiting, though, because some will actually include the bride-to-be’s spa package for free with a certain number of paying guests. Otherwise, a spa bridal shower lends itself naturally to gifts such as lotions and creams. Hair products and other beauty accessories, such as cosmetics, colognes, hair dryers, and robes are also excellent gifts for a spa bridal shower.

Spa Bridal Shower Favors

The perfect spa bridal shower favors are small samples of a variety of pampering products, such as do-at-home face masks, manicure accessories, nail files, or toe separators. Often, free samples of cosmetics can also be obtained from department stores. Gather up as many of these samples as you can and toss them into goodie bags for your guests.

The Home Spa

Another option for the spa bridal shower is to create the spa experience at home. With a home-based spa bridal shower, the hostess can still use many of the same ideas already discussed, but she can indulge and pamper the guests from the comfort of her home. This type of spa bridal shower can save a great deal of money in the long run for those who are on a tight budget. It can also make for a more intimate experience.

Many different facemasks can be purchased, or even made at home, for the at home spa bridal shower. Each guest can wash her face then enjoy a soothing and relaxing facial. Afterward, each guest can apply toner and moisturizer while enjoying each other’s company. Of course, don’t forget to include a snack or lunch, cake, and presents for the bride-to-be!

Bridal Shower Punches - Five Perennial Favorites

Anyone who has ever hosted a bridal shower within the informal setting of a home or backyard will know that food is a major sticking point. Easily a budget buster, food and drinks will need to be carefully contemplated and planned in order to provide the most bang for the buck. Of course, the question of food is second only to the question of drinks, and most often the idea of having a bridal shower punch is the answer many a bridal shower hostess will receive when wondering what to serve. Soda and water should always be available, but for an awesome centerpiece as well as a drink mixture that will go a long ways, punch is still hands down a perennial favorite. Yet not all punches are created equal, and neither do all kinds of punch fit into every type of bridal shower. Here are the five favorites that seem to have found a large following amongst the bridal shower set:

At the top of the list is the Citrus Punch. Citrus punch is a favorite in the summertime and many women in citrus producing states love this easy to make recipe simply because it can be made from lemons and oranges that are growing in their own backyards. The ingredients are so easy to come by that even those who do not live in the sun-kissed citrus producing states will be able to enjoy it. Visit your local mega mart and purchase two cans of frozen lemonade and two cans of frozen orange juice. Mix them together. Add eight cans of water, two cups of grenadine syrup, and three quarts of ginger ale. Be sure that the ingredients are mixed together well! If you have fresh lemons in your backyard, go ahead and add the juice of three fresh lemons. After mixing the punch more time, go ahead and garnish it with fresh lemon or orange slices. This is a favorite especially for the kids!

Of course, for those who live in the coldest climates or are looking forward to a wedding in the middle of winter, a Citrus Punch is perhaps not the best way to go. Instead, how about a Hot and Spicy Punch? The ingredients are surprisingly simple: you simply need two cups of cider and two cups of 7-Up. Mix these ingredients together. Then combine this mixture with one cup of orange juice, the juice of one big lemon, half a cup of brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Next, prepare a large tea bag to hold one tablespoon of whole cloves, half a teaspoon of allspice, and three to four sticks of cinnamon. This kind of teabag may be fashioned from a couple of coffee filters, or from a discarded cheese cloth. Put the cheese cloth into the mixture and boil it for about five minutes. After the cooking time go ahead and remove the spices and enjoy the punch warm.

If you are pressed for time or money, then the Hawaiian Punch will be a great alternative, and you can be sure that even the younger guests will love it! Simply visit your local mega mart and purchase two one-liter bottles of red punch commercially mixed. This can be found in the soda isle. Next, add a forty-six ounce bottle of pineapple juice. Last but not least, go ahead and add a can of pineapple bits. Voila! You will have a punch that nobody will be able to resist.

Of course, there will be times that the party will be adults only, and at that time it is entirely appropriate to serve alcohol laced punches. For a Hawaiian Punch with a twist, simply combine one gallon of pineapple juice with one quart of vodka, 7-Up, and brandy. Add some lime juice to taste, and serve the concoction chilled.

For a more traditional Champagne Punch, simply choose a gallon of white wine as your base; add four bottles of champagne, two bottles of ginger ale, and some ice cubes. Of course, whenever serving alcoholic beverages, it is imperative that no children are present, that someone will ensure that no inebriated guests get behind the wheel of their cars, and that plenty of non-alcoholic choices are available for the teetotalers of the crowd.

Keep Your Arm and Leg - Seven Unique Ways to Cut the Cost of your Bridal Shower Invitations

Hosting a bridal shower can be a fun and exciting experience. It, however, can involve some pretty extensive planning and costs. You have to decide who to invite. You have to figure out where you plan to hold the party. You need to decide on a theme for your party. You even have to decide what to do at the party, like which games to play, when to eat, and when to open gifts. You have to choose and supply to food for the party. You even have to come up with a cake to help the bride and the guests celebrate. Most importantly, though, you have to come up with invitations to let everyone know when and where the shower will be held. This can, easily, be one of the most expensive parts of the entire wedding shower. There are so many different kinds of invitations to choose from. You can choose one that reflects the bride's wedding invitation. You can choose to send out invitations that reflect your theme. You can choose embossed invitations. You can even make your own invitations. However, if you are on a tight bud get for you wedding shower, you may be looking to cut the costs of your invitations.

