A BRIDAL SHOWER

I recently threw a couples bridal shower for my sister-in-law. This was a fun event to put together. I knew I wanted to do two things once the planning began: First, I've done a handful of showers in the past, but this time I wanted to blog about throwing a couples shower. Second, I also wanted to share some of the things that I try to think through when throwing an event like this.

Planning an event for someone can be daunting, especially when it is connected to such an important life event like a wedding. But it doesn't have to be; if you have a plan and stick to it, it can be a fun and exciting experience.

When preparing for a shower, here are some of the categories I like to think through:

• Guest List

• Venue

• Time

• Theme

• Decor and Table Setting

• Schedule

Giving time and thought to these categories allows me to think about all the little details, and about what my guests may need for a memorable experience.

GUEST LIST
One of the first things I try to do is connect with the guest of honor to see how many guests they would like to invite. This allows me to chose a venue with the appropriate size.  I typically prefer paper invitations, but if you're under a time crunch, I've found Paperless Post to be a great option for digital invitations. 

Something else I like to do is create a spreadsheet for the guest list. I like having all of the guests' information (i.e. name, address, rsvp, gifts, etc.) in one place and easily accessible. This comes in handy when I'm checking name spellings for place settings, providing a list of gifts for the guest of honor, or providing the guests' mailing addresses. Taking care of these little details on the front end allows me to be thorough and thoughtful with ease as the event time gets closer.

VENUE - SPACE, FLEXIBILITY, & TIME
When hosting an event, first I think through whether I want to rent a space or host in my own home. I typically prefer to host at home because it provides more flexibiliy to clear out space and set decorations ahead of time leading up to the event. However, some really wonderful venues can enhance the feel and atmosphere of the event when I find the right fit. I try not to host in my home when the guest list becomes too large.  

TIME - DAY OF WEEK, TIME OF DAY, & WEATHER
Depending on which day is selected, I try to think of the guests and their work schedules. Additionally, the day of the week and start time I select will change what kind of menu I provide. For example, if I host an event later in the evening, I can typically get away with just serving desserts. If I host mid-afternoon, I will just serve appetizers, etc. However, if I select prime meal times, I will typically serve heavier food options like sandwiches, meats, cheeses, etc. 

If the event is held outside it's helpful to keep watch on the forecast, and to have a backup plan in place in case of bad weather. I like to use Weather Underground  on my iPhone to track the weather several days in advance.

THEME - STYLE, CENTRAL ITEM, & COLORS
I try to get an idea of the guest of honor's style and think of their personal preferences without getting locked down to their style. I hope to find ways to incorporate their style, but also be creative and think of ways to merge my own design as well.

When thinking of the overall theme for the shower, I typically like to think of a central item and work off that. For example, if it's a tea and sandwich party, I may work off a tea pot. Since this shower was outside in a garden, I used the Dusty Miller and pulled my colors from the plant.

DECOR & TABLE SETTINGS
These are some of the items that I typically try to have included at the event:

Candles & Lighting
Lighting is a good thought to remember especially if the event is inside. Sometimes I'll hang twinkle lights from the ceiling as an inexpensive and easy way to create a more intimate atmosphere. 

Menu
If I host a seated event, printed menu cards that include event details is a fun way to make it feel more personal. As an example, here is a sample menu of what I did for this particular shower. 

Favors
I try to make the favors feel personalized and unique. I want it to feel like the guests are taking part of the shower experience home with them. For this shower, I purchased enough potted Dusty Millers for each couple to take one home. Each plant had a personalized card tied around the pot with twine, listing ways for the guests to pray for the couple. You can also simply add a personalized note thanking your guests for attending - the options are endless!

Centerpiece
Centerpieces are a must for the table. You can use anything: a flower, plant, or some other attractive item. Sometimes I simply clip greenery from some bushes and distribute them throughout the table. As mentioned, I used the Dusty Miller for this shower, which I purchased and potted in terra-cotta pots. These made a large statement at a low cost.

Using the Table Setting as Decor
I like to add as many layers as I can at table settings. An easy way to do this is by adding plates, cups, napkins, silverware, placemats, and name tags that are unique to the event.

For this shower, I wanted to pull gold and greens into the table, so for placemats I simply purchased linen card stock that matched the colors and rounded the corners. This immediately created depth to each table setting. 

To make it feel a bit more formal, I chose gold napkins and plasticware and folded the napkins around the plasticware. Then I tied personalized name tags with hemp around each set, which also helped keep the napkins and plasticware from getting blown away in the wind. 

Table covering
No matter where I have the event, I prefer to cover the tables. This keeps the tables from being messed up, makes clean up easier, and it enhances the table setting! Sometimes I use cloth but  I also enjoy using a roll of wrapping paper down the table. If I'm working with rectangular tables, it's an inexpensive way to create layering. At this shower, I used brown wrapping paper for a more natural tone and rustic feel.

Drink Dispensers
I've found that having drink dispensers is a simple way minimize mess and add to the atmosphere. Punch bowls are nice, but can be messy, and gallon jugs are easy, but don't look as nice. I settled on using these glass drink dispensers.

Banner
I enjoy creating a banner with the last name of the couple getting married for events like this. It's an easy and fun way to make the event personal. Sometimes I simply cut out triangles on construction paper and write the letters by hand. For this event I made a triangle template on the computer, printed them out, and cut them. This makes a great place to take photos. Instant photo booth!

Banner for trees
In addition to the banner for the last name, it is always fun to have material or pieces of paper that coordinate with your colors hanging from walls, trees, or ceiling. It makes it feel more like a party!

What you need:

• Colored Material

• Twine

How To:

• Purchase a yard of several different colors of material. Select solid colors, patterns, or a combination of both - pick colors that match the color scheme of your event.

• Cut the material into 6-8 inch strips.

• Cut a piece of twine the distance you need to span in your event space.

• Take a piece of material and tie it in a knot on the twine (pictured below) alternating colors and leaving a 2 inch space in-between.

Sign
I love creating personalized welcome signs. It's a great way to provide a unique feature to the event. 

SCHEDULE
If I'm throwing a shower with a co-host, a good thing to remember is to be on the same page, planning out who is taking ownership of which elements of the event. I strive to share the communication and hospitality shown to the guests. Here is a sample schedule to help get you started on putting together an outline of the event. 

Activities
We played the “Shoe Game" at this bridal shower. It's a great game that isn't awkward. Instead of using shoes, we printed pictures of each of their faces and taped them to some sticks - for both the bride and groom to be. Here is a template of the questions we used.

For the guest book, I bought the game Jenga and set out pieces at each guest's place setting. Don't forget markers for jenga pieces. ;) 

What are some things you like to do to personalize an event? 

|  Credits: Author - Jacintha Payne; Photography - Calvin and Jacintha Payne  |

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