What Youve Heard

Forget stodgy ceremonies and stiff etiquette. Wedding showers are a fun way to help a bride prepare for married life. Whether you're planning a formal party presided over by the dignified Great-aunt Hazel or a casual soiree with a group of sorority sisters, wedding shower invitations are a great way to give fellow partiers a sneak preview of the festivities.

While choosing wedding shower invitations is not as nerve-wracking as picking wedding invitations, you still want to create a great impression for the event. Perhaps the most important part of your job will be to set the overall tone by choosing the right style of invitations.

Casual with class

Will it be a backyard barbecue that includes the guys as well as the girls? Will guest be playing games like bridal bingo? Will the bride be embarassed at least once during the shower (all in good taste, of course). Let guests know what's in store for them by sending invites that say, "We're going to have a great time."

Designs - Die-cut papers are one fun way to invite guests to the event. Invitation paper shaped like a heart or an umbrella are casual and unique attention getters. If the bride and groom will celebrate their nuptials at a dream destination, consider using an invite printed to look like a U.S. passport. Online printers who specialize in wedding invitations offer a wide variety of shower-appropriate stationery pieces.

Colors - Just say "no" to white or ivory papers in favor of bold colors or flirty patterns. Consider matching the paper to the bride's personality. Use paper textured like soft sand for a beach baby or leopard-print borders for an animal lover.

Delivery - Mailing wedding shower invitations is the tried, true, and etiquette-approved method of inviting guests. However, there are other options. More and more wedding shower planners are using email to notify guests of the upcoming event. Even the masters of manners at the Emily Post Institute give the go-ahead for sending wedding shower invitations by email--especially if the guests are wired. Remember, don't leave out non-techie guests. Send a handwritten note or personally invite them to join the festivities.

Fuss-free formal

Even if the wedding shower features elderly relatives, catered meals, and elaborate table settings, you're not locked in to ultra-fussy invites--leave that for the wedding invitations.

Designs - Formal elegance is easy if you stick to simple styles. Raised panels and colored borders can add dimension to your wedding shower invitations. Fonts with a calligraphy-style look also add a classy touch to your invites. Find the widest selection of designs from online specialists who sell wedding invitations.

Colors - Keep it simple with classic ivories, whites, or other neutrals. Dress up the wedding shower invitations by adding hints of color to the borders or fonts.

Delivery - Like wedding invitations, sending shower invites through the mail is favored by etiquette experts. While you could send electronic wedding shower invitations to save money, it will sacrifice some of the event's formality.

Baby showers are thrown to mothers-to-be. It has become a tradition to hold these parties for women who are months away from giving birth. It is a way of welcoming the presence of the baby, and recognizing the efforts of the mother during pregnancy.

Baby showers or showers for mothers to be have been all the rage in many regions and nations for centuries. However, they were not in the manner and style we observe it these days.

Special and hand made presents were offered after a little one was born, typically during the baby's dedication or christening, a religious ceremony. It was grandmothers that normally gave silver items to the infants.

In earlier parts of the 20th century, guests and other relatives are intentionally not invited to the home of the baby until he reaches one month of age to avoid the onset of illnesses. People believed then that newborns are most susceptible to diseases and kept babies away from exposure to other individuals.

Victorian women in latter parts of the eighteenth hundred started to organize tea parties for moms but not till she gave birth, because pregnant ladies used to hide from public in those days.

On the onset of the nineteenth hundreds, the afternoon teas were altered into showers founded on bridal showers given to brides before their wedding day. Also, sun umbrellas became emblems as it was a tradition for women to take with them umbrellas when they came to these tea parties.

Today, baby showers are already customary. First time moms in particular, are especially excited for their baby showers. For moms on their second, third or fourth child already, the party is called baby sprinkles.

Almost all cultures celebrate birth. Different countries may differ in their celebrations yet cakes, candies, sugary foods and other items are the main features.

In North America, baby showers gained popularity following the period of baby boom after the Second World War. Baby shower traditions in this region are not just profit making happenings with games and all. They have actually justifiable historical values as well as psychological legitimacy.
Back then, only wealthy families have baby showers, usually celebrated after the baby's birth. It also happened together with baptism or christening. And, because children, pregnancy, and giving birth were deemed as ladies' business, only ladies received invitation for this gathering.
Fortunate enough for new born babies, they were the only ones that received baby showers. It is due to the belief that handy presents can be used by the subsequent offspring as well.

Today in America and nearly all parts of the globe, even men and children are invited to baby showers. These special gatherings are now celebrated around two to four weeks prior to the expected delivery.

They are frequently held in the afternoon (tea time) or lunch. This is a brilliant and fresh practice, with the showering of presents to both mom and baby to be.

Gifts can be traditionally practical, handmade, or fun and artistic. Female friends or relatives are normally the hosts of baby showers. There are usually exciting parlor games to liven up the party.

There are many expenses that come with a wedding but the wedding shower invitations don’t have to be one of the more expensive items. The wedding shower invitations can be a simple request to invite people to the wedding shower and they really needn’t include elaborate design or extravagant embellishments. Discount wedding shower invitations can be purchased and many online retailers will provide a discount when wedding shower invitations are bought in bulk or as part of their overall wedding stationery.

Another way to save on unique wedding shower invitations is to simply purchase wedding shower cards. Wedding shower cards are much like a postcard and indicate the bride and grooms names or photo on the front and the bank is for the shower details. These are a great way to send wedding shower invitations as only one piece of stationery is needed and they are generally smaller than regular wedding shower invitations.