One easy way to cut the cost of your bridal shower invitations is to create your own embossed invitations. An embossed invitation gives an elegant, sophisticated feel to the wedding shower. It will help you make the party uniquely yours. A handmade embossed invitation starts with a quick trip to the craft store. Once there, you will need to invest in an embossing heat tool, embossing powder in your desired colors, an embossing ink pad, and stamps. Don't forget the paper. The entire set up will cost you about one hundred dollars. This should be the only set of costs involved with this type of invitation. Moreover, most of your set-up costs are materials that you can reuse for other projects like scrapbooking, thank you notes, and other party invitations in the future. When you go to choose the stamp or stamps, be sure to choose something that fits in with the theme of the wedding or the party. Once you have all of your supplies, simply stamp the stamp pad, and then the paper. Sprinkle some powder and shake of f the excess. Power up your heating tool, and then apply heat to the stamped and powered area. You now have some of the best, cheapest invitations you can make.

Another easy way to keep the costs down on your bridal shower invitations is by purchasing invitations at the store that are clearance material. For the most part, stores restock their invitation store from season to season. In order to clear out older material, they seriously discount the prices. Some stores discount the prices by up to ninety percent. This means that if you were planning to purchase a set of invitations that cost forty dollars, you can get them for just a few bucks if you are able to find them on clearance. These invitations are usually just as good as the newer models, and usually, there is nothing on the invitations to date them, which means that you can use them at any point in the future. If you have your eye on a set of invitations, watch them for a clearance price.

A third great ways to hold down wedding shower invitation costs is to shop at closeout stores for premade wedding invitations. Closeout stores specialize in purchasing large quantities of merchandise that larger companies simply don't want in their stock rooms anymore. Maybe they aren't selling well, or maybe the store needs to make room for new merchandise. Either way, a nice, brand name set of invitations can be yours at about half of the cost they were regularly sold for.

An additional way to keep the costs down on your bridal shower invitations is to make a theme invitation with scrapbooking supplies. With the explosion of the scrapbooking hobby, many stores now carry specialty papers, stickers, and pens that make excellent themed invitation supplies. For example, if you want a beach party wedding shower, you could purchase paper with a shell background. You can find some little flip-flop stickers, and a summery colored pen to complete all of your text with. For around thirty dollars, you have all of the supplies you need to make for any wedding shower theme.

A fifth way to keep your wedding shower invitation costs down is to purchase some software to help you make wedding shower invitations on your computer. There are a number of different programs that will serve to make your wedding shower invitations, cards, and other fun things. Just by some fun paper, and you're on your way to some neat wedding shower invitations.

Another way to keep your wedding shower invitation costs down is to check with the bride's wedding invitation printer. Many of them offer some great package deals. For example, sometimes they'll be happy to give you fifty free shower invitations with the purchase of five hundred wedding invitations. This can be a great deal for you if the bride has already placed a large order for her wedding invitations.

One final way to keep your wedding shower invitation costs down is to look for websites that offer free printable invitations. Many sites will give you a free trial with their product by offering some free invitations. Often these look just as good as the ones you might purchase in the store.

Finding discounted bridal shower invitations or making your own can be a great way to save some cash when you assemble the perfect shower.

Eight Places Perfect for a Bridal Shower Event

If you are planning a bridal shower, you want everything to be perfect. From the theme, to the decorations, to the food, and to the games everything must be just right. With that in mind, special attention needs to also be placed on where your bridal shower will be located. The location of your bridal shower can have a huge impact on how your bridal shower theme turns out. It can also lend itself naturally to some wonderful activities that will be memorable for all that attend.

A Private Home or Apartment

When choosing to have the shower at a private home, the options really are wide open. If you are a traditionalist, then the bridal shower should be held at the maid of honor’s home. It is, however, perfectly fine to have the bridal shower at the home of the bride or at the bride or groom’s parent’s house, or at anybody else’s home you desire. There really are no restrictions as to whose house you can have the bridal shower at. Just be sure to choose a home that is spacious enough to accommodate all of your guests. Don’t forget that the presents will take up space, too! And, somehow, they seem to take up even more space after they are open, so be sure there is plenty of room for the gifts both before and after they are opened. You don’t want to be crowded or cramped in any way.

If you or someone you know lives in an apartment complex, you might also want to look into having the bridal shower on the roof of the apartment. This area is quite spacious and can be a great deal of fun. Empty lofts are another option of living space turned to bridal shower location.

You also need to be sure the home is located somewhere the bride and all of her guests can easily locate and get to. Your home may seem “perfect” in every way, but it won’t matter if no one can find it or if it is so far out of the way that it becomes a hassle.

A Park

A park can offer a pleasant outdoor atmosphere to be enjoyed by all guests. Often, parks have picnic areas that you can use to barbeque some enjoyable treats for guests. A park also lends itself naturally to fun outdoor activities for a “sports” or “outdoors” bridal shower theme.

