Bridal Shower Ideas and Tips

She is getting married! You are excited for her and can’t wait to mark this special occasion. If you’re the maid of honor, sister of the bride, a bridesmaid, or mother of the bride or groom, it’s likely your responsibility to organize a bridal shower to celebrate the lucky bride-to-be.

Of course you want to host the best bridal shower ever, and you envision something unique and tasteful, but where will you find the inspiration? For many, the thought of bridal showers brings visions of ribbons and bows, wedding dresses made out of toilet paper, white gloves and aspic.

Bridal showers are taking place in many forms of celebrations. Whether you are planning to have a garden tea party, brunch at a loved French Bistro,  or even plan to travel for a ‘girls weekend getaway’…the important thing is that you make it memorable and something that she will love….what does she like to do?

Here are some ideas for a Bridal Shower:

Shower at a Winery

Spa/Pamper Her Shower

Beauty Shower – learn tips to enhance your beauty

Beach Getaway Shower

Cooking Class

Host a Couple’s Shower

Center around: favorite colors, flowers, dessert, vacation destination, wine, movie…there are endless options.

No matter what type of shower you’re hosting, it’s important to remember some basic rules for organizing the perfect bridal shower.

Bridal showers: The guest list
The guest list generally includes people who have a close personal relationship with the bride. If the shower is women-only, it’s customary to invite the bride and groom’s mother, grandmothers, aunts, the bride’s closest friends, and, if the shower is a larger event, you may extend the invitation to a few work friends or girlfriends of the men involved in the wedding party.

Bridal shower invitations
Set the theme and tone for the bridal shower with the invitations. Whether you would like to mail a formal invitation or use an Evite. The very important thing to remember is to have a contact person listed for guests to RSVP. There are plenty locations to shop in person or online for invitation. Try visiting www.etsy.com they have so much to offer with tons of talented crafty sellers.

Remember to send out the invitations about a month before the bridal shower so people can mark the date in their calendars.

  

The bridal shower menu
Some classic food items that will not disappoint are hors d’ oeuvres’ select several options to please the guests, just remember to have meatless options.  Dessert bars are also a great hit with guests when they have options of desserts the variety of flavors are enticing.  

Bridal shower games
Believe it or not you can forget about the games if you want to. The games at bridal showers are optional; some people enjoy regular games and not the traditional games of creating a dress out of toilet paper.

While many of the games are fun it is best to know what your bride/couple likes and if they are more centered on enjoying the time with their friends, create an agenda that reflects that.

Quick things to remember

Don’t go overboard. If you decide to have a theme, keep it simple and enjoyable for the Bride/Couple

Do have a plan. A good host keeps the event moving along comfortably.

Don’t invite people to the bridal shower who won’t be invited to the wedding. If the bride and groom are having a destination and that guests will not be traveling…that’s acceptable.  

Do make her feel special. Remember, the bridal shower is for close friends to come together and celebrate the bride/couple.

DIY Fun & Easy Decor

Anyone that knows me knows that I love crafts and am just about down for any DIY as long as time permits. With that said, I am working on DIY Yard décor for a two different events.

I found this really cute DIY project that I think will be fun and can easily be done in my garage. Here are some really cute pictures and instructions; I will post the original blog link at the bottom of this post.

Enjoy the pictures and the inexpensive project!

MATERIALS:

– Yarn

– School Glue

– Corn Starch

– Vaseline

– Dowel rod/pole for hanging

– Scissors

– Balloons

– Bowl for Mixing

*****

Step by Step INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Blow up Balloons:

I wanted various sized yarn chandeliers so I chose to incorporate a large punching balloon as my main focal point and added standard balloons for the surrounding areas. I only blew the standard balloons to approximately half capacity to keep as true of a circular shape as possible.

2. Assemble work space:

Place a long pole or dowel rod between two chairs to create a DIY ‘drying station’. I highly recommend placing a plastic trash bag or disposable plastic tablecloth underneath where you will hang the balloons. I initially began this project outdoors, however wind became a factor and I was forced to relocate (not easy).


3. Attach balloons to rod:

Tie yarn around the stem of the balloon and hang from the dowel rod. Be sure that the balloon is suspended and not touching the surrounding balloons.


4. Petroleum Jelly:

Cover each balloon in a light coating of petroleum jelly. This ensures that the yarn will not stick to the balloon once it is dried and popped.

5. Mixing & Dipping:

Mix the school glue (about half of the bottle) with approx. 1/2 cup of cornstarch and approx. 1/4 cup of water. I estimated these amounts and added more cornstarch and glue when desiring a thicker paste consistency.


Dip the yarn into the glue mixture, squeeze out excess, and begin wrapping around the balloon vertically and then switch to horizontally. Once you have covered a good part of your balloon, cut the yarn and tie to a surrounding piece. I chose to do this near the stem of the balloon so it would not be as obvious when hanging.

6. Drying/Popping:

Allow yarn chandeliers to hang for 24 hours in a dry, covered area. Do not attempt to shorten this process!

Next, pop the balloon (this is where I held my breath in anticipation). The yarn will also have dried glue crystals however they easily flake off when tapped.

Now your yarn chandeliers are ready to hang! I used mine for my Whimsical Winter Wonderland photo shoot and then hung them in my children’s playroom for a fun pop of color!


