Bridal Shower Checklist
If you are planning a bridal shower, there are several things to consider. Communication with the bride and her bridesmaids is essential to make things go as smoothly as possible. The following checklist will help you to get everything you need and stay organized in the process. The bride and groom are sure to be happily showered with gifts for their honeymoon or their new home.
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Budget
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Decide on a budget. Typically, the hosts, who are usually the bridesmaids, split the cost of the shower, so consider that when planning. Talk to the other bridesmaids, and decide how much everyone can spend. If some of the girls are on a tight budget, it may be best to plan conservatively, unless you are willing to foot the bill for them.
Location
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Talk to the bride. Ask her input when deciding on where to have the shower. If it is a couple's shower, choose a location that is suitable for couples. If you plan to rent space, do some research and try to find a location that fits within everyone's budget. If you are on a tight budget, it might be best to hold the shower in someone's home.
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Theme
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There are many creative themes for showers. You can throw a kitchen shower, where guests bring gifts to stock the couple's kitchen, or a lingerie shower, where guests will bring romantic gifts for the honeymoon. Talk to the bride and find out what she would like. It is also a good idea to find out if anyone else is throwing her a shower and get the details so that you don't duplicate their efforts. Once you decide on a theme, go ahead and purchase your gift for the bride.
Guest List
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Make sure you don't invite anyone to the shower who is not on the wedding guest list. With that in mind, you should consult the bride about the guest list. If the shower is a surprise, you can talk to her parents to get an idea of the people she would want to invite.
Invitations
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Purchase invitations or the materials to make them yourself. Find out where the bride and groom are registered, and include this information on the invitations. Mail out invitations four to six weeks before the date of the shower in order to give guests enough time to RSVP.
Decorations
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Choose decorations suitable to the shower's theme. You can buy them or make them yourself, and you may want to start decorating a few days before the shower.
Favors
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Favors are optional, but they are a great way to say thanks to everyone who attended the shower. These are usually small, simple tokens such as mints, candies, chocolates or hand lotions. They may or may not relate to the shower's theme.
Food
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Finger foods are normally the most economical choice when hosting a shower. They are easy to prepare and make for a seamless cleanup when it's all over. Purchase your ingredients far enough in advance, and do as much food preparation as possible the day before. Don't forget the cake.
Drinks
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If you are having cocktails, make sure you have adequate glassware and stemware. Purchase spirits well in advance to avoid any problems. You may want to make some punch or flavored iced tea for those who don't drink alcohol.
Entertainment
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Games are a way to spice up the fun and are great for themed showers. The Internet is one resource for bridal shower game ideas. Instead of games or themed activities, you may wish to provide entertainment in the form of music. Ultimately, the main activity is watching the bride, or couple, open their gifts. One of the hosts should make a detailed list of the gifts received so that the bride will be able to send out accurate thank you cards.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit nice gift image by sumos from Fotolia.com
