So you're planning a bridal shower -- and everyone says you need a theme. "Around the Clock." "Home and Garden." Yawn!
There aren't many times we get to be silly and girly in this world, so a
bridal shower shouldn't be wasted. Make sure it's genuinely fun. It's simple --- just think about what makes your bride special, and let yourself loose with the theme. Here are a few ideas to charge up the noggin and organize something unique.
"Like High School — But Better." Revive some great times by tipping your hat to the bride's high school days. Look up all those slightly embarrassing hits from the year she graduated -- let's say the 80s.
(Create a gift CD of same for all your guests -- they'll secretly savor them when no one else is around.) Yes, they still make banana clips! Pass them out, along with big, dangly inexpensive hoop earrings and loads of jelly bracelets (remember? You wear about a hundred on each arm, a la vintage Madonna).
Slather on the pink, blue and green eye shadow, metallic nail polish and bright blue mascara. Play the soundtracks from Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles.
Now for the games: segment a flashback classic, such as Madonna's "Holiday," into three or four CDs. Divide your guests into the same number of groups, and challenge them to come up with a dance routine to fit their part of the tune. Bring them back together in 10 or 15 minutes to perform their mini-masterpiece before a video camera you've set up for the occasion.
Tape everyone's routine in order. Give a prize to the best choreographers (actually, give a prize to everyone for being a good sport). Together, you've created a music video that no one could forget. With any luck, it'll mysteriously show up at the reception.
Wine and Chocolate
Sometimes, when you tour a bunch of vineyards in wine country and you're really lucky, you hit upon "wine and chocolate" day. But you don't have to wait to hit the jackpot -- you can organize your own.
Plan an easy afternoon of popular, easy-drinking wines like Merlot and champagne, and ask each guest to bring a creative form of chocolate. Some of our favorites: chocolate croissants, chocolate papaya crepes, chocolate-covered ginger, and yes, jalapeno brownies.
But don't stop with the food -- make an outright bordello of it. Pile lots of velveteen pillows around the room, drape the walls with heavy fabric, burn a bit of incense. Put on some soothing Moroccan music, and arrange a few flowers in plum colored pails or vases you've dressed up with groovy gold fringe.
Now pass out those beverages in pretty glass flutes, dropping a rose petal in each one. Then dig in! (Have doggie bags at the ready for blissed-out guests who want to enjoy the spoils later at home).
A new bride typically only has a few wedding showers before the actual wedding ceremony, and it should be fun for everyone involved. Bridal shower themes are a great idea, and many people have started finding some really fun theme ideas to make the shower more memorable, and helpful to the bride. The bridal shower is typically thrown by the maid of honor or some other family member. The location is any place that works with your theme. If you are planning a bridal shower, and are anything like me, totally lacking in imagination, then you've come to the right place. I've done some research and talked to friends and listed my favorite ideas for a themed bridal shower below.
The Entertainment Theme:
Have all the guests bring gifts pertaining to entertaining the couple in times to come. This includes buying CDs, DVDs, games, puzzles, video games, and anything else you can come up with, get creative. This could also include televisions or DVD players or other game machines. For food bring boxes of candy, microwave popcorn, hot dogs, or even nachos such as you would get at a movie theater. Make the bridal shower invitations look like an over-sized movie ticket. A great idea for a couple that is just starting out.
Around the Clock Theme:
In this scenario, each guest or pair of guests is assigned a certain time of day, such as lunch time, bath time, or an actual time of day, like 8 am. Each guest should bring gifts that will be used during the time they are assigned. For example, with a morning time assigned, coffee mugs or specialty coffees would be a great gift. An afternoon time like around lunch time could be his and her lunch boxes complete with matching thermos. Finger foods are a great snack to be served, and a great bridal shower invitation for this theme would be clocks with each guest's time on it.
Gift Certificate Theme:
With all of those mounting bills from the wedding, most couples would love to have a gift certificate themed bridal shower. In this theme, each guest is asked to bring the bride a gift certificate of their choice. This can include gift certificates to grocery stores, restaurants, spa treatments, clothing stores, movie theaters, and furniture stores. The possibilities are endless, and they are sure to enjoy it! Snack ideas are limitless, as are your bridal shower invitations.
Garden/Tea Party Theme:
This works great with a spring wedding. If you have a friend with a nice garden or yard with beautiful scenery, ask to borrow the space for an afternoon. Gift ideas are limitless, and finger foods desserts and sandwiches make a great snack to serve.
Decorate with fresh
Montreal flowers in the color of the wedding, and the bridal shower invitations look great with
flower pressed paper which can be found in any craft store and printed on your computer.
Recipe Theme:
Also great for the bride and groom starting a new home together. Have each guest bring their favorite dinner recipe, favorite dessert recipe, and a miscellaneous recipe, along with the ingredients for each (dry goods only) as a gift. This will give them lots of dinner ideas, as well as being able to stock their pantry a bit before the wedding. Food for the bridal shower can be anything you like, and bridal shower invitations on blank recipe cards are a great idea! Be sure to include several blank recipe cards with each invitation as well.
The ideas for a bridal shower theme are endless. Use your imagination and the sky is the limit.