Response cards are sometimes included in with the wedding shower invitation but this is not necessary. If you need an exact head count for caterers, or the venue, you can simply ask on the wedding shower card that people phone with their RSVP, rather than spend money on response cards in addition to the wedding shower invitation.

Purchasing wedding shower invitations online is a great way to save money on the wedding shower cards. Online retailers generally offer better prices than other retailers because they do not need to keep a store stocked or as many hired staff people on hand. Not only do online outlets often offer a discount for bulk orders on wedding shower invitations, but they also offer discounts on package deals, such as when you purchase wedding card accessories. These can be bits of lace design, or the seals that will be attached to the envelopes.

Obtaining wedding shower invitations is also extremely convenient, as you can see the wedding card in its entirety with a few clicks. Comparison-shopping can take a few minutes by searching different types of wedding shower invitations rather than days.

One of the most important aspects of a wedding shower invitation is the wording. A lot of retailers include one or two lines with the cost of the wedding shower card and will charge additional costs if the wedding shower invitation wording exceeds the given amount. Or they will simply charge for the entire wedding shower invitation wording. In either case, you will want to keep the wedding shower invitation wording as short as possible. A short wedding shower invitation verse could say, “The miracle of love is – that it is given to us – to give to one another.”

After the invitations for wedding shower have been sent, and the shower has been held, the bride and groom will need to write wedding shower thank you cards. These cards will show appreciation for any gifts that were received during the shower. The wedding shower thank you card can have the same design as the wedding shower invitations and can even have the same wedding shower wording. This will show continuity and can also save the couple money as the wedding shower cards and wedding shower thank you cards can be ordered from the same place, possibly saving them even more money.

The next big question is where to host the wedding shower.  The good news is that there are no guidelines here.  You can throw a wedding shower that is over the top formal with live entertainment and lots of food.  Or, you can throw an informal get together. 

The location of the wedding shower should be depicted by the style of the wedding shower, from informal to extravagant.

Insure that there is enough seating for all the guests.  There should be enough room for gifts to be opened including tables for them to be stacked on. 

The host of the wedding shower should provide for the means to record what is being given to the bride and groom in a notebook.  It is also necessary for the host to welcome guests and greet them at the door.

A Wedding Shower Generally Entails:

-    A greeting by the maid of honor, host and the mother of the bride.

-    A wedding shower should include a meal of some sort.  It can be as simple as a buffet or cold cuts or as complex as a formal dinner.

-    The shower should provide comfortable tables for the guests to relax on.  Assigned seating is generally not necessary in an informal wedding shower but can be used in a formal.

-    The shower should provide for refreshments including a cake or other deserts.

-    Most of the time there is some form of music, but generally it is not live entertainment.

-    The opening of the presents is generally held after a meal is provided to the guests. 

-    The bride and the groom should walk around and talk to everyone, thanking them for coming and chatting with guests.

-    The wedding party should be thanked by the bride and the groom before or after dinner is served.

-    Afternoon wedding showers are the most popular, although they can be held at any time of the day.  Weekends are the most common.

More Information

The wedding shower is a wonderful tradition.  It is designed to help the new couple to get started on the journey of their lives.  The gifts that are given are symbolic of providing the things they will need to have a good start. 

Another customary thing that can be done at a wedding shower is for the bridesmaids to collect the ribbons from all presents that are open.  These are placed together to create a bouquet that the bride will use in place of the real thing at her wedding rehearsal. 

One of the other bridesmaids should take diligent notes about what has been given and who gave it.  This will allow the bride to write thank you notes later. 

Finally, the planning of a wedding shower should be done well in advance.  The more formal that it is the more planning will be needed.  Most of the time the shower will happen about one month before the actual wedding takes place.  If this is not possible, a wedding shower can occur days before the wedding or even after the honeymoon.

Baby shower parties are very popular in these days. What is the main ingredient for the perfect baby shower? Food is often related to baby showers.

While there are no established rules for what comprises a baby shower, there are some traditional doings that are common at baby showers. Gifts & Wishes is about suggest what they are if you are looking for answers.

Usually, the shower is given for the expected parents by an important person as opposed to the parents. Typically, the mother's maid of honour or bridesmaids at her wedding hosts this last occasion into motherhood. There are favours, presents, and games that are all coordinated by that person. Invitations are sent out, by the planner, on behalf of the Mother/Parents, which is simply like at a customary bridal shower. Because the function centers on gift-giving, the baby shower is normally arranged by a near friend.

There is no set tradition for when or where showers are to be held. The party can thus be at a range of places and at different times. It is ordinary for the host to supply baby-themed playoffs during the shower. In some regions, it is frequent to provide party favours, which are little presents for the guests. Characteristically, newborn-related gifts are bought for the novel mother-to-be. Everything from diapers, bottles, rags, clothes and toys are satisfactory and ordinary gifts.

Baby showers, like wedding shower and bachelorette, are extra open to new thoughts, concepts, themes, games, and verifications in etiquette. For example, once it was improper in America for guests to pat the expectant mother's abdomen. Start in the 1970s, however, if allowed by the mother and if asked graciously, "tummy-rubbing" is now a baby shower occasion.

There is huge variance in dos and topics of baby showers. A few people favor to hold showers afterward the birth of the baby. In this instance there may be a propensity for the baby shower to be fewer focused on the baby and more on the mother and the mother's training for the new baby. Several people think that giving gifts before the baby is born can cause poor luck. Others believe that the notion of celebrating a coming child is a personal family affair or does not instruct a party at all.

We just demonstrated a few notions what is required for baby's shower gift and what other people think on this event. If you look for some gift ideas for a baby shower, please visit Gifts & Wishes gift shop online. You will find a lot of funky and practical items for this occasion.

