See How Easy Bridal Shower Planning Can Be
Five ways to organize the bridal shower planning process.
Bridal shower planning can be a blast, but it can also be overwhelming. Because of this it's important to approach the bridal shower planning in an organized manner.
If organization isn't your middle name, worry not! Patti the perfect party planner is here to give you five great tips on how to simplify the bridal shower planning process.
Step 1. Make a List
A to do list is a must-have when it comes to bridal shower planning. The list should name everything that needs to be accomplished in order to prepare for the perfect bridal shower. As line item tasks are accomplished, check them off and move on to the next task.
When making your bridal shower planning task list, order the list according to priority. Top-priority tasks should be listed first and lower priority tasks can go towards the bottom. This way, things that must be done first are always at the forefront.
Step 2. Enlist Help
The best way to keep things organized during the bridal shower planning is to enlist help and delegate tasks. Keep a list of who is in charge of what and check in on a daily or at least a weekly basis to see how things are coming along.
Step 3. Budget Envelopes
During the bridal shower planning you're going to realize that the bridal shower costs can really start to add up. To keep the budget organized, write down how much all of the things for the bridal shower are going to cost and make envelopes naming every expense.
Once you have your envelopes created, start putting funds in them to cover each of the expenses. This way you won't find yourself short of cash when it's time to start paying out the dough.
Step 4. Timeline
Create a bridal shower planning timeline. On the timeline you will want to list the dates that certain things need to be done by. For example, if the caterer needs his or her deposit by next week, you're going to need to mark it on your timeline and make sure the catering envelope has the required funds in it.
Step 5. Check, Check and Double Check
Check to make sure all of the things on your bridal shower planning to-do list are accomplished and get ready to have the time of your life! By following the above organization tips, the bridal shower planning process will be a as easy as 1,2,3 (and 4 and 5).
November 28, 2006
Bridal Shower Games: Who Wants To Play Bingo?
Great bridal shower games to plan when hosting a wedding shower.
Bridal shower games are a critical piece of bridal shower planning. Bridal showers can be a real blast, but not if everyone is sitting around twiddling their thumbs with nothing to do. That's why it's so important to plan your bridal shower games well in advance, making sure everyone will have a good time when the day comes.
So what bridal shower games should you play at your party? The list is endless, but Patti the Perfect Party Planner is here to give you a few of her favorites!
Bridal Bingo
This one is a favorite among all of the bridal shower games. To prepare for the game you'll need to make bingo cards with empty spaces (five across and five down). Make enough cards so that there's a card for everyone attending the bridal shower.
To start the game you'll need to have the guests fill in their bingo spaces with gifts they think the bride is going to receive at the party. When the bride starts opening her gifts, each time a guest has written that gift on the card, have them check off that space on the bingo card. The first bride to get five in a row gets BINGO! This may be the easiest of bridal shower games, but it really is fun.
How Well Do You Know The Bride?
This bridal shower game isn't only fun, it tells your guests how much they really know about the bride and everyone is bound to learn something new.
When preparing for your bridal shower games, prepare lists of questions pertaining to the bride. For example, a few of the questions can ask when the bride and groom met, who the bride's first kiss was, where the bride was born, etc.
Pass the questions to all the guests and give them five to ten minutes to answer them. Then have the bride answer the questions and the person who has the most questions right at the end of the game wins.
Pin the Veil on the Bride
When it comes to bridal shower games, pin the veil on the bride is a knock-off of pin the tail on the donkey. Remember how much fun that game was as a child?
Blow up a picture of the bride in her wedding dress and cut the veil out of the picture. Whoever pins the veil closest to the correct spot wins that bridal shower game.
With these games, planning the bridal shower will be fun, but playing the bridal shower games will be even better!
November 23, 2006
Bridal Shower Ideas: Do What You Love
Did you fall in love with the wedding shower planning process and coming up with bridal shower ideas? Do it for a living!
So, you just got done planning a bridal shower and you realized that coming up with the bridal shower ideas was a blast and you fell in love with the entire process. Well, you know how the saying goes... Do what you love!
Become a Party Planner
Becoming a party planner will give you the opportunity to come up with bridal shower ideas till your heart's content. And trust me, there are a lot of people out there who can't come up with bridal shower ideas on their own and they're going to want your help.
So how do you get started? Well you already have experience coming up with bridal shower ideas, so now you're going to want to get your business in order and get word out that you're offering your services.