Original Post: http://blog.hwtm.com/2012/01/diy-tutorial-creative-yarn-chandelier/
Author: POSTED BY - Jennifer Sbranti - HWTM Editor-in-Chief
Photography of the final product by: SweetBee Photography

Happy Planning!

Maid/Matron of Honor & Bridesmaids- Their Roles

Does your Maid/Matron of Honor & Bridesmaids know their roles for the wedding?

Typically they pay for their dresses and shoes, but what else are they expected do?

This is where the Bride thinks about the tasks and assistance she may need at an early stage.

How many times do you watch a wedding show and the Bride is complaining that her Bridesmaids are not around to help.

The things in these cases we have to consider are:
Did the Bride communicate that she would like help with favors/tasks?
How far in advance did she communicate with her ladies if at all?

When you ask your ladies to be a member of your wedding party make it fun and cute. Here is a nice poem you can print on pretty paper and send out to your ladies:

Are you great with words? Craft a special poem to ask your girls to stand next to you on your special day. If you are struggling, search the Internet for some ideas to get started!

You have always been there; you're more than just a friend.
You're the one that I can turn to; you'll be there 'til the end.
As I walk down the aisle, to begin my married life
Please be my bridesmaid, as I become a wife.
Here is a bracelet to wear when we're together
It's more than just a circle; it means we're friends forever!

This poem comes from Miami Wedding Helper . You can purchase a card with this poem and a hot pink rubber bracelet stamped with "Bridesmaid" for $5.

After all your ladies accept this honor of being your bridesmaids, have your Maid/Matron of honor host the first meeting to celebrate and keep your expectations from them overall with due dates of items clear while enjoying the celebration.

Don’t be a challenging bride with a million guidelines, the first meeting is not the time for that. You don't want them to run away.

Let your Maid/Matron of Honor lead the team as she is expected to do in her role.
Enjoy the planning process; you should not have to worry about the Bridesmaids.

Happy Planning!

Bridal Show Winner - Preston Hall

Bridal Show Winner!!!

We had a great time yesterday at the Preston Hall bridal show.

Thank you for visiting our table and getting additional information about our services.

The winner of the gift certificate is number 6921911

Congratulations! We will be in contact with you this week!

Another Wedding Wire Award! 2011 Award

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Bridal Shower Games

Are to thinking about an upcoming bridal shower and the games that you would like to play? Here are a few ideas to have the guests actively involved and keep the blushing bride to be excited.

Advise for the Bride
Bridal Shower GameCreate a beautiful bouquet of advice for the bride. The hostess will need construction paper, pipe cleaners, and glue. Cut out heart and flower shapes and glue them to the pipe cleaners. They should resemble a flower attached to it's stem. They can be arranged in bouquets on the table or handed out to guests as they arrive. Tell the guests to write advice for the bride on the paper cut outs and place them in a vase. When all flowers and hearts have been placed in the vase, have the bride read them aloud. This will make a great keepsake for the bride.

What the Bride Says
As the bride opens each gift, have someone write down what she says (without her knowing). After all the gifts are opened, have the person read her comments back. These are the bride's words to describe her wedding night. (Make sure your guests can handle this one!)

Spice of Life
Get as many spices together as you want and place them in unmarked, but numbered jars. Pass each one around the room and have each guest write down what she thinks it is. At the end of the game, award the one with the most correct answers the collection of spices. (Be sure to include the corresponding list!)

Mom's Advice
Have each guest tell the best and worst advice they received from their mother or grandmother. Award a prize to the person who gives the best advice and a booby prize to the worst advice received!

Clothespin Game
As each guest arrives, clip a clothespin to her clothing. If someone hears another person saying the word "bride", she gets to take her clothespin. The player with the most "pins" at the end of the shower gets a prize.

What is the Bride Wearing?
Let the bride know ahead of time. After everyone has visited for a while, the bride quietly leaves the room and listens from a spot where the guests cannot see her. Then ask the guests about what she is wearing. Is her hair up or down? Color of shoes? Outfit color? Ask as many questions as you can think of...then start asking about the bride's favorite color, TV show, food. Go around the room taking turns answering. Everyone who has not missed an answer at the end wins a prize.

Who am I?
This one is an easy way to get everyone talking to one another. Ahead of time, write down the names of famous people on index cards - singers, celebrity, political figures, authors. As each guest arrives, pin the identity to their back without them knowing the name. Guests find out who they are by asking others YES or NO questions. Depending on the group of people, you may or may not also decide to put a limit on the number of questions that can be asked to one person consecutively. Depending on how long it takes, you can opt for first prize only or extend out to second and third. If you want everyone to get a chance to figure it out, you may also give out a prize to the last person.

Happy Wishes
Provide envelopes and index cards. Have the guests write an event, holiday, or moment in the couple's life together. On the index card, write a happy thought or useful piece of advice. On the outside of the envelope, write the occasion that the bride should open the note. Examples might be wedding night, first anniversary, first child, first fight, first house.

Word Scramble
Provide a list of scrambled words that are common with a wedding ceremony and reception. Use words such as bride, groom, gifts, cake, flowers, ring. (dirbe, romog,tigfs,kace,woferls,girn) The first person finished gets a prize. (If no one finished within 10 to 15 minutes, award the prize to the person with the most right answers.)

You can also use the same or similar games for a baby shower.

Happy Planning!