Just to make sure that they get away from a lot of other people getting married at the same time and make easy reservations, many couple opt not to get married in June and choose a different season to exchange vows. Before allowing the bride to be fully betrothed, one of the few things you should make sure is let the bride-to-be enjoy her very own bridal shower. How do you get the affianced exactly what she wants? You will know what to do next by reading along the article below.

1. The kitchen theme in the wedding invitation could be an indication that the bride wanted new sets of kitchenwares or silverware, this should be enough clue for you when buying the right bridal shower gift. We often see different designs on the bridal shower invitation and the "crystal" image inside is an indication that she would want a new set of glasses, Swarovski made glasses or plates, crystal tea cups or something like that. There are invitations with the word "Personal" written on them and this may mean that the bride wanted to get a new pair of sexy pajamas, a night gown or her very own sexy lingerie. Beware of getting too personal; you don't want to confuse the bachelorette party with the bridal shower.

2. It's a good thing that shops of different brands offer gift registry especially or bridal shower parties, and if you are not sure what to give the bride then inquire if she has registered to any one of the shops in near you.

3. If you know the bride, it won't be hard to buy her the right gift for her bridal party. Is there anything she wanted to do in particular? Look at the way she dresses, is she someone who is interested in fashion? Does she love cooking Is the young bride someone with a green thumb? There are many options for home furnishing, including items for the bath or bedroom. A beautiful picture frame, for example, would be perfect to house a new wedding portrait. One of the things that you should consider before buying the gift is to make sure that it suits the bride's taste.

4. Sometimes a little work of asking around will surely help if you are clueless on what to give the bride-to-be. One of the easiest ways to ask around is by calling any family member, the bridal party hostess or her friends. The bride will appreciate it more if you buy her the gift she truly desires no matter how expensive or big it may be, so ask some of your friends who are also invited to share with the expenses just to make sure you are buying the right gift for the bride.

5. The wrapper speaks for itself and gives excitement to the bride so make sure it does go well with the theme of the party and the gift you prepared. You can play a role as a guest by getting all the scrap papers used as wrappers by cutting this into small bits and use them as confetti during the wedding day.

6. When giving gifts, choose the practical ones that can be really useful for the bride. Reed and Barton silverware, for example, is something that the bride needs, yet won't use all the time. It's a perfect bridal shower gift because unless she's inheriting her grandmother's silverware, she won't put aside the cash it costs to buy a set for her entertaining needs. Rather than buying a cheap item, add a few more bucks just to make sure that you are buying something that will not be broken in just a few uses. You can get the new bride something that is not used daily but is definitely useful for her if she enjoys a task, let's say if she loves cooking, you can get her a new dishpan. Match your gifts on the bridal party to the wedding day itself, say you've given her a nice lingerie on her wedding party so now you can give her silk pajamas on her wedding day. No one should get the credit for your very nice gift and since you have spent a good fortune for it put a to and from card to make sure that bride knows you gave it to her.

Since more and more bridal showers are now turning into couple wedding showers, there are many more ways to can spice up a couples wedding shower invitation to show your combined styles or a love of some place, cause, or other aspect of your lives. There is no better way to celebrate a coming wedding than with the person you are about to marry.

Should You Use a Homemade Bridal Shower Invitation?

There are a lot of reasons that a homemade invitation will work best for your couples wedding shower invitation. First, you probably don't want a very formal party to celebrate when you are throwing a couples wedding shower. And since it is not a formal party, it does not have to have a formal couples wedding shower invitation attached to it.

Even if you don't want to have your own homemade invitations, there are many invitations printers that are catching on to the trend of an informal couples wedding shower invitation. They will be able to provide you not only with the quality invitations that you want, but they can also work with you on any themes that you might be thinking about for the party.

Choosing a Great Theme for Your Couples Wedding Shower

If you are planning your own wedding shower, you will want to choose a theme that reflects not only your love for each other, but the things that you enjoy the most. Do you like to travel? You can get travel posters to hang around the party area, use postcards from all over the world to make the base of your invitations, and you can serve international cuisine for the food.

There are many other ways that you can create a new, funky theme that will be far from the traditional idea of a bridal shower. And with the right couples wedding shower invitation, you can let your guests be involved in all of the fun. You can come up with a way to make the invitations interactive, or your can have the invitations set up for a game or exchange at the party.

This is a party to celebrate your special day, so try not to stress out about it. This is the part where you can have fun and not worry if every single thing does not go right. So enjoy planning your couples wedding shower, and of course you should enjoy the party itself.

There are so many forms of entertainment that you can come up with when organizing a nuptial shower. While some of such games may sound childish, others will look mature. But you should not be worried about this because your final aim should be providing the guests with some entertainment.

You can organize a game which will include either the spouses-to-be to have some additional understanding of each other. Before the shower, you can meet the groom and come up with as many questions as possible which will have to do with some personal aspects in his life. At the shower, you can bring to the bride to the lime light be letting her give answers to these questions. Just observe the responses and see the number of correct response. You should be sure that most of the responses are going to be accurate. At the end of the exercise, make sure a prize is allocated to her.

A very fashionable game is to devise a game which will involve making dresses using toilet papers. You are going to create teams of between two to five members. Each team is going to make use of these materials to design a wedding outfit. Some costume and jewelries will be used to adorn the dresses. Also remember that there should be a time limit for making these dresses. In most cases, five minutes should be enough. As soon as the teams are through with what they have designed, the bride will have to determine which of the dresses is best. A prize should also be given to the team that came up with the best designing.