A Bowling Alley

Many women are choosing to just go out for a night of bowling and pizza for their bridal shower. Typically, this would be a smaller group of women, such as just the bridal party. A bowling alley bridal shower does, however, lend itself well to a co-ed bridal shower because the atmosphere is relaxed and enjoyable for the men, as well.

A Room in the Community Center or a Hall

A room in community center or a rented hall can be great for a bridal shower. Typically, these spaces were designed with special activities such as bridal showers in mind. Therefore, there should be plenty of space available for the

A Bar or Club

Sometimes, there is just nothing better than just going to a bar or club, particularly if those invited to your bridal shower enjoy dancing and having a “girls night out.” Just be sure to only invite those you know would be comfortable in this type of environment. A bar or club is also a good place to have a coed bridal shower.

A Room at Country Club or the Spa

Spending a day at the spa has become an increasingly popular bridal shower trend. This is generally a smaller party, as going to the spa can become quite costly. Often, just the women who are members of the bridal party enjoy this bridal shower. To spend a day at the spa, everyone usually signs up for two or three spa services. The job of the hostess is to ensure the space is available at the spa and to reserve a spot for lunch. At this time, gifts can be exchanged. Or, the guests might combine their money to pay for the spa treatment for the bride-to-be.

A Boat or Yacht

Renting a boat or Yacht for the day can be a great place for a bridal shower. You and your guests can enjoy the scenery and have a great time sailing away. A boat or a yacht can be perfect for a themed bridal shower, particularly if the bride-to-be enjoys sailing or likes gifts with a nautical theme, such as dolphins.

A Restaurant

Restaurant showers are gaining in popularity. This is largely because there is no clean up required afterward and it requires very little preparation. It is customary to pay for the food for guests invited to a bridal shower. You can, however, expect the guests to pay for their own meals and drinks while you provide dessert or a cake. Or, you can put a cap on the spending or only pay for pre-selected foods and drinks. If you won’t be paying for all of the food and drinks, be sure your guests are well aware ahead of time. In fact, this information should be included on the invitation.

A Bounty of Bridal Showers - Can You Have More Than One?

Wedding showers are a rare privilege the bride may enjoy, and thus many a bride to be is looking forward to the gathering of her friends and family to shower her with presents, attention and well wishes prior to the big day itself. The history of bridal showers is a bit murky, but the general consensus is that it dates back to the time of the dowry system, when parents would dower their girls to ensure they would have a good start in their married life and could set up a household with their husbands to be. The story goes that a rich man’s daughter fell head over heels in love with a poor but honorable miller’s apprentice. Against the wishes of the girl’s father the two became engaged and were planning to get married with or without his blessing. In his anger, the father sought to apply financial pressure to the young couple by threatening to withhold the dowry, thus essentially leaving the young couple to be destitute and penniless at the onset of their lives together. The villagers who heard of th is cruelty were incensed and decided to take matters into their own hands and ensure that the couple would have a grand send-off and be able to have all the items they would need to set up their first household together. The villagers banded together and collected all the household essentials the couple would require and then invited the bride to a great gift-giving party where they showered her with these gifts, attention, and well wishes her father neglected to give her. The practice stuck and became a tradition for new brides everywhere. Even in this time of plenty where women are getting married at later ages when many are already well established financially and quite possibly may have more than enough funds to set up a household many times over, the bridal shower is an event many do not wish to do without.

As concerns any event that involves a large number of people, there are some rules of etiquette that need to be observed in order to make sure that nobody’s feelings are hurt, and also to prevent the bride from being accused of greed. One of the most often asked questions deals with the bounty of bridal showers; can you have more than one? Generally speaking the answer is “no” but there are some exceptions. Here are some rules to live by:

Since it is up to your bridesmaids and maid of honor to host the party, please be sure to supply them with your address book, wedding guest list, and phone numbers and addresses. This way they will be able to choose whom they will invite. Depending on their budget, and please remember that it is the bridal party who is footing the bill, this if they can only afford to host for a few, the guest list will be small, you may either encounter almost every female who is invited to the wedding, or only a small circle of your closest friends and family. Your mother, mother-in-law or sister is not in charge of this event, and thus the party your brides’ maids will hold in your honor will be the only shower you will receive.

Since a bridal shower is a “party with a purpose,” namely the giving of gifts to the bride, it is up to you, the bride, to ensure that not a gaggle of well-meaning friends and family members will be hosting a bunch of them. While each of these individuals probably wants to honor you, and your mom probably wants to make sure that you have a couple of pizza stones and slotted spoons, having a number of occasion on which people are to fork over presents is in poor taste and may make your appear greedy.

The two noted exceptions are the out-of-town shower and the office shower. While some of the office staff is probably invited to the actual wedding, many will quite possibly not attend because they probably don’t know you that well. If the office staff wants to throw you a party, this is an acceptable addition to the bridal shower already in the works for you, since this is more or less a work event and an opportunity to allow those with whom you have worked side by side to have a little informal event to express their appreciations and well wishes to you. The other exception is the shower that will be held by out of town friends and family who cannot attend your own bridal shower. At times, you may not actually be at the party itself, but the hostess will gather the presents and present them at your wedding party.

