How to Throw a Bridal Shower She'll Remember

As any girl who's been there knows, wedding planning takes a lot of stress, patience, and time to get everything just right. However, there is one facet of the wedding that the bride doesn't have to worry about planning: the bridal shower! The bridal shower is an event where the bride can sit back, eat some cake, and be pampered with shower gifts. The maid of honor and bridesmaids traditionally throw showers, though anyone may step up for the honor. The following tips are here to help you plan a memorable day for the bride-to-be.

1.Decide on a theme. What does the bride like? What is her normal style? How does she plan to decorate her wedding? These ideas should be taken into consideration when deciding a theme. Try to imagine the bride's personal style, rather than your own. This may be as simple as selecting decorations and favors in the bride's favorite colors to as elaborate as decorating with a vintage Hollywood style.

2.Plan a day and time that is convenient for the bride and groom's sides of the family, along with friends. If possible, pick a shower location that is near the spot of the wedding ceremony or reception so that guests will later be familiar with the area.

3.Finalize the guest list: As showers are mainly for women (though in recent years, the groom has been a guest as well), this narrows the guest list down quite a bit. Stick to relatives and close friends, as this is supposed to be an intimate gathering of friends.

4.Select and send invitations. If possible, find an invitation that mirrors the theme of the shower. Remember to include directions to the shower location, a list of where the couple is registered, and a phone number where guests can R.S.V.P.

5.Double-check your facts. As the day approaches, double-check the important details like the number of guests and reservations at a venue. Try to get an accurate head count of the guests.

6.Pick out favors and decorations. Again, try to maintain the theme as much as possible. Some ideas for favors include candles, picture frames, key rings, candy, and other memorabilia to commemorate the special day.

7.To game or not to game? Some brides love the idea of shower games, while others would rather call off the whole engagement. Get a sense of whether or not the bride is interested and plan accordingly. Traditional games include quizzing how well the couple knows each other, guessing the design of the bride's dress, and collecting bows from her gifts to create a mock bouquet to be used later at the rehearsal dinner.

8.On the day, arrive at the location early to set up. Make sure to have a separate table for gifts. You may also want to consider having a guest book for attendants to sign in.

9.During the shower, keep track of the gifts the bride receives. You may also want to collect a list of the guests' addresses to make thank-you note writing easier.

10.Sit back, relax, and enjoy the shower! The hard work is done - now go enjoy some cake!