One additional amusing activity is something that will involve the bride to dress up under the cover of darkness or with her vision totally impaired. You can let her have the impression that she is on one of her most respected occasions with the groom and there is no light. Compel her to dress up from an assortment of outfits that will also be selected in the dark. Give her a time limit to put up her dress. To make the game more interesting, add some funny items to the set of outfits. At the end of this game, you can take some pictures of her as she comes out of the dark. Keep in mind that this is more than instant fun to actually having some memorable pictures.

You can further decide to bring up something extra which will concentrate more on the guests than the bride. There is a game in which almost all the purses of the guests will be positioned at the center of the room. An inventory of things which can commonly be found in the purses should be catalogued. This should be done the same with items which cannot easily be found in the purses. For items which seem rare, they should be ranked higher than what can be usually found in the purses. Start scanning through all the purses and see which of the purse registers the highest number of points. The person with this purse should also be given a trophy.

There are so many other activities that can be done at the bridal shower. You can go in for a bingo game or another form of game. A very popular activity that originated from bachelorette parties is one in which a stripper is used. Before the part and just about half an hour, pieces of papers should be given to the interested guests who will put down anything they notice about the bride's dressing. In fact, include a listing of everything concerning her appearance. This should be done when she is out of the room. She will then be brought into the room and the guest who has the most perfect observations is given a prize.

Wedding shower invitations should lay out all of the necessary information, yet still be attractive. One way to do this is to have a picture engraved on the invitation. Ask your engraver to add a small design on the inside of your invitation or wherever you have information about the reception. If, for example, an ice cream social is your theme see if there is an ice cream cone or Sundae dish they can emboss onto the paper without taking away from the main body of the invitation. Remember that subtlety is stylish; you don’t want to come across as overpowering with your theme. It may be difficult sometimes to know who to invite to the wedding shower. As a general rule, the wedding shower hostess or hostesses should invite all family members of both the bride and the groom. She should also invite close friends of the bride and the bride's family. She may also want to invite some of the bride-to-be's co-workers. She should be sure to consult with the bride when compiling the guest list. Try to organize the people invited so some will set up the wedding shower game, someone else will set up the wedding shower favor, and so on.

What do I put on a wedding Shower Invitation?

The wedding shower invitation should include the name of the bride to be, the date and time of the shower, and the address and phone number of the hostess/hostesses. If you are concerned about the attendance at your wedding shower, consider including on the invitation a deadline date for the RSVP. (This is usually about two weeks prior to the shower date.) It may be difficult to make up a wedding shower invitation without prior experience. Because of this, it may be a good idea to have the same person who did your bridal shower invitation to also do your wedding shower invitation.

When you begin planning your wedding, you will discover that there are a set of etiquette rules for each event prior to the actual wedding ceremony. Wedding shower etiquette is just one example. The etiquette for a wedding shower shows who is supposed to host your shower, what individuals should be invited and when it should take place.

The etiquette for a wedding shower dictates that the mother or sisters of the bride are not permitted to host the shower. This etiquette rule is broken quite a bit in the South. Even so, the correct people to host your wedding shower should be your bridesmaids. This does not mean that other close friends of the bride can't host the shower. Often there are various wedding showers for different groups that do not know each other but they know the bride to be.

Your wedding shower should be planned about four to eight weeks prior to the wedding.

This time frame will depend on if some guests have to come a distance and if the bride will be available. If the shower is planned too close to the day of the wedding it will interfere with other wedding plans and this will stress out the bride and she will not have a good time at the shower. This is definitely improper etiquette.

If your bridesmaids are the hosts for the wedding shower, etiquette suggests the people that should be invited to the shower. Obviously, the mothers of the bride and groom should be there. If there are stepmothers in the families they should be invited too. If the bride or groom has sisters, they should be invited as well. Other family members, friends and co-workers can also be invited. Individuals who are not invited to the wedding should not be invited to the shower.

Proper etiquette states that thank you notes should be written right away after the bridal shower. The purpose of the wedding shower is to give the bride gifts that will help her celebrate. The hostesses should keep an account of who brought each gift so that the bride can send out thank you notes quickly and show how much she appreciates each of the gifts.

Invitations to the wedding shower should be addressed in the same way as the wedding invitations. Etiquette dictates that each invitation should be addressed by hand and the formal format should be used. Each shower guest should get their own invitation even if they live with another person that is also invited to the shower.

An example of this would be a mother and daughter that live in the same residence. Shower invitations should arrive at your guests homes about four weeks prior to the event and the invitations should include a response card so that the guests can RSVP. An invitation can include bridal registry information since you cannot put this information on the wedding invitation. Gifts are expected at a bridal shower so you are using the correct bridal shower etiquette by including the registry information on the invitation.

Besides being a conventional marriage ceremony, bridal shower is immensely important for tying with one another. It is a grand activity and the reminiscences will last for life. The focal point of this ritual is the bride, who receives a wide variety of gifts from the members of the society and relatives before her wedding.This rite is famous in the Unites States of America and Canada.

This formal procedure is normally coordinated by the bridesmaids, who invite the guests to make the contributions both for the bride as well as groom. They contain the themes that look good with rooms and portions of a dwelling i.e. bedroom or toilet. If bunk room is the subject matter for this custom, the majority of gifts will rest on the objects that are observed in the bedroom. This makes the bridal shower invitation cards printing more interesting especially for bridesmaids to arrange the number of influential types of things in the guest room.

On the ceremonial day, a good number of people make the funs and throw the jokes as well as share the pictures with one another with full of emotions and excitements. They look pretty elegant and graceful in colorful dresses. This makes the show more interesting and eye-catching beyond your imagination.