Creative Ideas to Wrap that Bridal Shower Gift

Wrapping gift is simple, right? Sure it is if you go ahead with the traditional paper wrap or gift bag approach. But what if you want to get creative? Move beyond the world of wrapping paper, bows, scotch tape and gift bags and try something new. You can use just about anything to package a gift, it all depends on the gift and how you want to approach the gift wrapping. In this article you will find some great creative ideas to wrap that bridal shower gift.

The first thing you should think about is the type of gift you are giving at the bridal shower. The main gifts would probably be kitchen items, decorating items, bath sets, and gift certificates. Once you know what part of the house the gift is geared towards start thinking of things that you find in that room that would be suitable to wrap or package the bridal shower gift in. If the gift you are giving is a bedroom item maybe some pretty pillow cases would work really well for an alternative wrapping idea. Wrapping creatively is simple and just takes a little imagination. Wrapping with alternative items also reduces waste and clean up for the hostess of the bridal shower.

Bath sets and other bathroom items like perfume or candles could be wrapped up in a nice bath robe or a nice plush bath towel. To wrap a bottle of perfume you could fold the robe up nicely and tuck the perfume bottle in the top and affix it all with a huge ribbon. Alternatively you could roll up the perfume in a large fluffy bath towel and again tie it with a ribbon. This idea will work for candles, bubble bath and any other small bathroom or even bedroom themed gifts like picture frames.

Maybe you are going with a gift of cleaning supplies to start the new couple off right. Wrapping this could be dine by placing all of the cleaning supplies in a wicker laundry basket and wrapping it all up with some cellophane and of course a nice big ribbon. Some people give a gift of gourmet food, wine, or coffees. These items can be creatively packaged in a nice soup pot. Wine could be given in a wine chiller or insulated wine sleeve made for transporting. Pots and pans can be a useful tool for a unique and creative way to give any bridal shower gift.

A nice flannel or pretty bed sheet set can also be used for a creative gift wrap. Sheet sets could be folded and stacked from largest, the sheets, to the smaller, pillow cases and a picture frame could be tucked inside. Tie it up with a ribbon and you have a creative gift. Sheet sets would work great for candles, lingerie and even kitchen utensil gifts.

If you are giving a quilt or blanket as a bridal shower gift there really is no need to wrap it. Just fold it up nicely and affix it with a bow. There are so many gifts that really do not need to be wrapped, if the item itself is beautiful then by all means take advantage of that. Just dress it up with some bows or ribbons and don’t forget the card.

Craft paper is very useful for many things. You can use this simple paper to transform a boring wrapping job into something creative and personalized by writing a personal message to the bride to be on it. Write the message in different styles and colors and use it to wrap the gift. Crinkle the paper to give it an antique or used look, it works! Newspaper articles geared towards weddings and engagements is another creative thing to use as wrapping paper for a bridal shower gift. To make it extra special try and find the bride and groom’s wedding announcement in the local newspaper.

Wrapping a bridal shower gift creatively just takes a little imagination. Follow the guidelines above or use the suggestions and you will have a beautiful and useful wrap for the gift you give. These ideas can be made as simple or as elaborate and you would like. It all depends on the time you want to spend on the gift itself. When deciding on a wrap always keep the couple or bride to be in mind and think of things they would find useful.

Seven Great Themes for a Thrilling Bridal Shower

Throwing a bridal shower for a friend or family member can be one of the most exciting parties you'll ever plan. Part of the excitement of a modern bridal shower is choosing a perfect theme. You can structure the entire shower around a theme from the invitations and the decorations to the food and the gifts. There are so many themes to choose from, though, that it can be hard to pick. Here are just a few suggestions.

One exciting theme idea that is both elegant and sophisticated is a tea party theme. This theme starts with the invitations. You want to go with something that makes you think of a tea party. Try a heavy weight paper and an embossed seal for the best touch. Have your guests bring gifts for the bride that reflect a tea party. Tea, packaged foods like scones, tea cups, and tea pots are just a few ideas. Be sure to do tea related favors as well. You can go as simple as some designer tea bags or you can have some tea strainers engraved for about four dollars each from various wedding favor websites. When you get ready to serve the food, try doing things like finger sandwiches, petite fours, and scones. You will also want to have several tea selections for your guests.

Another great theme idea is a calendar shower. The idea behind this theme is that each guest will be assigned a month. They will purchase a gift that fits with that month. For example, if a guest were assigned December, she might bring an “Our First Christmas” ornament with some other Christmas decorations. Your invitations could be tiny desktop calendars with pictures. You could send the right month to the right guest. You could also use calendars to decorate the room. Moreover, try creating tablecloths from calendar pages. Use seasonal decorations, cornucopias and such, as your centerpieces.

You could also have a gift basket theme. Each guest would bring some sort of gift basket for the bride. You could even assign a specific genre for their gift basket to fit. For example, you could have one guest bring a bathroom gift basket filled with towels, soaps, and other bathroom essentials. For your invitations, create an invitation in the shape of a basket or cut out pictures of baskets to work with the invitations. Use baskets to decorate everywhere. Place a large basket next to the bride to hold her gifts. Serve snacks in lined baskets. Buy small baskets and fill them with scented candles or candies to give a wedding shower favors.