First, figure out what you're going to charge. Call some party planners in your area and see what they're charging for their services. Since you're new to the game, you're going to want to offer a small discount off of their prices in order to bring in business and build up a referral base.
Once you have your prices established, come up with a business name that references bridal shower ideas. This way people will know just by looking at your business name exactly what it is you do.
Once you have your pricing and your business name set up, let people know that you're there so they can hire you to help them with their bridal shower ideas. Make up some flyers and business cards and take out an ad in the local paper.
You can even set up a website advertising your bridal shower ideas business online.
When the phone rings for the first time, let your enthusiasm for planning bridal showers and coming up with bridal shower ideas shine through in your voice. If you sound confident and excited, the potential client will be confident and excited.
After you get your first client and you complete your first job, ask for a testimonial and then add that testimonial to your advertising literature.
If people see that other people have used you and were thrilled with your bridal shower ideas, they'll be more likely to hire you for the job.
November 21, 2006
Anyone Up For Bridal Shower Gift Shopping?
Perfect bridal shower gift ideas when you just can't figure out what to give.
You have a bridal shower to attend but you just can't figure out what to give as a bridal shower gift? Maybe you don't know the bride very well or maybe you just don't know what she needs. Worse yet, maybe she didn't register at a gift registry, God forbid.
Whatever the situation, Patti the Perfect Party Planner can help you out. I've bought more bridal shower gifts than I care to admit and I'm happy to share advice anytime I can.
First Things First
The first thing you want to do when buying a bridal shower gift is check to see if the bride is registered at any gift registries. If she is, it will make your job a hundred times easier. You'll know exactly what she wants and where to get it.
If she's not registered at a bridal shower gift registry, you still have hope. I'll let you in on some of my tried and true favorite bridal shower gifts.
Wedding Ring Quilt
A wedding ring quilt isn't just a beautiful bridal shower gift, it's practical if the bride lives in a colder climate. And no matter how many quilts someone has, they can always use another.
Personalized Coat Hangers
It may sound like a cheesy bridal shower gift, but coat hangers with the bride's soon-to-be last initial will come in handy if they have a coat closet. Any bride would rather see personalized wooden hangers in her coat closet and they will be much appreciated when she can get rid of her cheap plastic ones.
Monogrammed Bath Towels
Monogrammed bath towels are another bridal shower gift that is sure to please. One can never have too many bath towels and having nice monogrammed ones to put out for company is very convenient.
Gift Baskets
When you really don't know what to get, a gift basket filled with delicious goodies is perfect for any occasion. See if you can find out what snacks the bride likes best and put together a bridal shower gift basket filled with those treats along with some tea bags and some fancy tea cups.
Shopping for bridal shower gifts doesn't have to be a nightmare. Simply follow the above guidelines and you're sure to give a bridal shower gift that will be cherished and appreciated.
November 19, 2006
Wonderful Appetizers: Finger Sandwiches Anyone?
4 great appetizers that are perfect to serve at wedding showers.
Appetizers… People coming to a party expect them, so they'd better be good and that goes double if you're throwing a wedding shower. Appetizers have been a wedding-shower tradition for generations and today's showers are no exception.
If you're in charge of throwing a wedding shower, you may be worrying about what appetizers to serve. Worry not! Patti the Perfect Party Planner is coming to your rescue with some of her favorite appetizer ideas.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Since almost everyone loves chocolate covered strawberries, you can't go wrong with this one. When preparing your wedding shower appetizers, melt some white chocolate in one double-boiler and some milk chocolate in another. Then carefully dip each strawberry into the melted chocolate.
Once the strawberries have been dipped, place them on a baking sheet covered with wax paper and place the tasty appetizers in the fridge until you are ready to serve them.
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
If someone at your party is allergic to strawberries they can still enjoy chocolate covered appetizers if you make these pretzels. Prepare them the same way you would as if you were making the strawberries, but dip pretzels instead of the fruit. These appetizers will go over just as well!
Finger Sandwiches
Okay, enough of the sweets. Let's talk about finger sandwiches. You can either cut slices of regular bread into 2-inch squares or you can purchase miniature loaves of bread to make your appetizers. The best part about finger sandwich appetizers is that you can use your imagination when making them.
Whether your guests have a taste for something as simple as peanut butter and jelly or as odd as anchovies and pimento spread, you can create sandwich appetizers to accommodate everyone's tastes.
Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are one of my favorite appetizers. Here's a quick and easy recipe that's sure to be a hit. You'll need...
1 pint whole mushrooms with the stems still on
1 can of seasoned bread crumbs
Minced garlic
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
To make your stuffed mushroom appetizers, pull the stems out of the mushrooms. Make sure you do this gently in order to avoid splitting the mushroom caps. The caps of the mushrooms should now look like miniature bowls.
Chop up the mushroom stems and add them to the minced garlic, creating a mixture ratio of 1 part mushroom stem to 1 part garlic. Then add 1 part bread crumbs and salt and pepper to taste.
Add a just enough olive oil to moisten the mixture so that it forms a paste. Fill each mushroom cap with the mixture and preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place the mushroom appetizers in a baking dish and cover with foil. Bake for 20 minutes.
These appetizers aren't just tasty, they're healthy too and are sure to be a big hit with everyone at the wedding shower.
November 16, 2006
Who Else Wants The Perfect Bridal Shower Decorations?
Five great tips for creating the perfect bridal shower decorations
One of the best things about throwing a bridal shower is the bridal shower decorations. However, the bridal shower decorations can become quite expensive if you buy them all from the store.
Sometimes it's best to add your own creations to the bridal shower décor. If you're not sure how to make bridal shower decorations, don't fret. Patti the Perfect Party Planner is to the rescue once again, providing you with five great bridal shower decoration ideas.
Luminary Path Lights
With these bridal shower decorations, the first things guests will see when arriving at the party is elegant path lights lighting the way to the doorstep. To make these path lights you'll need:
White Paper Bags
Scissors
Hole Punch
Blue Votive Candles
Sand
Stencils
The first thing you will want to do is stencil some patterns onto the paper bags and cut them out with scissors. After cutting out the patterns, fill the bottom of the bag with sand and place the candle in the sand. Line the walkway with the bridal shower decorations and light the candles with a fireplace match.
Cookie Cutter Napkin Rings
These bridal shower decorations are cute and easy to make. Simply purchase heart-shaped cookie cutters (one for each guest) and linen napkins. Roll the napkins and push them through each cookie cutter, using the cookie cutter as a napkin ring.
Confetti
Lightly sprinkle the tables with heart-shaped pink and white confetti. Make sure that you keep the confetti towards the center of the table in order to avoid a mess.
Ice Sculptures
If you're adventurous, ice sculptures make awesome bridal shower decorations. To create ice sculptures, buy some heart-shaped gelatin molds and fill them with water tinted with red food coloring.
Put the mold in the freezer until the water turns to ice. Just before the party starts, release the ice from the molds and put these stunning bridal shower decorations out for everyone to admire.
Pictures of Love
To create these bridal shower decorations, get pictures of the groom and bride and glue them to construction paper. Punch two holes in the construction paper and run white ribbon through the holes. Then hang the pictures throughout the party room.
Enlist Help
Making a lot of bridal shower decorations can be time consuming and a bit overwhelming. Make sure you enlist the help of friends by having a craft night a few days before the party. Invite your friends over and make the decorations together.
November 14, 2006
You're Not Wearing That to The Bridal Shower, Are You?
What's appropriate attire for a bridal shower in today's day and age?
It's a question that every woman who has ever attended a bridal shower as asked herself at some point in time... What do I wear to the bridal shower?
Deciding what to wear to any event can be a major chore, but figuring out what to wear to a bridal shower doesn't have to be because Patti the Perfect Party Planner is here to let you know what's appropriate and what's not.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Unlike the days of old where all bridal showers were formal, the bridal shower attire of today can vary from jeans and t-shirts to hula outfits. There is no standard bridal shower attire anymore, which actually makes your outfit selection a bit easier.
Where Are You Going?
The first thing you need to ask yourself when choosing your bridal shower outfit is where is the shower going to be and what's going to be going on. Many bridal showers of today are casual so if you're going to a BBQ, you don't want to show up in a formal dress.
On the other hand, if you're attending a bridal shower at a ritzy banquet hall, you don't want to show up in jeans and a t-shirt. When planning your bridal shower outfit, take the location into consideration.
What's The Theme?
Oftentimes bridal showers will have a theme and the guests are expected to dress accordingly.
For example, if the theme is Luau in Hawaii, you're going to want to show up in your best tropical garb. If the theme is dancing in the 80's, you'll want to get out those stretch pants and hair spray canisters.
