How to Choose a Menu for a Bridal Shower
When your sister, cousin or close friend is preparing for her wedding, you may find yourself with the task of planning and throwing a bridal shower. One of the many questions a hostess has as she plans for the shower is how to choose a menu. There is much to consider when choosing a menu for a bridal shower, including the time of the shower, the shower's theme and the menu preferences of the bride.
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Instructions
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Consider the Time of the Shower
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Determine the time of day the shower is set to begin before determining the menu for the bridal shower. The most popular time to have bridal showers is mid-afternoon, but brunch, dinner or dessert options are also common.
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Choose foods that are appropriate for the time of day you are hosting the shower. If you choose to throw a brunch bridal shower serve fruit, breakfast pastries, omelets, bacon or sausage, coffee, fruit juices and mimosas.
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Select a menu of several appetizer options for an afternoon shower, since a full meal will not be expected. Guests do not want to go hungry, so be sure to have enough appetizers to keep everyone happy, generally about 12 per guest. Good appetizer options for a bridal shower menu include vegetable and cheese trays, tea sandwiches, stuffed mushrooms and meatballs. Iced tea, punch and champagne make good drinks for an appetizer bridal shower.
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Plan a full meal if you choose to throw a dinner bridal shower. Serve a couple of appetizers when guests arrive, and then serve your dinner buffet style, with plenty of space for your guests to sit and eat. Good dinner menus for a bridal shower include a salad, an entree casserole, vegetable side and rolls, or opt for an outdoor barbecue with hamburgers, potato salad and coleslaw. Drinks for a dinner bridal shower could include iced tea, soft drinks, beer and wine.
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Choose several different types of desserts for the menu of a dessert bridal shower. Be sure not to have all chocolate or other flavored desserts. Instead mix it up with 1 or 2 chocolate desserts, fruit desserts and a vanilla-flavored dessert. Also, have several different types of desserts---such as cakes, pies and cookies---so you have plenty of options to choose from. Ideal drinks for a dessert bridal shower could include coffee, tea and dessert wines and liquors.
Select the Theme
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Plan the menu for the bridal shower you are hostessing around the overall theme of the shower. For instance, if you are throwing a tropical themed bridal shower, include Hawaiian foods and drinks in your menu.
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Pick feminine foods for an all-women shower. It's so rare that women can get together by themselves to celebrate such a happy time in their friend's life, so capitalize on the occasion and go girly. Include healthy, light fare that your female guests will appreciate, like tea sandwiches, fruit trays or a lighter main dish option for a dinner bridal shower.
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Plan to have heartier fare for a couple's bridal shower, as men tend to need more to fill up than women.
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Include vegetarian options when choosing the menu for a bridal shower to be certain all guests' needs are met.
Ask the Bride
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Take into account the bride's preferences when choosing a menu for her bridal shower. While she will probably tell you to choose whatever is easiest for you, it's still a good idea to ask her about her favorite foods so that you can incorporate some of them into your menu.
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Try to make the bride's wishes a reality because, after all, this will probably be her only bridal shower and you want to make it special. If she would like a certain food that you have never made, ask other family members or her friends for a recipe you can use on the day of the shower---or better yet, ask if they would mind making the dish and bringing it to the shower.
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Consult with the bride if she would like the shower to have a theme or not. Let her help out as much as she wants, or if she'd rather it all be a surprise, then plan the menu and decor on your own with input from her family and friends.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Ask the bride's mother and sisters to help plan the menu and throw the shower. They will more than likely be happy to help. Do as much prep work before the day of the bridal shower as possible. A good hostess is able to mingle with guests and isn't stuck in the kitchen all day, so plan menu items with little prep time or those that can be made ahead.