Another classic theme is a lingerie shower. You need to carefully consider who will be attending the party before you plan this one, though. For example, this probably isn't the shower for you if the bride's great-grandmother will be attending. For your invitations, find a picture of lacy underwear or an attractive nightgown. Use this picture as a pattern to create some lacy invitations on heavy cotton based paper. Your decorations scheme should be flower based. Try to purchase flowers that fit with the bride's wedding colors. Tie bunches of them with lace. Send scented drawer sachets with your guests as wedding shower favors.

A memories shower is also a fun idea. You will want your guests, in addition to a related gift; bring pictures and other items that can be assembled into an album for the bride. In fact, a good invitation idea for this shower is to find a picture of the bride as a child, and use it as the invitation's background. Have it scanned into your computer, or place the invitation information on the back of the photo. Decorate your shower location with pictures of the bride and groom as well as memorabilia from their childhoods like school achievements awards and such.

The clock shower is becoming an increasingly popular idea. Each guest will be assigned a time of day. They will bring a gift that works with that time of day. For example, if a guest were assigned morning, perhaps they would bring towels or a coffee maker. You can use a picture of a clock as you invitation. Have it set to the time the guest is supposed to use for gift bringing. You could also decorate your shower location with clocks. Tiny clocks would make great wedding shower favors for this theme idea.

A sixth shower theme idea is a by the pound shower. The idea behind this theme is that each guest will bring a pound of something for a gift. For example, they might bring a pound of coffee for the kitchen. This great idea has many decoration possibilities. Scales of all types should be placed around the shower location. Your invitation could be a picture of scales, as well. As a take home gift, give the guests a pound of candy.

One final shower theme idea is a gift certificate shower. Each guest will either bring a real or a homemade gift certificate to give to the bride. For example, someone could bring a gift certificate for a local restaurant or a gift certificate to mow the bride and groom's lawn after the wedding. You can make your invitation out in gift certificate style, and you can decorate your shower location with silly homemade gift certificates.

Having a themed shower makes for a fun event the bride can look back on with pride.

Six Secrets to Throwing a Great Surprise Bridal Shower

If someone you care about is planning a wedding, you most certainly want to “shower” her with gifts at her bridal shower. But, if you want to have a little extra fun and make the bridal shower more exciting, why not throw a surprise bridal shower? To pull this off successfully, you will need to follow a few tricks of the trade.

Secretly Choose the Date

Choosing the date can be somewhat tricky. You have to be sure to choose a date on which the guest of honor will definitely be available. To do this, you will need to consult with someone who is close to the bride-to-be who can give you a clear idea of her schedule. Choosing the date, and making sure it stays open for the honored guest, might take some true trickery. For example, you might need to have her fiancé or someone else “plan” to do something with her that day. That way, there is no chance of her making plans at the last minute and spoiling your surprise party fun. There would be nothing worse than to have a full guest list and have your guest of honor decide to go out town on that day at the last minute!

Keep Her Occupied

Having someone make plans with the guest of honor for the day of the surprise bridal shower serves two purposes. As already discussed, it ensures her availability on the day of the party. Second, it keeps her away from the location of the party so she never suspects a thing! For example, if you are planning to have the surprise bridal shower at the bride-to-be’s home, you don’t want her to walk in on you while you are decorating!

Make Sure the Guests are in on the Surprise

When you send invitations, whether my mail, email or through verbal invite, make sure all guests are perfectly clear that the bridal shower is a surprise. You don’t want to have one of your guests calling the honoree and asking questions about the bridal shower or requesting directions. This will certainly tip her off! Make sure your guests know whom to contact if they do have questions about the surprise bridal party.

You also need to make sure the guests are aware of how you plan to trick the guest of honor. In other words, will you be hiding inside and in the dark, only to jump out and yell “Surprise?” Or, will you bring the unsuspecting bride-to-be to a special location, where your guests will sneak up on her and surprise her? No matter how you plan to surprise the honoree, make sure your guests gather well before (at least 30 minutes) the bride-to-be will arrive. This way, you have time to get the strategy straight and to hide.

Encourage Avoidance

If certain invited guests will have difficulty keeping the surprise a secret, it might be best for those individuals to avoid spending time with the honoree prior to the party. Of course, this can lead the bride-to-be to become suspicious, as well. Therefore, everyone who is a part of the surprise needs to be able to keep a straight face and be able to keep the plans secret. If there is someone you know will be absolutely unable to keep from spilling the beans, plan on making the shower a surprise for that person, too!

Make It Right

Perhaps the most difficult part of planning a surprise bridal shower is actually making sure the shower will be one the honoree will enjoy. Be sure to consult with family members and close friends to ensure everyone who should be on the guest list is invited. You don’t want the honoree to fee disappointed about having a certain friend miss out on her bridal shower. Also, you really have to know the bride-to-be well in order to make sure you choose the right activities and gifts for the bridal shower.

