Eight crucial steps you must add to your wedding shower checklist:
Who should host the shower?
The maid of honour is normally the person who plans and hosts the wedding shower. However, if someone else can devote more time for the preparation, then by all means let them do it. This could be any friends or family members of the bride.
Do you know when the party should be held?
Because of the busy schedule the bride and her family will have in the lead up to her wedding, it is best to hold the shower about four to six weeks before the wedding.
Therefore it is necessary to include the bride in the planning when it comes to setting a date and time. A traditional ‘girl-only’ party could be a Sunday brunch, a midweek lunch or an afternoon tea garden party.
Who should get invited
The obvious is family and close friends. These could include people the bride works with. However, keep the numbers down as it is a known fact that big groups tend to break off into small click groups.
You want everyone to interact with each other and be a manageable size for everybody to play the hilarious shower games and not feel left out. Taking all this into consideration, a comfortable shower should involve about 10-20 people.
Deciding on a theme
As with the actual wedding, it is wise to choose a theme before sending out the invitations. The theme can then be used throughout the shower and incorporated in with the invitations, decorations, favors and refreshments.
Choosing a theme should not be difficult. Did you know that the kitchen theme is the most popular. This being because there are so many kitchen accessories to choose from.
You will know the lifestyle of the bride and groom so choosing a theme around them should’nt be that difficult. If they are gym goers and are into fitness, then a health & fitness theme would be a good idea.
Food favors games & thank you notes
Food: It depends on the theme and location for which type of food to prepare. For example, if you are holding a ‘wine tasting theme’, then a finger buffet with crackers, nuts and other nibbles goes down well with wine.
Favors: Some people choose not to give shower favors. It really depends on where you live and if it is a tradition in your area or not. If you do, you don’t have to go overboard with favors if you want to keep the expense down.
Games: Everyone should be included in the shower games. Shower party games are a great ice-breaker for people to get to know each other. Games can include bridal shower bingo as this is always a big hit as is ‘what’s in the bag (memory game).
Thank-You Cards: If you want to let your guests know that you are truly appreciative of their generosity, then a simple thank you note is a great gesture.
To summarize
Weddy shower party’s are intended to be light and fun. Yes, a lot of planning is involved but bride and guests all think that they are worth the effort. They are a good excuse for a good laugh and the bride and groom get gifts for their home…