If you take a moment to think about it, whether or not you think themed parties are corny, they sure do make it a heck of a lot easier to figure out what to wear!
When All Else Fails
When all else fails, call in reinforcements. Seriously, if you don't know what to wear and you're wracking your brain trying to come up with something just call your friends and ask them what they're wearing to the bridal shower.
If you know what your friends are wearing, you can plan your outfit accordingly and you'll know you won't be the only one dressed in that fashion at the bridal shower.
November 12, 2006
Do-It-Yourself Party Favors
Three great wedding shower party favors you can create yourself.
Party favors are one of my favorite topics when it comes to planning wedding showers -- and wedding showers are my forte. After all, they don't call me Patti the Perfect Party Planner for nothing!
Great Wedding Shower Party Favors
The best thing about party favors is that they don't have to cost you a lot of dough. You can even make the party favors yourself if you have a bit of a creative streak.
If you're not that creative, don't worry. Patti the Perfect Party Planner has three great party favor ideas that you can use. These party favor ideas are fun and really easy to make once you get the hang of it.
Customized HERSHEY Bars
These candy bars are becoming the rage when it comes to party favors. By simply printing some labels out on your computer and gluing them around a HERSHEY bar, you can have customized party favors in no time.
Simply search the web for candy bar wrapper templates for your party favors and download one to your PC. Fill in the appropriate information and then print out the wrappers on your printer.
You will probably need to cut the wrappers down to size after printing. Then use a hot glue gun to glue the wrappers around HERSHEY bars and store them someplace cool and dry until you're ready to pass out your attractive party favors.
Cheesecloth Kisses
Cheesecloth kisses are a soft and tasty treat to give to your guests as party favors. Simply cut some pieces of cheesecloth into 6 inch by 6 inch squares and place 7 to 8 Hershey kisses on the cheesecloth. Fold up the ends and twist the top of the cloth once, like you would if you were closing a bag of bread. Then tie off the cheesecloth baggie with a fancy ribbon and tie a customized note tag to the ribbon.
Candles Votives
Almost everyone loves candles so giving them as party favors just makes sense. If you're a little adventurous when it comes to crafts, this is a great party favor project for you. First you will want to buy some votives in glass.
Once you have purchased your candles, go to the craft store and pick up a glass etching kit. Follow the instructions included with your glass etching kit and etch a personalized message onto the glass votive. Then take a fabric ribbon and wrap it around the votive and tie a bow at the top. Then attach a personalized tag to the bow.
The candles will make beautiful party favors and if you'd like, you can even get scented candles to add to the appeal.
Wedding showers are an age-old tradition and the party favors are a big part of that tradition, so getting it right is important. With a little effort your hand-made party favors should be a big hit and everyone at the party will appreciate them.
November 10, 2006
Plan a Bridal Shower like a Pro
Secret tips of professional bridal shower planers.
So you're planning a bridal shower and you're dying to know the secrets of professional bridal shower planners? You're in luck. Patti the perfect party planner is once again here to grant your bridal shower wishes.
I've been planning parties, including bridal showers, for a long time and I know the tips and tricks that party planners use to make their bridal showers spectacular. Since you're such a dear friend, I'll let you in on these secrets.
Set a Theme
The first thing any professional party planner will tell you is to set a theme for your bridal shower. You'll want to choose your decorations to match your theme and you'll want to create an invitation that represents the theme you've chosen.
When sending out the invitations, make sure that you state the theme of the bridal shower and whether or not costumes will be required. The last thing you want is a party where you and the bride are the only ones wearing costumes.
Great Food, Great Fun
Another secret that all party planners know is that if there's good food at a party, good fun is sure to follow. Make sure the bridal shower menu has a variety of foods to choose from so that all tastes will be catered to.
Whether you're having the menu catered in or your cooking the food yourself, make sure that it's displayed in an attractive manner and that there's enough food for everyone attending the bridal shower.
Games Galore
All good party planners know that it's important that the guests of the bridal shower have fun, so party planners always have games planned for their bridal showers.
In order to keep things rolling plan at least one or two games for guests to play while at the party. There are a number of bridal shower games that are fun and easy to play.
Adorable Party Favors
Party planners know that if a party is going to be remembered, a token has to be given to the guests. It can be something as small as a tin of mints or something as large as a gift basket, but make sure that all of the bridal shower guests receive party favors.
Thank You
Another thing that party planners do is make it easy for the bride to thank her bridal shower guests for gifts. Create a sheet with a column for names and a column for gift types. Then when the bride is opening the gifts, fill out the sheet as she opens them listing who gave what.