Set the Playing Field

To add to the fun of the day, you might want to have a few people who are in regular contact with the guest of honor casually mention that they will be gone on the day of the bridal shower. Of course, this has to be done carefully. If too many people mention being gone, it might arouse suspicion! Having a few people make mention of their absence, however, will only increase the bride-to-be’s surprise when she sees that very same person at her shower!

Bridal Shower Food - Ideas That Are Fun, Filling, and Festive

Choosing the food for the bridal shower can be one of the most difficult parts of planning it. You need to be sure of so many things. You have to make sure that you would have items on the menu that would suit the bride. You also need to be sure that you don't have any items on the menu that are highly allergenic, or, conversely, that you don't have any guests with food allergies that you need catered. Despite all of these concerns, though, the food is one of the most exciting parts of the bridal shower.

One great food idea is to hold a Sunday brunch type wedding shower. There are so many foods that you can serve to fit with this theme. Moreover, it will have an informal feel, yet the guests will be able to eat as if they are having a meal. Consider serving fresh bread products like bagels and muffins. You will also want to include a selection of fresh fruits and even a fruit salad. Quiche fit really well with a brunch menu. Increasingly, people have been serving tiny bite sized quiche, which works well at a wedding shower. For beverages, you will probably want to have the standard orange juice, coffee, and milk on hand. If you wish, though, you could also serve drinks like a Bloody Mary or champagne punch. Good deserts with this menu would be chocolate covered strawberries or lemon squares. Try to stick to something fruit based.

If you intend to serve an evening meal at a wedding shower, you will want to do something easy. As the food is cooking, you will probably want to be mingling with your guests. To aid you in this endeavor, consider something that you can make ahead of time and throw in the oven at the last minute. A casserole of some type works best for this. Lasagna is always a good choice. Your side dishes should be equally as uncomplicated. You might want to serve a salad. Again, this works well because you can simply make it before the guests arrive, throw it in the fridge, and get it back out again in time to eat.

If you don't want to do a casserole, but you do want something that will still allow you to mingle with your guests, consider having a grilled or smoked meat dish. This is something that you can tend to on a more occasional basis, and it makes for a beautiful dish to serve to the guests as you bring it in to place on each plate.

If some of your guests are vegetarians, you will need to be sure to provide options for them on your menu. If you are going with a casserole and a salad, it might be a good idea to make a vegetarian casserole as well. There are a number of great vegetarian and vegan recipes on the internet that you might find very helpful for this purpose.

The traditional dessert to serve at a wedding shower is cake. However, this may not fit with your menu. If it does not, don't worry about it. Wedding showers, like weddings, are becoming less traditional everyday. Consider serving a dessert buffet with many different desserts on it. You could also find out what the bride's favorite dessert is and serve that instead of cake. If you think you must serve cake, serve it in addition to other choices like spiced fruit pies. You might even try a dessert based shower as a theme. Serve chocolate desserts with strawberries. You might even considering renting a chocolate fountain as a centerpiece for this food idea.

The classic wedding shower food idea is the appetizer buffet. With this idea, you want to fill your table with light bites for your guests to consume. Things like cheese and crackers, mini muffins, and dips work very well for this purpose. This also works great if you don't have a table for everyone to sit down and eat at.

Choosing the perfect food for the bridal shower may be a difficult thing to do, but it can also set the perfect wedding shower mood for your guests.

How to Plan a Bridal Shower for a Second Marriage

Is a second marriage less important than the first one? The answer is no. There is no reason to forego all of the pre-wedding celebrations just because it is the second marriage. Engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties are all still perfectly ok to celebrate. After all, the new couple is starting a new life together. Marriage is a joyous occasion whether it is the bride or groom’s first, second or otherwise marriage. Why wouldn’t they want to share the occasion with family and friends? Planning a bridal shower for a second marriage should not be approached much differently than a bridal shower for a first marriage. It is quite possible that the bride-to-be did not have a bridal shower for her first marriage. The bride should definitely be included in the decision to have a bridal shower for her second marriage, if she insists that she does not one then by all means grant her wishes.

When planning a bridal shower for a second marriage one thing to consider is that the couple probably has all the necessary household items needed. This brings up the consideration of a more themed bridal shower centered on the likes or hobbies of the couple. For a couple that likes gourmet food you could host a formal dinner party at a gourmet restaurant and suggest that the guests bring gourmet kitchen items, foods or gift certificates for gourmet delis. Maybe the couple love wine, you could host a wine tasting trip or organize a tour of a vineyard. After the tour you could have alight lunch at the vineyard or go elsewhere and have lunch or dinner. If the bride enjoys reading you could host a bridal shower at a local bookstore that serves coffee and tea. There are endless possibilities to the bridal shower themes. Maybe you could use a garden theme for the gardening enthusiast. For the make up lover you could host a makeover party or even have an old-fashioned girl’s only slumber party. A day at the spa i s another great idea for the bride to take her mind off of the busy schedule of planning another wedding.

