Unique Ideas for a Bridal Shower

November 29, 2011 by  
Filed under Bridal Parties

Every bride dreams of having a wonderful bridal shower and spending time with her female friends and family members. Not only is this a time to “shower” the bride with gifts, but a special time to shower her with love and to toast her new special life as a married woman. Why not give the bride a shower that is as unique as she is?

8935378_32737755fbWhen planning a bridal shower – you can’t go wrong when you start thinking of the bride herself. Every bride has characteristics that make her unique. Perhaps she’s always loved animals or made a great margarita. Or she has a great sense of humor. Or she’s a nature lover and very into living “green.” Each of these can give you great ideas for bridal showers – from hosting a margarita party to going to a comedy club or donating to an animal shelter as a gift to the bride.

Sometimes one special aspect is what makes a bridal shower unique. You don’t have to add tons of ideas to your bridal shower – remember that the guests are going to want to spend lots of time visiting with the bride and also with each other. Try having one or two special touches that make people go “ooh” and “ahh” and make your shower unique. Too many special touches can throw people off and confuse them.

Even if a bridal shower is “unique” it should still be welcoming. If the bride is a vegetarian – would throwing a vegetarian bridal shower be a great unique idea? It might be…depending on the guests coming. When 80% or more of your guests are also vegetarian, having a vegetarian bridal shower is a thoughtful thing to do. If the majority of your guests are not vegetarian then adding some vegetarian dishes and meat dishes to the menu may be the ideal choice – in order to best welcome guests. Remember that a bridal shower is not completely about the bride – but welcoming her to a new family and making everyone feel comfortable and enjoying time spent together.

Try these ideas for something unique and different!

  • A spa bridal shower – have facials, massages or manicures and pedicures
  • Get psychic – see a psychic or a tarot card reader as part of your bridal shower
  • Get physical – invite a bellydance teacher or pilates instructor to teach everyone some great new moves
  • Be thoughtful – give gifts to a charity instead of lots of loot to the bride. Perfect for the bride who has everything and has a big heart.

Bachorlette Party Ideas

April 22, 2011 by  
Filed under Bridal Parties

It seems guys get all the notoriety and have all the fun when it comes pre-wedding celebrations. Of course I’m talking about the bachelor party and the mythical status it has achieved. But what about us gals and our right to party? Don’t we deserve to have every bit of fun, if not more than the guys? I say yes. And every bachelorette party needs novelty items, gifts and a few gags along the way.

Of course the bachelorette party is a great way to celebrate the bride’s last few nights of independence and that means letting your hair down and having some fun. So with that in mind I have found a few fun toys and gifts that can be used at any bachelorette party where everyone is willing to have a bit of fun and get a little naughty. I found some bachelorette party ideas for brides provided by Spencer’s. Follow the link to see a what they have to offer.

Spencer’s provides a wide assortment of clever and humor items for your bachelorette party, but some of the more risqué items include a jumbo penis sipper straw, an edible gummie willie and a blue balls ice cube tray. Obviously, they have you covered if phallic-related gifts are your preference. But you will also find fun ideas that you won’t mind having your Mom around while you are celebrating such as Bride Pimp Cup, an Inflatable Husband and a Gone Wild Shot Lite Up Shot glass for shots of whatever beverage you or your Mom is drinking.

While gag gifts are fun, you can also have some fun with games you can also find on Spencer’s site like the Bachelorette Scavenger Hunt, which asks you to find items which you to take photographs of to win the game. Spencer’s also has a Dare Card Game that you can use at a bar, dance club, strip club and even in a sex shop. One of the dares listed reads, “Order a drink with a lewd name, such as a horny girl scout.”

Visit Spencer’s to find all of these bachelorette games, gifts and much more. You’ll be sure to find the perfect or not-so-perfect gifts, if you get my meaning.

Have you been to a bachelorette party recently? Can you recommend any games or party gifts? Please include them in our comments below.

