Water Cooler

• May 9, 2008 6:29 pm US/Central
• Digg | Facebook | E-mail

  Close WindowE-mail This Page

  21 Ways To Throw A Savvy Bridal Shower

  Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

  ---

  • Recipient E-mail:* 
  • • Your Name:* 
    • Your E-mail:* 
  • Add a Message:
  •   Send me a copy of this e-mail.

  • Type the characters in this picture:* Click here to refresh with new letters

  ---

  The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

  Send E-mail

  | Print

21 Ways To Throw A Savvy Bridal Shower

Do mail invitations 3 to 4 weeks in advance, Include where the bride and groom are registered

Do ask guests to bring the gifts unwrapped. The hostess should display them for all guests to see. This will keep the flow of the party intact and allow guests more time for mingling. Preprinted cards with each guest's name to place next to the gift he/she brought.

Don't play games or have an ice breaker at the shower

Do offer something unexpected. Tasting bars are very popular, like a cake tasting bar for the bride to try out the cakes she's considering for the big day, or a scotch or a cheese tasting bar

Do give a party favor to guests to thank them for attending

Top 3 Trends for Savvy Wedding Showers in 2008:
(1) Bridal showers are being hosted as evening cocktail parties at swanky hotels. Featured hotel: Hotel ZaZa

(2) Guests should bring gifts in one or two color families instead of gifts for a specific room

Featured colors: Yellow and Grey

Featured gift ideas include: Yellow tea pot by Copco from Target, Yellow towels from Crate and Barrel, Yellow cooking utensils from Williams-Sonoma, Yellow placemat and casual place setting from Williams-Sonoma, Yellow stationery by The Wren Press from P.S. The Letter, Grey formal place setting P.S. The Letter or Hermes, Silver Thread China from Hermes, Flatware: Nantes by Puiforcat Silver, Stemware from Noallies crystal by Baccarat, Grey Kitchen Aid Mixer from Target, Grey Fringe Studio glass vase and trays from Domain XCIV, Grey Beauville table linens and L'Objet napkin rings from Domain XCIV

Featured party favor: Yellow Bird umbrella by Vera Bradley, 

(3) Host a "green" shower for the eco conscious bride. Featured gift ideas include: Mrs. Myers Clean Day organic cleaning supplies from Central Market, Compost Pail from Williams-Sonoma, Organic cotton towels from West Elm, "Green Pan" by Martha Stewart from Macy's, Second hand china – for similar look try flea markets and second hand stores

Featured party favor: Books for Green Living (Green Up Your Cleanup by Jill Potvin Schoff, The Lazy Environmentalist by Josh Dorfman, It's Easy Being Green by Crissy Trask)

INVITATIONS: Designed by Leanne Sutton of Orange Spot, Pink Nose

FOOD AND BEVERAGE: Burger Sliders with pickles, red onion relish & smoked Gouda cheese; Yellowfin Tuna Tartare with avocado, sprouts, sesame oil & soy lime reduction served on cucumber; Tomato and Cilengine Mozzarella Salad served in white porcelain spoon

BRIDAL SHOWER ETIQUETTE:

The shower should be thrown 6 weeks prior to the wedding

A bridal shower should be intimate, don't invite everyone you know

Gifts should be opened during the shower

The bride and hostess should introduce guests to one another

The Maid of Honor usually throws the bridal shower

Thank you notes should be sent from the bride within a week

Guests should buy off of the bride's registry unless they are a family member presenting a family heirloom

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---