Food is one the elements of this traditional ceremony. People would like to bring different kinds of seasonal foods for the family of bride, including cheese, pastries, pizzas, sweets, fruits, buffets, chocolates, chips, ice-cream, chicken, vegetables, tea and finally the fine wine taste. This makes the bridal shower invitation cards printing more interesting for bridesmaids to get a variety of tasteful foods.

Last but not least is the artful and professional designing of these kinds of stylish cards, which will fulfill your modern day business needs in style. You can further enhance the quality of your products by giving them impressive kind of lamination (Glossy/Matte finishing). All you need is look for the best printing company in order to satisfy your business requirements in style.

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If you're hosting a bridal shower, there are literally hundreds of games to choose from. Some are silly, some are serious, but all are about having some fun with the bride before she's married. Here's a sampling.

One fun game really puts the bride on the spot with regard to her knowledge of her husband-to-be's life. Prior to the party, have someone ask the groom a series of questions, such as where he was born, what his favorite food is, things like that. Then at the bridal shower, put the bride on the spot by asking her the answers to the questions. See how many she can get right (hopefully at least half!). If she does well, give the girl a prize; she deserves one.

One all-time favorite game is toilet paper wedding dresses. This game involves separating the guests into teams consisting of at least 2 people and no more than 5. Give each team a roll or toilet paper (or 2) and have them fashion a wedding dress out of the toilet paper. One of the team members will volunteer as the model. Provide them with a "dress up trunk" filled with jewelry and shoes. They must make the dress out of the toilet paper, but they can accessorize with the provided jewelry, shoes, gloves and hats. Place a time limit on this (5 minutes is adequate) and have the bride vote on the best dress. Be sure to provide prizes for the winning team!

Another fun game that's always a hit is making the bride get dressed while blindfolded. Tell the bride she is to pretend she's on her honeymoon and the power has gone off. She must prepare for her wedding night in complete darkness. Provide her with a suitcase filled with items and then blindfold her. She must get dressed in a certain period of time (2 minutes is adequate) while completely blindfolded and with no help from the guests. Include some silly items like oversized sunglasses, garden gloves or a flannel nightgown just to make it fun. This is a photo opportunity, so be sure someone is waiting to record the end result!

Another fun game puts the shower guests more on the sport than the bride. In this game, everyone puts their purses in the center of the room. Create a list of items commonly found in a purse and assign a point value and create a list of less common items and give them a higher point value. So you might give lipstick 2 points, a tampon 3 points, and sunglasses 5 points. But a granola bar could be 10 points and a staple remover, 15 points. Then go through the purses awarding points and give the person with the highest number of points (and therefore, the most items and probably highest number of unusual items) a prize.

Before the shower, create bingo cards for this shower bingo game. In the squares, put pictures of items you think the bride will receive at the shower. So, boxes might include things like lingerie, towels and the like. As the bride opens gifts, have people mark off that item on their bingo card. If nobody gets a "bingo" give a prize to the person who marked off the most number of items.

This next game is a derivation of a popular game that's often played at bachelorette parties and involves a stripper. This is the clean version. About 30 minutes into the party, have the bride leave the room and pass out pieces of paper. Have everyone write on the paper everything they can remember about the bride's outfit, hair, etc. How many rings is she wearing? What color is her blouse? Is she wearing open or closed toed shoes? Once everyone is done recording their observations, the bride comes back into the room and a prize is awarded to the person with the best observation skills.

If you're hosting a bridal shower, there are literally hundreds of games to choose from. Some are silly, some are serious, but all are about having some fun with the bride before she's married. Here's a sampling.

One fun game really puts the bride on the spot with regard to her knowledge of her husband-to-be's life. Prior to the party, have someone ask the groom a series of questions, such as where he was born, what his favorite food is, things like that. Then at the bridal shower, put the bride on the spot by asking her the answers to the questions. See how many she can get right (hopefully at least half!). If she does well, give the girl a prize; she deserves one.

One all-time favorite game is toilet paper wedding dresses. This game involves separating the guests into teams consisting of at least 2 people and no more than 5. Give each team a roll or toilet paper (or 2) and have them fashion a wedding dress out of the toilet paper. One of the team members will volunteer as the model. Provide them with a "dress up trunk" filled with jewelry and shoes. They must make the dress out of the toilet paper, but they can accessorize with the provided jewelry, shoes, gloves and hats. Place a time limit on this (5 minutes is adequate) and have the bride vote on the best dress. Be sure to provide prizes for the winning team!

Another fun game that's always a hit is making the bride get dressed while blindfolded. Tell the bride she is to pretend she's on her honeymoon and the power has gone off. She must prepare for her wedding night in complete darkness. Provide her with a suitcase filled with items and then blindfold her. She must get dressed in a certain period of time (2 minutes is adequate) while completely blindfolded and with no help from the guests. Include some silly items like oversized sunglasses, garden gloves or a flannel nightgown just to make it fun. This is a photo opportunity, so be sure someone is waiting to record the end result!

Another fun game puts the shower guests more on the sport than the bride. In this game, everyone puts their purses in the center of the room. Create a list of items commonly found in a purse and assign a point value and create a list of less common items and give them a higher point value. So you might give lipstick 2 points, a tampon 3 points, and sunglasses 5 points. But a granola bar could be 10 points and a staple remover, 15 points. Then go through the purses awarding points and give the person with the highest number of points (and therefore, the most items and probably highest number of unusual items) a prize.

Before the shower, create bingo cards for this shower bingo game. In the squares, put pictures of items you think the bride will receive at the shower. So, boxes might include things like lingerie, towels and the like. As the bride opens gifts, have people mark off that item on their bingo card. If nobody gets a "bingo" give a prize to the person who marked off the most number of items.