Gift ideas for a bridal shower for a second marriage can be somewhat hard to choose. As mentioned before the bride and groom-to-be probably have all the necessary household items that seem to popular gifts at bridal showers. If you have a theme for the bridal shower there is nothing wrong with making a suggestion as to what the guests should bring. Gift certificates for stores, restaurants, and even movie theatres would be a great idea. If the couple has children, together or from previous marriages, you may want to suggest family board games or movies as gifts for the new family to share time together. Another gift idea for a couple blending families with children is to ask that the guest pool monies together for a family day trip to a zoo or other local attraction. The hostess could even plan a family oriented bridal shower at a water park or local activity center, a roller-skating rink, for example. A blended family will need support from everyone in their lives and why not have it start off right with som e quality family activities! Be sure to ask the bride for her input as she may not want any gifts at all or may choose to have her guests donate to a selected charity. Sometimes it is just the thought of the guests coming to spend time with the bride at the bridal shower that is a gift in itself.

In conclusion there really is not right or wrong way to throw a bridal shower for a second marriage. The only differences are that the bride should be involved and that the shower should probably be themed towards a hobby or the likes of the bride and/or the new couple. Be considerate of the bride and groom-to-be, if the do have children involve them if possible as well. Make the day of the bridal shower a day centered on the bride. And above all remember that a second marriage is just as important as a first marriage, love should be celebrated not ignored.

How to Keep Bridal Shower Thank You Notes from Being Such a Chore

After the bridal shower is all over, here comes the wedding stress. Does the bride to be really have time to send out thank you notes to all of her bridal shower guests? She probably does not but the guests need to be thanked. Thank you notes need to be done in a timely matter and must be done in a way that shows sincerity. The thank you notes may seem like a huge chore but it s a requirement that must be met. In this article some tips on how to keep bridal shower thank you notes form being such a chore will be given. These ideas are practical and some are very creative. The thank you note process can be fun and should be made to be fun so as to eliminate the feeling of a chore.

If the hostess has included you in the plans for the bridal shower, as she should, you could maybe ask her if she could make duplicate envelopes when writing up the envelopes for the invitations. This would save you time when the time comes to send out the thank you notes. You would only have to write a little note in the thank you card and put it in the pre-addressed envelopes. If you do not want to impose on the wonderful person throwing the bridal shower then offer to help with the invitations and do the duplicate envelopes yourself. If you have a home computer or know someone who does you could also print up mailing labels for the guests who will be attending the shower, the labels can be saved on your computer and may come in handy with the wedding gift thank you notes. If you do not have access to a computer then you could order return address labels and it would save half the time by allowing you to only add the recipient’s address. The envelopes are probably the most tedious part of the thank you no te and invitation process.

Another option if you have a home computer is to use a template or greeting card program and design your own thank you notes. You could then save time and energy by typing a custom message to each person you need to thank and print the thank you note out and mail it away! There are many free templates out on the internet that are quite easy to use. Investing in a card design computer program may be a wise investment if you have not done so already as you could use it for the wedding thank you notes too. The convenience of a computer also offers up the opportunity to send electronic thank you notes via email. Of course this would require the guests to give you an email address and the email method of delivery is less personal.

At the wedding shower you could use a game to make the thank you note process less of a chore. For example, you could hold a drawing for a prize or two. As the guests arrive ask them to write their name and address on the thank you note envelopes. Let them know that you will be drawing one or two of the envelopes at the end of the party and the names drawn will receive a special surprise. Not only does it save you time addressing envelopes but the guests have fun with it as well. This method will also assure you that you have your guests addresses correct since they are the one providing the information.

If you have a large bridal shower with a lot of guests you may want to consider creating general thank you notes. A general thank you note could simply thank the guest for attending the bridal shower and state that any gift received was more than you could have ever wanted. These general thank you notes can be made creative by making them into place cards for the guests it you are having a meal. You could also have the thank you note printed on candy bar wrappers and hand them out as the guests leave the bridal shower.

So as you can see writing out your bridal shower thank you notes will not be a chore if you get creative and use your imagination. Make it fun and enjoy your day with your guests!

Ten Thoughtful and Fun Bridal Shower Party Favors

Your bridal shower party favors are meant to be special reminders of your bridal shower celebration to all of your guests. In addition, your bridal shower favors can add or compliment the theme of your shower, helping to make it more enjoyable to all that attends. Therefore, the best bridal shower party favors are those that are both fun and decorative, yet are thoughtful and will be enjoyed by your guests for years to come.

Cookie Cutters

One of the best types of bridal shower party favors you can provide is a cookie cutter or two. There are a wide variety of cookie cutters available online and in stores. Therefore, it should be no problem choosing one that fits easily within your theme. Or, simply purchase cookie cutters in the shape of a heart and add your own message saying, “Cut out for Love.” Your cookie cutters will be sure to be a hit – and every time your guests bake cookies, they will think of you!

Photo Albums

Mini photo albums also make great bridal shower favors. You can purchase plain ones and add your own design, or find ones with a cover design that suits your bridal shower theme or the general theme of love and togetherness. Your guests can later use their mini photo albums to keep pictures from your wedding safe and easy to flip through over and over again!

Disposable Camera

To help encourage your guests to take pictures of your shower and of your future wedding, provide them with disposable cameras at your bridal shower favor. You can even include your own special message, such as “Picture Perfect Couple” on each camera.