How to Throw a Green Wedding Shower

April 22, 2011 by  
Filed under Bridal Parties, Featured

Green is chic these days, but it’s not an easy road to travel, especially when we’re too excited by the sound of wedding bells.  Contrary to popular thought, throwing an eco-friendly wedding shower doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.  The following are small changes you can make to standard wedding shower décor, food, and more to make the special day special for the earth, too.

Invitations

  • Buy invitations made with recycled paper and printed with vegetable-based inks. Think Green Printing.
  • Send postcards so you don’t have to waste paper (or money) on envelopes.
  • Alternatively, send e-vites.  With an elegant design, there’s nothing cheesy about them.  For recipients without an email address, give them a good old fashioned phone call.
  • Politely announce that you are throwing an eco-friendly shower.  (This can be tricky.  Try not to make too many specific requests, except for the one below.)
  • Politely ask guests not to wrap their presents with conventional wrapping paper and to instead use napkins, bandanas, clothing, bath or dish towels, and other reusable items.

Location

  • Opt for a room with lots of windows so you can cut down on the electricity bill.  Sunlight is more flattering than fluorescent lighting, anyway.  Alternatively, have the party on a grassy lawn.
  • If it rains on the day (grumble, grumble), just use CFLs, compact fluorescent lights, which come in a variety of shades and styles to suit your needs while eating up less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Food, Drink, and Utensils

  • Two words: farmers’ market.
  • Talk to local growers and discuss what sort of shindig you’re planning.  They’ll be happy to help you with their tried-and-true recipes, organic and fresh flowers, and maybe local wine.
  • If you’re already buddy-buddy with the vendors, they might offer you a discount (but try to resist pushing for one; farmers have it rough these days).
  • For dishes and utensils, avoid plastic and paper, even if it’s recycled.  The best way to go is by using your own dishes.
  • Consignment shops and thrift stores will also have nice dishware and silverware for cheaper prices than many other stores.  (Best of all, you won’t be consuming so much as re-using, making your carbon-footprint smaller.)  Bring the shower into the kitchen when it’s time to clean up instead of throwing plates away.
  • Use real napkins instead of paper ones.  Keep them for yourself or wash and present them to the bride.

Décor

  • Potted plants like succulents and flowers in terra cotta pots make great centerpieces.  Try to get your plants from the farmers’ market.  Columbia is today the dominant producer of American cut flowers.  That’s a lot of CO2 for a few roses.
  • Soy wax candles burn cleaner and longer than conventional candles.  Make sure the wick is lead-free.
  • Instead of streamers and balloons, strategically place potted bamboo shoots or even dried stalks in tall vases for an eco-chic feel.
  • Sprinkle the tables with flower petals, seeds, or pretty leaves instead of confetti.

Favors and Gifts Ideas

  • Organic, fairly traded chocolate
  • Homemade and naturally scented soaps (if you’re just not the DIY type, look for a local soap maker on Etsy)
  • Organic and cruelty-free beauty products
  • Reusable tote bags
  • Bamboo kitchen items like cutting boards, spatulas, bowls, and dish towels
  • Indoor composters (try the Bokashi bin)
  • Cotton or hemp shower curtains

Bio: Alexis Bonari is currently a resident blogger at College Scholarships, where recently she’s been researching federal student loan consolidation as well as teaching MA scholarships. Whenever this WAHM gets some free time she enjoys doing yoga, cooking with the freshest organic in-season fare, and practicing the art of coupon clipping.

Popular Winter Wedding Shower Gifts

April 13, 2011 by  
Filed under Bridal Parties

The winter wedding has become more popular as time goes on. It used to be that the majority of couples married in the summer. But today’s couples marry year-round – with many choosing to marry during the winter. The winter is a magical and very romantic time. Couples often choose to marry in the winter as it holds many holidays and celebrations ideal for gathering families. You can easily have the family gather to celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza or New Year’s Eve and also celebrate the couple’s wedding.

There are some wedding shower gifts that are simply more popular in the winter than others. It is ideal to give one of these to the wedding couple as it will always remind them of their wedding season and day. Every year as the time of their wedding approaches, they will use your wedding shower gift and smile as these happy memories come back. Your thoughtful gift can play a special part in evoking those touching memories – and even creating new ones!