This next game is a derivation of a popular game that's often played at bachelorette parties and involves a stripper. This is the clean version. About 30 minutes into the party, have the bride leave the room and pass out pieces of paper. Have everyone write on the paper everything they can remember about the bride's outfit, hair, etc. How many rings is she wearing? What color is her blouse? Is she wearing open or closed toed shoes? Once everyone is done recording their observations, the bride comes back into the room and a prize is awarded to the person with the best observation skills.

A traditional wedding shower, also known as a bridal shower, is a party that is for ladies only. However with the trend of wedding showers today, Couple wedding showers are becoming popular where more and more soon-to-be brides and grooms are being honored together by their friends and families. Unlike with traditional sandwich and pastel décor type showers, a couple shower is more casual and usually involves a meal or hors d'oeuvre. Beers and wines are often served also depending on the time of day and event. Indeed, to plan of throwing a shower party for the couple may seem like a challenging task but planning and preparing smartly can pull it all together easily.

The Preparation

The first thing you should consider is your budget. Decide how much you can and willing to spend. Determining a budget will guide you in many decisions you will be facing during the process of planning.

Next is to make the guest list. The guests you should include are those people whom the couple would want to be present at the party. You may ask the couple, their families and friends to ensure you are not missing those that should attend. Make the most of this time by asking for contact information of the guests. Just be mindful of your budget and limit the list accordingly.

After finishing the guest list, you have to decide what them you should use. Decide on the best theme and the rest will fall into their respective places. Choosing the perfect theme is one of the best part of the process. Consider to pick the theme that fits the couple's personality and will be enjoyed by a mixed guests. There are several shower themes to choose from and you want to pick the one that has something to do with both the bride and groom.

Next is you now have to set the shower date and time. First, you have to consider to make a good timing of sending the invitations. Usually, invitations are sent four to six weeks before the event. This needs to be factored-in when setting the date. Second, consider the availability of the couple. It is always best to get a list of the couple's available days and times. Third, don't forget your schedule, since you are the host of the shower party. Make sure you give yourself enough time to complete and execute the plans with less unnecessary stress of time constraints.

Also, you plan for some fun. A well prepared shower should be fun. Including activities and wedding shower games in the shower party will serve as the ice-breakers, and get the party going on. Have some music played to set some mood, make sure it is loud enough to hear but not drowning-conversation. Wedding shower party favors are good add-ons too. It is always best to prepare shower favors that fits the theme of the party. You may also consider personalized and unique favors which are perfect shower gifts for the guests. So, there you have it, plans on how to make a perfect couple wedding shower! Have some fun and enjoy!

Throwing a wedding shower can be a very exciting event. When you begin planning a wedding shower in your home, there are a few steps to take and considerations to remember in order to throw a memorable wedding shower. Through careful planning, you can throw a terrific shower that can leave your friend, coworker or family members thrilled that you have contributed to their upcoming nuptials.

Picking a Date

The first thing that you need to do when you are throwing a wedding shower at home is to pick a date for the big event. Although your own schedule plays a big part in this decision, the most important schedule to consider is the bride-to-be. Without the bride-to-be, you have no shower! Begin working with the bride-to-be around three months before her big day to select the perfect date for her wedding shower. This gives you enough time to find a date that is around a month before the big event.

In addition to the bride-to-be, you should consult with the special women in her life, including her mom, mother-in-law-to-be, sisters and aunts. Although you may not be able to find a date that suits every single person that may be invited, it is important for the key people in the bride’s life to be included. If there are people traveling from out of town to attend the wedding shower, you should start planning even earlier than three months prior to the wedding. This helps to provide your guests with enough time to plan their travel.

Inviting Guests

Unless the wedding shower is a surprise, you may want to ask the bride-to-be for her guest list at the same time that you set a final date. If the shower is going to be a surprise for the bride-to-be, the best source for a wedding guest list is her mother, sisters/brothers, or closest friends. Invitations to a wedding shower should be sent about a month before the event. This gives those guests enough time to determine if they can attend, find wonderful presents for the bride-to-be and respond to the invitation.

Games, Gifts and Giveaways

One key portion of a wedding shower is the games that are played. Many different games are appropriate for wedding showers and some have to do with testing the guests’ knowledge of the bride and groom. Others make predictions for the happy couple. Some other games that can be considered involve the guests splitting up into teams and playing a form of Pictionary or Charades. Some brides do not enjoy games, so you should check with the bride-to-be before planning.

The history of wedding showers were to gather gifts for the bride so that she was prepared with every household item she might need when leaving her parent’s home and going to the home of her husband. These days, most women live away from home before they marry and they may already have many of these essentials prior to the wedding. In any case, most brides-to-be create wedding registries to let guests know which items they desire for their new life. It is against protocol, however, for a bride to tell her guests where she is registered. That becomes your job as the host of her wedding shower. When you invite guests, you can either include an insert with the invitations, or can personally talk to each guest to let them know what registries have been created.

Giveaways can be a fun part of a wedding shower. First, it is a way to thank the guests for attending the special event and honoring the bride-to-be. Secondly, and more importantly, it gives guests a fun trinket to remember the wedding shower. Giveaways do not have to be terribly fancy or expensive. Consider the tastes of the bride, any themes she may be using for her wedding, and you may be able to pick out the perfect giveaway for the wedding shower. Often, little trinkets are selected that can hold candy inside. Other ideas include candles and items that can be personalized with the names of the happy couple.