Potpourri Sachets

Potpourri sachets can provide your guests with a lovely scent and can be decorated in any way you desire. Many different types of potpourri sachets are commercially available, or you can even make your own – including your own homemade potpourri to place inside. Your guests can place these sachets inside dresser drawers to keep their clothes smelling fresh and lovely!

Sewing Kit

Giving your guests miniature sewing kits is another thoughtful and fun idea for your bridal shower favors. Include a message stating, “Sew in Love” on the outside of your kits and your guests will certainly think of you each time they repair a button!

Photo Frame

A small photo frame with a special printed message or poem inside makes a lovely bridal shower gift. Then, your shower guests can place a photo from your wedding over the poem insert after your big day is over.

Recipe Card Holder

A recipe cardholder can help you send the perfect message during your bridal shower, while lending itself to practicality. There are many different types of recipe cardholders available both online and off. There are even some shaped like kitchen items, such as a rolling pin. Recipe holders are excellent for a kitchen themed bridal shower. In addition, you can add your own “recipe for love” to the recipe holder or include a special poem or phrase on the card. Every time one of your guests cooks her favorite recipe, she will think of you!

Cheese Grater

A cheese grater can be an adorable bridal shower favor. Add some ribbon to the handle or some other decorative flair to create a unique and attractive decoration. Include a note saying, “Love is Grate.” Each time your bridal shower guest grates some cheese, vegetables, or fruit, she will remember the great times she had at your shower, as well as your special sentiment.

Manicure Set and Compact Mirror

Give your guests something to remember by giving them a heart shaped manicure set. Many are available at both online and offline bridal specialty stores. You can also purchase a heart shaped compact mirror and include a message saying, “Love into the eyes of love.” Depending on your bridal shower theme, you might look for a different shape for your manicure set and compact mirror. No matter the theme, however, hearts will always work.

Key Chain

A key chain can make a fabulous bridal shower favor. Many different key chains can found in a variety of designs, colors, and styles. Therefore, it should be easy to find one matching your shower theme. If not, you can purchase clear plastic ones and insert something such as a photo, poem, or special saying inside, such as “The key to love is ____. (You fill in the blank!)”

Bridal Shower Present Protocols - Just a Few Things You Should Know and Do

Planning a bridal shower can be a big event for the bride-to-be. It is the job of the hostess to make sure that the bride has a pleasant time and that they guests are taken care of. Wedding etiquette can be confusing and some of that applies to the bridal shower, as well. If you are responsible for planning a bridal shower or are invited to a shower and are not sure of proper gift etiquette, there are a few things you should know when it comes to dealing with gifts.

Bridal showers are traditionally given to “shower” a bride-to-be with gifts for her new married life. In the past, it was tradition to give gifts that would help a woman with her new home. Now, things are changing. Showers are given to include the men and gifts are becoming less traditional. Some hostess may choose to set a theme and ask guests to bring a gift that relates to the theme. Some brides may not need a lot of items for their home and ask that gifts not be given. If you are hosting a bridal shower, it is always a good idea to seek the opinion of your bride before sending out invitations.

Wedding gifts and bridal shower gifts are not the same thing. Wedding gifts are given at the wedding and shower gifts are given at the shower. Generally, wedding guests who do not attend the bridal shower will bring a gift to the wedding. Guests who do attend the shower are not expected to bring a gift to the wedding. In addition, it is not proper wedding etiquette to ask for or mention gifts in the invitation to the wedding. It is improper to put the bride and groom’s registry location on the wedding invitation, but it is proper to include that information on the shower invitation.

When attending a bridal shower, it is important to know that gifts can be elaborate or casual. This might depend on the type of shower that is being given. As a host, you will set the tone of the shower and the wishes of the bride and groom will be included on the invitation.

If the bride and groom need many items for a new home, then guests may choose to buy gifts off the couple’s registry list. A registry list is a list of items that are pre-selected by the bride and groom. Generally, large department stores and retail stores have registry options. The list will give guests a detailed list of what they couple needs and the price. When the item is purchased, it will be taken off the list. It is not necessary for a guest to purchase off the registry list to attend a shower. Guest may choose to give gift cards, money, or other items that they know will be appreciated by the bride and groom.

In addition, it is perfectly acceptable for bridal shower guests to chip in to purchase a larger and more expensive item, such as a washer or dryer or even a television. Large gift purchases are a perfect way for guests to give the amount they feel is appropriate while still buying the couple a gift that is needed. If you are a hostess and chose to buy a large item, include that information on the invitation. You might want to give the couple a gift card so they can pick out the item. If this is the case, have each person send you the money before the shower and sign a card at the shower. You might find that you are low on the donations. If this happens you can call those you feel might be willing to donate more money, such as the bride’s relatives. If you have more money than you need to for the item, use the leftover money to purchase items that relate to the big-ticket item.

When you are the hostess, it will also be your job to make sure the gifts are opened at the appropriate time during the shower. Usually this is done as the last activity. Also, appoint someone to write down each guest and the gift they give the bride while she is opening the presents. Make a copy for her so she can make her thank you cards. You might even consider giving her a list of all of the addresses so she will not be pressed for time right before the wedding.