Keep in mind that the very best wedding shower gift is one that the couple will enjoy and use. Don’t give kitchen gadgets to the couple that loves to only eat out at restaurants. Don’t give fitness equipment to the couch potato couple. You get the idea. A wedding shower gift should celebrate the couple as they are – and especially give them something that they can enjoy together or do as an entire family or with other company over.

Winter sport lessons are one of the best winter wedding shower gift ideas for today’s couple. Many couples are trying to stay active, and your gift can help them do this. There are many winter sports. Try looking at skiing, ice skating or even long distance hiking. Snowboarding may appeal to especially active couples. Match the sport to the couple’s personality and tastes.

Cooking gadgets are a perfect winter time gift. The classic crock-pot has been making a big comeback in recent year – this gift is a fun one for new couples. There are so many delicious meals you can make with your crock-pot, knowing that your meal will be ready when you come home at the end of the day. A waffle maker is another sweet idea offering an indulgent treat. A fancy espresso maker or very good coffee maker is another great idea. Cooking gadgets are terrific for so many couples, especially those on the go. Couples with children will also appreciate cooking gadgets as they will help them make delicious meals.

Holiday decorations are another excellent choice. Many religions have winter holidays and most couples will want to decorate their homes to celebrate the holidays. Starting a home together means sharing your traditions with each other. New holiday decorations is a wonderful way to enjoy these holidays every day during the season. Remember to keep the couple’s tastes and personalities in mind when choosing holiday decorations. This is especially a season when families create happy memories with each other – and your decorations will help them do so!

How to Throw a Bridal Shower Surprise Party

March 15, 2011 by  
Filed under Bridal Parties

181977706_fa2d7b2507Modern technology might have made it more difficult to throw surprises because almost everyone is aware of what is going on around the world. However, that does not mean you cannot throw a good surprise if you wanted to. There are at least a few things you can do when you are planning to surprise someone during a bridal shower surprise party. The following are some ideas.

Making the Lists Ready

You cannot do anything without having a proper guest list first. Send proper invitations to them, with an RSVP so that you know who will actually attend and who won’t. If there are adjustments to be made, such as some of the guests find some other day suitable than what you have chosen, try to make the changes. You also have to take their traveling into consideration.

Make up a guest list of the bride-to-be’s best friends and closest family members, the number of people that you invite is really up to you and how many people you think they would like to have come.

Zeroing in on the Date

The next step in planning the Bridal shower surprise is to actually set the date. This can be somewhat tricky, because more than anything you are going to have to make sure that the bride herself is going to be able to make it on that date, but without letting her know that you are up to anything.

You can speak to her fiancé to see what his opinion is on this, and if you can get a hold of her datebook or calendar, without being overly nosy, you can check to see what dates she has free.

Keep the Bride Occupied

One thing is sure – if the bride has nothing to do, she is going to suspect something about your little surprise. But if she is kept busy, she just won’t have the time to care. Hence, if she ! is not occupied in any other way, you have to ensure that you keep her occupied. That gives room for you to plan things out without worrying that she will come to know. Of course, she must not understand that she is being kept away.

Ensure that No One talks!

This is very important, because even if one person tattletales to the bride, the whole surprise bridal shower is spoiled. Make everyone you speak with, including the ones ! you send invitations to, agree that they will keep this a surprise. It is best that you keep the weaker people out of this secret until the nth hour and that you don’t tell anyone who doesn’t need to know about these plans.

photo by ciboulette

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Wine Theme Bridal Shower

January 14, 2011 by  
Filed under Bridal Parties

Wine and cheese bridal theme partyA wine and cheese party can be a great way to get together with friends or for a special bridal or wedding shower, birthday party or other celebration. It be easy to put together with a minimum of work even if you don’t know much about wine or cheese! You can throw together a simple but elegant party without a lot of fuss and have an interesting theme to boot. A wine and cheese party may be the quintessential choice for an elegant bridal shower party. Women love to nibble and graze and putting out a beautiful spread of cheeses, crackers, fruit and wine (along with some bite size desserts) is just perfect. It is the selection and variety of these items that will set your party apart and above the typical wine and cheese bridal theme party.

