Address Book
Submitted by: Tara of Mount Laurel, New Jersey
As the guest arrives at the bridal shower, have her fill an entry in an address book which will act as the "sign-in" book. At the end of the shower, the bride has all the addresses and phone numbers she needs!
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Pre-Addressing Thank-You Card Envelopes
Submitted by: Carissa of Woodhaven, Michigan
At the bridal shower, have the guests address envelopes that you supply. The envelopes are used to give the door prizes. Then the envelopes are used to send the thank you cards. This saves time looking up addresses and writing them on the envelopes.
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Cake Created out of Towels
Submitted by: Cheryl Gabiola Galvez
Some people have inquired about a cake made out of towels that will initially be used as decoration but then be given to the bride after the bridal shower.
You will need brand new four bath towels, four hand towels, and four washcloths. Fold the bath towels lengthwise, in fourths. With a large safety pin, connect the folded towels end to end. Start at one end and roll the towels up. When you reach the end of the towel, secure with pins. Follow the same procedure for the hand towels and then again for the washcloths. Stack the rolls of towels with the bath towels on the bottom, the hand towels in the middle, and the washcloths on top. Secure all three layers together with pins. Now you can begin decorating the "cake" with ribbons, beads or floral.
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Creative Way to Introduce Shower Guests
Submitted by: by Catherine of Montclair, New Jersey
I recently went to a shower where they made name tags for everyone that stated the person's name AND their relationship to the bride and/or groom. For example "Peggy Smith, Cousin of the Bride." This helped everyone know more than just a name.
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Do Not Have Shower Guests Pre-address Thank You Cards
Submitted by: by Sarah of Missouri
I just read a tip from another reader about having shower guests address their own thank you note envelopes under the guise of using them to draw names for door prizes. Please don't - unless you truly don't care what your guests think, or you're sure they won't mind.
The practice was criticized in another web site about etiquette hell to which other guests had been subjected. I'm ashamed to admit a friend of mine also had us do this at her shower. Another "friend" was a little surprised she [the bride] couldn't take the time to address envelopes to her guests, much less the imprinted "thank you" on the front of the notecard.
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Do Not Have Shower Guests Pre-address Thank You Cards #2
Submitted by: by Analiza of San Antonio, Texas
In response to guests addressing thank you cards to themselves... it is extrememly rude. It not only shows that the bride is too lazy, but it also makes the guests feel unappreciated when they receive a thank you card from the bride addressed to themselves in THEIR OWN HANDWRITING. You can't get much more shallow than that. Please don't do it.
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Cleaning Supplies
Submitted by: by A Bliss! Reader in Victoria
For a simple gift, request in the invitation that each guest bring a cleaning supply. For example, bleach, soap, sponges, etc... Have a large trash can ready and have the guest drop off there cleaning supply when they arrive. It gives the bride something to start off with in her new home. Great for housewarming parties, too.
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Collage Picture Frame
Submitted by: by Jackie of Bradenton, Florida
At my girlfriend's bridal shower that I hosted, I bought a collage picture frame. As each guest arrived at the shower, I had each of them sign the matting with their best wishes for the bride. After I had the pictures from the shower developed, I gave her the picture frame as a memento of her bridal shower. She loved it
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Combine Shower and Luncheon
Submitted by: by Elyse of Auburn, California
When we were planning my daughter's wedding last August, we had a lot of people coming from out of town. So, for the shower since many were coming from the Bay Area (about 3 hours away) and my daughter's maid-of-honor was coming from San Diego (10 hours away) we made sure we had the shower and the "thank you luncheon" for the bridesmaids on the same weekend. Not only was it a great weekend, it was fun and memorable. The shower and luncheon were in June — we made sure we didn't have anything too close to the wedding in August so we wouldn't get overloaded with events, etc. The shower was held on a Saturday — many guests stayed with us or at a motel close by. The bridesmaids "thank you luncheon" was held on the next day, Sunday, and we invited the moms and grandmas along with the bridesmaids. At the luncheon, we had a table reserved on the deck in a cute restaurant in Old Town Auburn, called Awful Annies. We had 13 people. The menus were made by the restaurant (on the menu it read "Congratulations Heather and Chris, August 1, 1999) and we picked 9 items our guests could choose from. We had appetizers, mimosa, and the restaurant also brought in balloons in the color of the wedding — lilac and white. My daughter presented each bridesmaid with the gift she bought her and we also had a bridesmaids cake with a fake gold band in the cake. The restaurant showed us the cake that we were having for dessert, took the cake back, cut each piece (we planned all this ahead of time), and made sure the maid-of-honor, who was single, got that piece. When she was eating it, she saw the ring which meant she is the next one to get married. It was a great surprise for her and everyone got a kick out of it. The restaurant also published their own cookbook, so I purchased a cookbook for my daughter and had that on her place setting when she arrived.
One other tip — when we were having the bridal shower, it was in my home (even though the bridesmaids put it on, all were on tight budgest being in college). So, my co-workers who were very involved and caught up in the wedding plans, offered their services. One came over and organized all the foods so that the presentation was so professional and beautiful looking, plus we had fresh flowers all through the house. Card tables were set up on the decks ouside, with table cloths, and flowers. We had a cake made out of towels, and we placed that in an area of the house with my daughter and son-in-laws engagement picture and that is where all the gifts were placed. We even decorated champagne glasses next to the cake to symbolize the event. My other friend from work came and she did all the leg work, making sure the plates were picked up and making sure everyone got what they needed, etc. Two great friends, and all of that helped tremendously, I absolutely was able to enjoy the shower and not have to do a thing once they got there. I did prepare the food, etc. and the girls decorated the house, but once the shower began I was in the background enjoying it.
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Memory Book
Submitted by: by Mackenzie F. of Los Angeles, California, USA
At my shower, rather than just having the guest sign a guest book, I had her sign pages I had pre-made for our memory book. I asked the guests to either sign their name and/or write some advice. I got many wishes of happiness in addition to some heartfelt advice and encouragement.
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"Cleaning Supplies" Taboo
Submitted by: by Cathy of Deer Park, Washington, USA
I have been to too many "bridal" showers where people bring cleaning supplies. This is just a personal opinion, but I think this is tacky. There is more to this woman getting married than cleaning and cooking. I was taught that bridal showers were to bless the bride with personal bridal gifts. For example, nighties, bath supplies, honeymoon outfits, etc. The wedding gifts were for the household. Just my personal opinion.
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Pre-Addressed Thank You Cards
Submitted by: by Casey of Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Regarding the pre-addressed thank you cards -- Why not help out the bride? She's so busy with wedding plans, fittings, flowers, food choices, music, her job outside of wedding responsibilities -- not to mention her own jitters. I doubt she would mind a little help from her "best friends" throwing a bridal shower? Or are these friends so petty that they'll say she is lazy for not addressing her own notes? Great friends. Support the bride during this hectic time. Pre-addressing thank you notes is a thoughtful gesture.
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