Planning a bridal shower can be stressful. Many people say that the bride should plan her shower, but I disagree. Yes, you want it to be personal and special for your friend, but if she’s busy planning her wedding and doesn’t have time to attend every bridal shower in town then let your friends help out! I’m going over some tips on throwing an unforgettable bridal shower. Here are some of my favourite memories from my showers:
Find out what the bride wants
First and foremost, it’s important to find out what the bride wants. If you are planning to get in one of that maid of honor dresses, you can’t mess up this party. If she doesn’t have a specific color scheme or theme in mind, you may want to check with her best friends or bridesmaids to see if they have any ideas that they’d like incorporated into the shower. It’s always better to ask than assume!
Only invite people you know the bride likes
Your bridal shower is a celebration of the bride, but it should be fun for everyone involved. If you invite people who aren’t friends with the bride, or who are not part of her family, then those guests will likely not have much in common with the other guests. They’ll be standing off to the side awkwardly during most activities and could even hurt the overall mood if they don’t know how to handle themselves in social situations.
Don’t make it all about the gifts
When you’re having a bridal shower, it’s easy to get caught up in all the gifts and flowers, but don’t let them distract you from what’s important: The bride. If you have a bridal shower, your job as a bridesmaid is not just to plan the party, but also to make sure that everything runs smoothly and everyone has fun. Above all else, keep in mind that this party should be about celebrating your friend’s happiness!
If there are any rules about “gift etiquette,” they should focus on limiting the money each giver spends—not whether or not she gives at all. After all, no matter how much money people spend on their presents), nothing says “I love my friend” more than putting together an unforgettable event. If someone can’t afford anything for their gift list (or doesn’t want to go overboard), that’s fine too! You can always give her something special later when life settles down again after the wedding day madness passes by.
Ask a few guests to assist you
The first thing to do is ask a few guests to assist you. These volunteers should be people who are good at planning, cooking, decorating and entertaining. They should also be able to clean up afterwards. Once you’ve chosen these helpers it’s time to move on to step two: planning the menu!
Activities aren’t required, but they can be fun
Activities are a great way to break up the day and keep guests engaged. You can choose activities that are educational, competitive, relaxing or silly. As long as it’s something everyone will enjoy—and you have the time for it!
Decorate, but don’t go overboard
Don’t go overboard with decorations. You can do something simple and charming like hang up some paper lanterns or put up some streamers. The most important thing is to ensure you have enough space for the food—if there is nowhere to sit down and enjoy dinner, that’s not going to be fun!
The Food
The menu depends on the time of day you’re throwing the shower. You can go for these options:
Breakfast: Omelets, fruit and yogurt parfaits, French toast casserole and sausage patties.
Lunch: Chicken salad wraps or tuna sandwiches with potato salad, deviled eggs and summer rolls.
Dinner: Shrimp scampi with pasta or chicken piccata over linguine with roasted vegetables.
Snacks: Guacamole, hummus with sliced vegetables for dipping and chocolate ganache truffles at the end of the shower send-off brunch (it’s traditional to serve this type of food after the bride has left).
Conclusion
A bridal shower is a great opportunity to show your appreciation for the bride-to-be. It’s also a chance to get together with friends, which means you should take advantage of it by making sure everyone has something in their hands at all times.
There you have it! Some of these tips were easier to follow than others, but they all boil down to the same thing: make sure you’re thinking about the bride. It’s her special day, and she deserves it. You can throw an unforgettable bridal shower if you put in some effort and listen carefully to what she wants out of this event.