The Wine:

Like everything else – serve a variety. Two whites and two reds are perfect.   For the white – offer one on the sweeter side (perhaps a Riesling) and one more on the dry and crisp side (a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc).   As for the red choices – try one on the ‘lighter’ side (Pinot Noir or Beaujolais Nouveau are good choices) and a full bodied one (a French Bordeaux or Californian Cab would be perfect). Of course make sure there are non-alcoholic beverages too – whether water, club soda or the like. Read more

Unique Bridal Shower Themes

December 25, 2010 by  
Filed under Bridal Parties

wine-tastingWhatever your bridal shower theme, you will need bridal shower games; find a book of games – Click Here!

A recent trend in the practice of bridal showers are themes. Themes are a fun, creative way to spice up a traditional event. Bridal showers are most than just a day for bride to help her prepare for the big day, they are also a time to enjoy the company of family and friends. It is important that the bride use the shower as a way to express her personal style and tastes. that’s where bridal shower themes come in. Here are some wonderful theme ideas:

1. Wine Tasting Party

This bridal shower theme is a great idea for wine lovers! It is also a way to include all of your guests in the event. If you have your wine tasting shower at a winery, the staff can choose which wines should be tasted. If you would rather have your party at someones house, you can pick the wines yourself or have guests bring their favorite wines to try.

2. Pajama Bridal Shower

Having an all-girls shower? Why not throw the party in the evening and have all guests come in their pajamas! Instead of traditional games, let your guests relax with facials, manicures and pedicures. These wonderful, relaxing activities will help alleviate the stress that the bride is feeling during this time.

3. Hawaiian Themed Party

Say Aloha to the bride with this fun bridal shower theme! Hawaiian themed parties are great for any bride who loves to go to the beach. Decorate your shower with tiki torches and bright colors and give each guest her own lei as she walks in. You could also hire a professional to teach guests how to hula dance!

4. Pink Bridal Shower

For the more feminine brides, “shower” the entire party with the color pink! Use pink decorations including flowers, tablecloths or dishes. Give guests a pink-colored candle as a favor. Also, no pink bridal shower would be the same without a pink cake!

5. Room of the House Bridal Shower

Another great bridal shower theme is a Room of House shower. Each guest is assigned a particular room of the house, such as kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, and they must buy a present that would be used in that room. For decorations, you could separate the party area into different “rooms” and have the bride move from “room to room”; while she opens her presents!

6. Naughty and Nice Bridal Shower

Have you ever wanted to bring a really naughty gift for the bride-to-be but were too embarrassed about her opening it in front of everybody else? Well, here is your chance. Everyone needs to bring a naughty gift, as well as a nice gift to be opened on the day. The naughty gifts however are put in a black satin pillowcase with a red ribbon and left for the bride to open with her husband on their honeymoon night while they have some more fun.

7. Quiz the Bride Bridal Shower

Put the bride-to-be in the hot seat and see how much she really knows her husband-to-be. In order to use this game you will have needed to ask the groom some questions before the day and got his answers either written down or on video tape. You then ask the bride these same questions and see whether she answers correctly. Find out how good their communication skills really are, or whether they have been too consumed with other things.

8. Honeymoon Panties Bridal Shower

Buy packs of plain white panties so that each guest has a pair to decorate for the honeymoon. The bride-to-be then tried these different panties on over her clothes and decides who is the winner and can take them all home to show to her husband on their wedding night.

Whatever your bridal shower theme, you will need bridal shower games; find a book of games – Click Here!

Written partially by Tamara Ford.  you may be interested in reading another article she wrote about Party Themes and Ideas.

Bridal Shower Themes

December 23, 2010 by  
Filed under Bridal Parties

bridal-shower-womenOne of the jobs of a bridesmaid is to help throw a bridal shower for the bride. Depending on your personality, this can either be a very fun task, or a very daunting one. If you are not accustomed to entertaining, you may not know where to begin.

A great way to give a party a distinctive style is to pick a theme. The theme is some idea or design element that you choose to help bring the whole event together. It is fine to be eclectic, but you do not want to host a bridal shower that seems to have no direction or unified look. The theme will give you ideas about the invitations, decorations, food, music, games, and maybe even the gift.