Keeping track of who gave what to the bride will make it easy for the bride to send out thank you notes after the bridal shower party.
By following the secrets of the professionals, the bridal shower party you plan will be as polished and flawless as the best of them.
November 8, 2006
Bridal Showers: Let Them Eat Cake
Two awesome cake recipes that are great to serve at bridal showers.
Bridal showers and cake go hand-in-hand and Patti the Perfect Party Planner has two awesome cake recipes to share with you. Try these at your next bridal shower and the party is sure to be a hit!
In Love with Chocolate
Bridal showers are all about love and this is an awesome cake for anyone who is in love with chocolate. You'll need:
1 box of chocolate cake mix
1 cup of Kahlua
4 large boxes of instant mousse
4 Hershey bars
2 pints of heavy cream
Prepare the chocolate cake according to the directions and then pierce with a fork. Drizzle the Kahlua over the top of the cake. Chill the cake in the fridge overnight.
Prepare the 4 large boxes of mousse as per the directions and whip in the 2 pints of cream. Break the chocolate bars into pieces and combine the ingredients in layers over the cake, ending with the candy.
Angelic Bridal Showers Cake
A bridal showers spin off angel food cake, angelic bridal showers cake is easy to prepare and delicious to eat. You'll need:
1 cup of cake flour, sifted
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and wash angelic showers cake pan (bunt cake pan) until it is grease free. Let dry completely.
Sift flour and 3/4 cup powdered sugar together three times and set aside.
In mixing bowl, beat egg whites and salt on high until foamy. Then add cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and almond flavoring and beat until soft peaks form.
Gradually add 1 cup white sugar, continuing to beat until peaks become. Sift about 1/4 of the flour mixture over the egg whites and quickly and gently fold into egg whites. Repeat using a 1/4 of the flour mixture each time.
Pour batter into the cake pan and cut through batter with knife to remove air pockets. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The angelic bridal showers cake will be done when an inserted wooden pick comes out clean. When done, invert pan onto a wire rack to cool for 1 hour.
Bridal showers just wouldn't be complete without cake and these two recipes are what bridal showers are made of. There's no need to choose one over the other either. Simply make both cakes for your bridal showers and let everyone rave about your culinary talents.
November 7, 2006
The Wedding Shower: To Cater or Cook It Yourself
Catering the wedding shower vs. cooking the menu yourself.
When it comes to planning a wedding shower, food is a big part of the process. One of the most common decisions to make during the wedding shower planning process is whether to cater in the food in or to cook the menu yourself.
When deciding which option is best for you, there are a number of factors to take into consideration.
Time Available
If you have the time, you may want to cook the food for the wedding shower on your own. It will give you more control over what is served and can save you quite a bit of money.
Oysters Rockefeller catered in will cost you a pretty penny. However, if you make the hors d' oeuvres for the wedding shower yourself, they are not quite as expensive to serve.
Budget
If your budget is unlimited but your time is precious, you will probably want to have the wedding shower catered. The caterer can take care of the food, the serving dishes and the place settings as well.
Oftentimes caterers will also lay out the food and perform cleanup after the wedding shower is over. When hiring your caterer, you'll want to find out exactly what services they will provide and what the costs will be.
Special Needs
If you have people with special needs such as allergies or diabetes attending the wedding shower, you may want to have the menu catered in, letting the caterers know about the special needs of the guests.
Oftentimes special dishes will need to be made and you will need more of a variety to accommodate the needs of the guests. This can add up to a lot of work. If you're up to it, by all means, do it yourself. But if you feel overwhelmed at the thought of cooking a variety of dishes to meet everyone's needs, a caterer will be more than happy to assist you.
Location
Whether to have the wedding shower catered also depends on the location of the party. If you're renting a banquet hall, you might have to use a specific catering service or the restaurant's menu.
If you're hosting the wedding shower at your home, you have freedom as to whether or not you have the menu catered in.
Pride of Results
While it's nice and easy to have a menu catered in, there's a lot to be said for the pride of creating a spectacular menu. If you're really digging into the details of the wedding shower, you'll probably want to cook the food for the party yourself.
If you do decide to give it a go, you'll probably want to start cooking for the wedding shower a few days in advance. You'll be able to keep some of the items in the fridge until the day of the wedding shower.
