How to Plan a Bridal Shower

Someone you know is getting married, and you want to throw her a bridal shower. Perhaps you have no idea where to begin. Not to worry. The most essential part of a successful bridal shower is the planning. A well thought out plan of attack will spare you the stress and headache of worrying about the proper thing to do at the last minute. This article will walk through the process painlessly. Following these simple steps to planning your bridal shower will ensure you have a great time, and it will make sure the bride does, too.

Instructions

1. Make a budget. To make sure you don’t go overboard with the spending, especially if money is an issue, it is always a good idea to make out a budget first. Decide how much money you can spend on each component of the shower.

2. Create a guest list and send out the invitations. This will be one of the first things you will need to do. Send out the invitations at least 4 weeks before the shower. You need to give them adequate time to R.S.V.P.

3. Pick a theme. You could just do a basic bridal shower or have a themed one. You are only limited by your imagination. It's best to pick a theme that suits the bride's personality and interests. Some popular themes are: lingerie theme, international theme, pajama party theme, and tea party theme. Whatever theme you decide on, make sure it would be one that the bride-to-be would enjoy. After all, it is her shower!

4. Plan the menu. Now it is time to decide what you want to feed the guests. If money is no object, have her favorite restaurant cater the affair. If your means are a bit more limited, have her friends and family pitch in to make her favorite foods. Surprise her with a customized feast.

5. Pick a bridal shower cake. While not as important as the wedding cake, you should put some thought into the bridal shower cake. If possible, try to have a cake that matches your shower theme. Find out the bride's favorite flavor of cake if you don't already know it. If you are ordering the cake from a bakery, make sure you order early enough to ensure it is ready. If you decide to make it yourself, make sure you schedule enough time to get it done.

6. Make some creative party favors! Have some little trinkets for the guests to take home and some prizes for the games. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Acquire some potpourri, a flower vase, candles or even candy. Just a little something to say thanks for coming will be met with appreciation by your guests.

7. Play bridal shower games. It wouldn’t be a bridal shower without the games! Some popular games are the bell game, how well do you know the bride and the dress game. The bell game is played by having all of the guests where a bell around their necks. Whenever they are caught saying the bride or groom's name, someone can take the bell away from them. The person with the most bells wins a prize. For how well do you know the bride, you are asked questions about the bride such as her favorite color or favorite food. A prize goes to the person able to answer the most questions. For the dress game, each guest guesses how many times the bride has tried on her dress. The person closest to the number wins.

Tips & Warnings

• Planning a bridal shower doesn't have to be stressful. Ask for help. You don't have to take on everything by yourself!

• Don't do anything that makes the bride feel uncomfortable. Keep the shower tailored to the bride's tastes only.