Food

Your last consideration when you throw a wedding shower in your home is the food that you provide for your guests. To determine the appropriate food to serve, consider the time of day when the shower is going to occur. If the shower occurs near a major mealtime, you should provide a meal for your guests. For showers that are mid afternoon or early evening, it is appropriate to serve a variety of finger foods. If you know of any dietary restrictions for your guests, you should try to accommodate them. In addition, you should consider serving a snack for those attending the celebration. Cakes are a great choice for any type of celebration. You can contact your local bakery to ensure it is ready for the day of the bridal shower.

Baby Shower Party - Choosing the Right Baby Shower Décor & Food

The sky is the limit when it comes to baby shower decorations and food at the online Baby Shower Party, http://www.cards-411.com/baby-shower-party/. Those close to the mom-to-be will let her personality shine through in everything from the printed Baby Shower Invitation, http://www.cardsshoppe.com to the decorations to the food.

Traditional Shower Themes

The most traditional themes for baby showers are storks, ducks, Teddy bears, peas in a pod or Noah's ark. Personalized baby invitations for these themes are fairly easy to come by, as are a wide variety of decorations. Rubber ducks, paper storks, tiny Teddy bears and little animals pull together the decoration scheme.

If the mother-to-be knows the gender of the baby, gender-specific showers are good ways to indicate types of gifts the guests should bring. Pink and blue unique shower invitations are perfect for these baby shower types. For the parents who choose not to find out the gender of their child, the color scheme for the décor can range from yellow to green to chocolate. Bright, bold colors can also be dominant in the invitation if the gender of the child is unknown at the time of the Baby Shower Party, http://www.birth-cards.com/baby-shower-party/.

Gender Neutral Decoration

Some gender-neutral decorations could include baby bottles, pacifiers, zoo animals and diapers. Tiny baby bottles could be filled with candies as favors, while cartoon characters can be included in the Baby Shower Invitations, http://www.cardsshoppe.com/baby-shower-invitations/ and tableware and even the baby thank you cards. For the diaper-themed party, the cards could be shaped like diapers and diapers could be incorporated in the tableware with items like diaper "cakes."

For the shower to pamper the mom-to-be, the décor should be luxurious and inviting. Candlelight or soft lamplight should be the primary lighting and the décor should focus more on the guest of honor than the baby.

Shower Party Food

The food should reflect the guests. If it is a couples Party Baby Shower, http://www.birth-cards.com/baby-shower-party/party-baby-shower, the host should include items like steak or ribs. If the party is a ladies-only event, the foods served can vary widely. The host may choose to serve simple hors d'oeuvres with punch or sparkling cider. A full meal may also be served and can include anything from fish to chicken to pasta. If the host chooses to serve only hors d'oeuvres, the invitation should indicate that only light refreshments will be served. If the host will be serving a full meal, the announcement should let the guests know that a dinner or luncheon will be offered.

Alcohol has traditionally been considered taboo at showers, but if the host knows the expectant mom won't mind if others have wine or beer, those things can be served as well. If the shower will be dry, this information does not necessarily have to be included on the cards. Most people do not expect alcohol at a babyshower.

Shower Baby Decorations

The ideal decorations incorporate the central Party Baby Shower, http://www.cards-411.com/baby-shower-party/party-baby-shower theme into everything from the baby invites, as well as the favors, plates, napkins, and streamers.

To plan for a sexy bridal lingerie shower for the bride-to-be can be very fun and exciting. If you are a friend or a sister with a brilliant idea in mind, throwing a lingerie party can be very wild is far different compared to traditional bridal shower which often come boring.

Once you have decided to plan this wedding tradition, make it clear that the party should look hot and sexy. There's no major problem with the guests; they are typically the bride's sisters, relatives, friends and colleagues. However, you should begin with finding sexy bridal lingerie invitations. You can find some great invitations with sexy lingerie theme online, or if your are creative enough, feel free to create your own invitations. Just make sure that every detail of the invitation should reflect a sexy lingerie look.

The only minor problem when it comes to inviting guests is if you think you should invite the mother or conservative aunt of the bride-to-be. You still have several options, though, is you are afraid that some guests might be offended or embarrassed when surrounded by sexy or erotic lingerie. One option is to ask the bride-to-be's opinion, if this is not a surprise party for her. Her mom may not mind it a bit, in fact, she may likely find it enjoyable as much as anyone else does. Or, an option that limits the shower with women who enjoy buying and giving sexy lingerie. It could mean that the sexy bridal lingerie shower is limited only to close young friends of the bride-to-be. The last option is to go wild and announce the heck about it, invite anyone whether they will go or not. If they will refuse, then don't worry about it and just forget their reaction. After all, no one forces them and this is not an obligation where they should attended even if they are not comfortable with this idea.

Setting the tone for this shower idea is another exciting thing to do. When decorating the party, give you all wold side, as well as the concept of the shower games. Again, the Internet can be your best source for searching erotic ideas that can make terrific highlights for the event..

While you are in the midst of planning, other people are getting busy thinking what sexy gifts to give. It is pretty sure that they will ask you for some suggestions. In case you will proceed with sexy lingerie idea, you are going to have those requests, therefore, it is better to plan a head of time.

Of course with sexy lingerie shower, it should call for erotic gift ideas too. The major rule: learn the bride-to-be's size! The gift will just look ridiculous if it won't fit, therefore it is much better to know the size of bras and panties. Find these sexy undergarments online, from all-out-sexy bridal lingerie, elegant bridal lingerie to naughty bridal lingerie. Suggest the online store to friends and relatives for their shopping convenience.

