How to Organize a Wedding Shower

Announcing an engagement is an exciting time. For first-time brides and grooms, preparing for a wedding can be a little overwhelming. If you are the friend or relative of the bride or groom, you may want to volunteer to host the wedding shower. Whether you have never hosted a shower before, or you are a seasoned pro, these tips will help you organize a stress-free and successful shower the bride and groom will be sure to appreciate.

Things You'll Need

• Thank you cards
• Invitations
• Game supplies
• Food and drinks
• Themed supplies: plates, forks, napkins and cups
• Camera
• List of guests
• Themed decorations: table cloths, centerpieces, banners and balloons
• Pad and paper for gift list

Instructions

1. Decide on the best time to schedule the event. Weekend showers are suggested because more people are available than during the week. Also plan the shower six to eight weeks before the wedding date.

2. Decide on the invitation list. You may enlist the help of the bride and groom on this task. They will be aware of any other showers that may be hosted and keep you from duplicating the invitation list.

3. Invite between 10 and 20 guests depending on the location of the shower and the amount of people it will accommodate. You may choose to host a shower for the bride or make it a couple's event. Invitations should be mailed three to four weeks before the event. Give people enough advance notice and request a response so you have enough time to prepare for a specific number of guests.

4. Plan the shower menu. Drinks and punch are shower staples. Finger sandwiches, fruit trays, vegetable trays, and a chip and dip or cheese ball are always favorites. Don't forget a cake or petit fours decorated with the shower theme.

5. Decorate with a theme. This can be an elegant evening for the family and friends of the bride, a lingerie theme where you shower the bride with gifts for her wedding night or a couple's event where you make the men feel comfortable to be a part of the celebration.

6. Determine the amount of time you want to spend on each activity at the shower. Begin with food and conversation as your guests begin arriving, and allow 45 minutes to an hour to eat and enjoy the company. Next, incorporate any games you intend to play. This is not required, but it can be a lot of fun and an ice breaker for the bride-to-be and guests! Follow this activity with the opening of gifts.

7. Designate a couple of the guests to help during the shower. Ask one to be in charge of taking photos to capture the memories, and ask another to keep a list of the gift and giver to give to the guest(s) of honor.

8. Give your guests another opportunity to congratulate the bride or couple. Thank your guests for coming, and conclude the shower.

Tips & Warnings

• Wedding showers are special events, and formal invitations should be mailed. Avoid e-mails as these are impersonal and often missed or overlooked.

• If the wedding theme and colors have been determined, you may theme your invitations accordingly.

• If you are inviting more than 10 guests, feel free to co-host the shower with another friend or relative to off-set the expense. Never ask the bride or groom-to-be to contribute financially!

• Deside on a time frame for the shower. Two to three hours is a sufficient amount of time without dragging on for too long.

• If you are ordering the cake or petit fours from a bakery, do so one to two weeks prior to the scheduled event.

• Provide the guest of honor with thank you cards that match the theme or invitations.

• Make sure you have the seating arrangements complete before your guests begin arriving. You don't want to do "housekeeping" once your guests arrive.