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In the days leading up to the wedding, it is customary for the bride to thank the members of her bridal party. A bridal luncheon is an intimate afternoon affair in which the bride expresses gratitude for her bridesmaids by hosting a luncheon. Recommended foods for a bridal luncheon depend on the theme and time of day the event takes place. Foods should be simple, yet elegant, and composed of three or more courses.
A bridal shower is a wonderful time for friends and family of a bride to gather and honor her with gifts. The gifts given at bridal showers can be practical items for the bride and groom to use as they begin their new life together or, they can be personal, intimate items for the bride to use with her new groom. A shower is most easily held when guests live near the bride. If you are planning a shower for guests separated by long distances, there are creative alternatives for honoring the bride when a physical shower isn’t possible.
A wintery bridal shower should call to mind the season while simultaneously celebrating the bride and her new life stage. The foods you select for the shower should be items that are traditionally served in the winter, or items with a cool white and light blue color scheme to call the season to mind.
According to Jimmy Wade's Heaven City Restaurant, which prides itself on its buffet presentation, elaborate buffets are gaining popularity for wedding parties. An appealing bridal shower buffet will feature an assortment of food that caters to every taste, whether your guests are meat and potato lovers or vegetarians. This food is best presented with the nicest dishes and cutlery possible, as well as various decorations that will accent your table's beauty.
A bridal shower is a party held for a bride-to-be in preparation for a wedding. Friends, family members and well wishers come to the party with gifts, including money, intended to alleviate the financial burden of a wedding. A bridal shower is hosted by one or more friends of the bride--usually bridesmaids--and relatives. Before preparing food for the bridal shower, you have to know how many people will be in attendance. That helps you to calculate the exact amount of food you have to prepare.
A wedding is a series of other smaller celebrations that culminate in the main event. Both the bridal shower and engagement parties are common events that are held before the wedding and require careful planning. There are distinct differences between the two parties in terms of attendance, venue, gifts, host and when they are held.
If you've never planned a bridal shower, basics such as menu planning can overwhelm you with all the possibilities and unknowns. As far as bridal shower foods are concerned, there aren't many hard-and-fast rules about what to serve, except that you must serve something. Make food choices that reflect the bride's personality and preferences.
Planning a bridal shower is traditionally the responsibility of the maid of honor and bridesmaids, although mothers of the bride and groom or other family members may want to help as well. Creating a menu can be difficult, especially if you are not hosting the shower at a restaurant or banquet facility with set meal options. Plan your menu well in advance and consider the shower's theme and bride's style when incorporating foods into her special day.
Aside from the location, decorations and entertainment, the food is one of the most important elements to consider when planning a bridal shower. The type of food you serve at a bridal shower depends on the types of activities you want the guests to participate in, and the level of formality of the event, whether it is an open house, a formal brunch, or a casual lunch affair. Keep in mind the bride's favorite foods and her tastes so she can enjoy the food as much as her guests.
Traditionally, a bridal shower is thrown for a woman by her closest friends and family in order to shower the bride-to-be with well wishes, love and gifts. The responsibility for throwing the bridal shower falls on the matron of honor, although the bride's mother is usually heavily involved.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue is a traditional saying for brides. There are approximately 6,200 weddings a day, according to SoundVision.com. Bridal showers have been a long-standing tradition dating back to the 1890s, according to Wedding Traditions and Customs History. In addition to playing games and opening gifts, serving food has a long history at these celebrations, and the food traditionally encompasses an appetizer, a main entrée, and a dessert.
Bridal shower menus usually include finger foods to nibble, while socializing. Simple foods can be presented elegantly. You don't need to spend a lot of money for your shower menu. A creative menu of dishes with wide appeal works best.
If you are tasked with putting on a bridal shower for a close friend or family member, one of those most important pieces is the food. Bridal shower guests are used to being served dainty finger foods, so give them half of that equation along with creative ideas they never expected.
Have fun preparing bridal shower party foods that are relatively simple to put together. Finger foods are best since they require little cleanup afterward and can be eaten any time during the shower.
Before a wedding, the bride becomes the center of attention at her bridal shower. This party, thrown by those in the bridal party, fetes the wife-to-be, showering her with useful gifts to start her new home life as a married woman. Light finger foods served at the beginning of the party allow guests to save room for more substantial fare later in the shower or after the event.
The food you serve at a bridal shower will likely be dictated by your budget, location and time of day. For a daytime shower at a private home, you can choose finger foods and light refreshments that will help you stay within a limited budget. For a larger price tag, an evening shower at a restaurant with a fully catered dinner can be a nice choice.
Options for bridal parties include traditional showers and bachelorette parties. Choose the type of party for a bridal shower with tips from a party planner in this free video on weddings.