The bride-to-be, however, is not exempted to give out gifts. Shower gift option for guests could be sexy personalized shirts and tubes. Also, she could always give unique adorable gifts like engraved jewelry gifts, compact mirrors, personalized tote bags or evening bags and the likes. Not to forget the shower favors, the erotic idea can be use when choosing party favors, that can be very fun and exciting to your guests.

So, you need a special unique baby shower theme to make your party different, huh?

A baby shower isn't just about helping parents-to-be get ready for their little arrival, but about fun, encourage and memories for years to come.  Why not use an unique baby shower theme to piece together a perfect party time for every invited person?

You can type "baby shower theme ideas"("baby shower themes" or "theme party idea" and "party theme") into internet search engines, such as Google, MSN Search and Yahoo! Search. The smart spider will lead you to the most relevant web sites for those coolest theme ideas.

Also, there are tons of ideas from party handbooks and experiences you already learned from other theme based parties, such as kids' birthday parties and bridal showers.

Somehow, you can't jump out from the endless mind bogging for the best baby shower theme ideas.  I guess you just get into the wrong direction.

However creative you could be, don't forget your best friend is about to be a Mommy, and this is the solely reason you want to throw her a baby shower! So chose the baby shower theme more personal to the mom-to-be, than yourself!

Before you run for the best theme idea, ask a few questions about the expecting Mommy:

* What does she like and dislike?
* Does she business like, shy, formal, friendly?
* Is the she expecting a girl, boy? Twins or More?
* How many people she'd like to invite?
* Does she plan to invite kids?
* Will she like to have her husband and other guys show up?
* Do you have a co-host? Does she have any idea?

More questions you ask the mom-to-be, more theme ideas come out with the answers themselves, automatically!  And you may not be aware of this: The best baby shower theme lies somewhere in the depths of your imagination.

You can setup a ladies-only tea party in your house at a Sunday afternoon if the mom-to-be only feel comfortable when she stay with a small group of people.  You can also throw a Hollywood glamour baby shower for parents-to-be who are super movie fans (so are their closest friends including you).

Or what if she is a second-time mom and her elder kids are Pooh lover? Phew, it couldn't be more exciting than having a Winnie the pooh baby shower and arranging everything in the ways that Pooh-like.

And if you're inviting the new daddy and his buddies to your party, the male guests would love to enjoy a western style BBQ in your backyard with beers and country music.

No matter how you plan the shower party, a good theme always serves as your inspiration when you're picking the location and time for your baby shower.

You can use theme based baby shower ideas run through the invitations, decorations, games and food, especially in preparing a baby shower cake to fit the party setting.  When you're preparing the baby shower supplies, gifts and favors, the shower theme will practically tell you the best ideas to pick up.

In fact, baby shower theme can really make planning baby showers a snap.

Attention bridesmaids, this one is for you! The bride has asked you to be a special part of her day and now it is time for you to shower her with love.

Decorating for a wedding shower doesn't have to match the bride's wedding theme, in fact, you should steer clear of that as it is her special day and you don't want to take anything away from the wedding. But you might want to come up with a theme of your own, it can be a color or seasonal; it can match the colors in the house or restaurant in which you are hosting the event, or it can be a kitchen theme, lingerie theme or both!

Since a bridal shower is traditionally for just women, you could have high tea with finger sandwiches and scones or serve a lovely brunch with eggs Benedict and mimosas. If you bride has a favorite fare, consider making that the theme of your shower, be it Mexican, Italian, Japanese, or whatever. Including some of her favorite things will be a sure way to show her how much you care. If you are going to be having the shower at a home, be sure to have plastic wear, dishes, cups and napkins and enough for any appetizers, hot food, and cake.

During the gift opening time, have your bride sit on a special chair. Some venues may have something different from the regular table chairs, but if you are hosting in someone's home, decorate the chair with ribbons and bows, making her a special throne.

A shower is a great place to use balloons rather than flowers. Depending on how many girls will be paying for the cost of the shower, balloons are an inexpensive and appropriate alternative. They can match the colors of the room, or if the room is neutral can be a hint of your bridesmaid dresses.

Last but not least, have a game or two in your back pocket. Sometimes the chatter takes over and you don't need them, but a little "Bridal Shower Bingo" never hurt anyone!

Throwing a wedding shower for your friend or relative can be an enriching experience. Obviously, you would want this occasion to be very special and wonderful for the bride-to-be. The wedding shower, also known as a bridal shower, is a much-awaited party that precedes the wedding, and is conventionally attended by the bride and all her female friends and family members only.

There are a number of things to be kept in mind when planning a wedding shower. Discuss what type of shower the bride-to-be would prefer. The possibilities include a couple's cocktail party, a midday luncheon or tea, or a shower for specific items such as lingerie, linen or kitchen items. You can also choose a particular theme for the wedding shower as well.

Choose the date, place and time for the shower. It is customary to send the wedding shower invitations at least 6 weeks before the special day. It is very important to prepare the invitation card carefully. When it comes to selecting a wedding shower invitation style, there are a wide variety of different styles to choose from. You can find loads of ideas in the stationary stores such as different styles of colors and papers.

Try eBay or other online auctions, and try Google, which will often bring up craigslist ads or others from people who have blank unused or bulk invitations to sell. Have guests RSVP to one phone number to prevent confusion. You should also give guests a deadline for an RSVP. Include the couple's registry locations with each invitation. Now, the next important thing is to choose the location of the event. It can either be organized in a restaurant or any relatives home.

Prepare as much as you can ahead of time so you are free to enjoy the shower. Wedding showers are a lot of fun and should be organized in the best manner, so that is a memorable affair for the bride!