There are some themes that are very traditional for bridal showers. One popular idea is a kitchen based shower. It dates back to the time when it was expected that every wife would be a homemaker. In considering this type of old-fashioned theme today, it is important to know the bride well. If she is a real “foodie”, then no doubt some gifts from the gourmet cooking shop would thrill her. However, if the bride is very career-oriented and has no interest in cooking, she might be insulted by a kitchen themes bridal shower.

These days it is more common to pick the theme based on the bride’s interests or her personal style. For instance, I once co-hosted a bridal shower for a very dear friend who loved cherries (she even had a tattoo of a cherry on her shoulder). We chose invitations with a cherry pattern on them, had dishes of chocolate covered cherries, and for the favors, I handmade soap with a cherry design. Of course, not everything at the shower was based on cherries; we served many of her favorite foods, and chose flowers in her favorite color combination, purple and orange. Remember to use your theme as a starting point, but not to take it over the top.

You can also use the bride’s wedding as an idea for the bridal shower. For example, if she is having a destination wedding, then why not throw a beach themed shower? It would be a great warm-up to the main event. You could send invitations with seashells or starfish on them, fill hurricane lanterns with shells and white candles for decorations, and ask all of the guests to bring a beach themed gift. The bridesmaids might even chip in together on a special present, such as a piece of handmade jewelry for the bride to wear at her wedding. For a destination wedding, a casual piece of wedding jewelry handmade with organic pearl wedding jewelry would be a great idea.

Another source of ideas for a bridal shower could be the bride’s background. Let’s say that the bride is a Southern belle who has relocated to New York City. She would be touched to have a shower that featured her favorite Southern things. You could serve regional foods and decorate with magnolias floating in water.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a theme for a bridal shower is that it should look like the bride. This is not the occasion to inject the taste of the hosts. Ask yourself, “would the bride love this?”, and if the answer is yes, you will know that you have found the perfect theme.

Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaids jewelry at SilverlandJewelry.com. Handmade wedding jewelry is a beautiful and thoughtful gift.

Groomsmen Gifts: A Modern Tradition

October 4, 2010 by  
Filed under Bridal Parties, Featured

There are many old traditions still visible in today’s modern wedding. One of the most obvious is the best man and groomsmen standing next to the groom during the ceremony. We now see this custom as an opportunity to involve our friends and close family members in our big day, but at one time the groomsmen were seen to guard the bride until she was married to her husband and new protector.

These days the groomsmen often help out with the arrangements and tasks leading up to the wedding, and most importantly keep the groom smiling no matter how stressful the wedding plans get. A modern tradition is that the groom gives each member of his wedding party a gift on the day of the wedding to say thank you for helping out. Whether your groomsmen gifts are traditional or modern is completely up to you.

groomsmen

Traditional groomsmen gifts offer a touch of class and remind us of an era our grandparents might recognize more easily than we would. A watch was a traditional gift for any big occasion, from graduation to retirement. The symbolism of a watch varies depending on your culture, but in North American it’s often seen as a wish for long life.

Other traditional groomsmen gifts are flasks, cufflinks and money clips. While most of use don’t wear shirts with cufflink holes, keep a flask in our hip pocket and prefer a debit card to a wad of cash, the timeless significance of these gifts is what makes them special.

A modern groomsman gift generally reflects the taste of the man receiving it. It could be sports related, like a golf set or a baseball bat engraved with the date of the wedding and the groomsman’s name. For a groomsman who travels frequently a leather carry-on featuring his initials, or a travel case for his grooming kit also makes a thoughtful gift.

No matter which route you choose, traditional or modern, adding personalization to the gift will remind your groomsmen of your big day and the important role they played in it. You can add their monogrammed initials, the wedding date and even the bride and groom’s names to many different types of gifts.

It’s important to think about each of your groomsmen and choose a gift that suits his personality and taste. Choosing the right gift is the best way to show just how well you know the men standing by your side and how much you appreciate them being there for you on your wedding day.

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