November 6, 2006
Thousands Now Plan Their Own Wedding Showers
It used to be the job of others, but now more and more brides are planning their own wedding showers.
Until recently, the planning of wedding showers was left to the maid of honor, the bridesmaids or the mother of the bride. Nowadays, that's no longer the case. More and more brides are helping with the planning or taking control and planning their wedding showers entirely on their own.
Why in the World...
Why would a bride want to plan her own wedding shower? A bride wants everything about her wedding to be perfect, and that includes the wedding shower. And who knows better what a bride wants than the bride herself?
Wedding showers are an important part of the wedding festivities and some brides feel that if they want the wedding shower of their dreams, they had better plan the shower themselves or at least help with the planning process.
Not a Mind Reader
A bride knows where she wants the shower, what she wants served, the theme she prefers and what decorations she wants. While a maid of honor may be many things, a mind reader probably isn't one of them and the bride knows this.
Not Enough Time
When a bride plans her own wedding shower, it's not always about control. Sometimes the maid of honor or the bridesmaids don't have time to plan a wedding shower. It's also at times like this that brides have been stepping in and planning their own wedding showers.
Time for Etiquette
While it's true that more and more brides are planning their own wedding showers, it's important to understand that's not always the case. Before a bride plans on doing her own thing, it's important that she check with her friends and family first to see if there's a party already in the works.
If the bride checks with her family and friends and someone is already planning a party, she can offer to assist, but don't take over entirely and don't push it if help is declined.
If the bride does speak up before anyone begins planning a party and does plan the wedding shower herself, she is also going to be responsible for the costs herself. When the bride plans the wedding shower, it's not proper to expect for others to pay for it unless offered.
Times Change
While a bride planning her own wedding shower used to be taboo, things are definitely changing. Brides planning their own wedding showers are becoming a common occurrence and perhaps that's for the best.
November 5, 2006
No Boys Allowed At The Bridal Shower -- Or Are They?
The benefits of the growing trend of having both bride and groom at the bridal shower.
Having men attend the bridal shower used to be a big taboo, but nowadays more and more bridal showers are becoming unisex affairs. Why are so many men deciding to attend their bridal shower and why are so many brides allowing it?
Times Change
Whereas the wedding once used to be mainly controlled by the women in the family, men are taking a more active role in today's day and age. As such, they are also becoming an increasing part of the bridal shower.
After all, their time and effort is also going into planning the wedding, they should reap the rewards as well.
The Etiquette of It
If the groom is going to be attending the bridal shower, it is only fair to open the party up to all couples. It would like a little strange if the groom was allowed at the bridal shower but he was the only male invited. Not to mention, he'd probably feel a little uncomfortable being the only male around so many ladies!
The invitations are another thing to consider. Make sure that they clearly state that this is a co-ed bridal shower and if children are going to be invited, make sure the invitations note that all gifts should be family friendly.
Toning It Down
With men and women attending the bridal shower, it's important to keep the atmosphere co-ed as well as the invite list.
Women-only bridal showers used to be fancy and frilly, full of lace and bows. With men attending the showers, that's no longer the case. Some bridal showers consist of nothing more than a BBQ in the backyard while others are hosted at fancy restaurants.
No Boys at This One!
So do you have to allow men at your bridal shower? No, not always. Sometimes a bridal shower for women only is thrown and then a co-ed party is thrown on a different date. This allows the bride her private bridal shower and still allows the couples to participate in a party together.
Planning It Right
When throwing a co-ed bridal shower, you should also pay attention to the menu items. While women may love pate and chocolate dipped strawberries, men might just prefer weenies on a stick. It's important to make sure you have enough of a variety to fit everyone's tastes.
The same can be said for games. First Kiss might be a game that's fun to play with a room filled with women, but it takes on an embarrassing tone when you throw the male aspect into it.
However, if two separate parties are being thrown, gifts should only be given at one of the parties as people attending both parties would feel obligated to give two gifts.
A co-ed bridal shower can definitely be a blast, it's just a matter of planning it properly and making sure everyone understands the rules.
November 4, 2006
The Nightmare Bride
Throwing the perfect wedding shower for the nightmare bride who seems to have lost her mind.
She used to be your best friend but she's suddenly turned into the nightmare bride. The person who was once a calm, caring and empathetic individual is now a raving lunatic. Sound familiar? Has your best friend become a nightmare bride?
Throwing a Shower for the Nightmare Bride
Worse yet, do you have to throw a wedding shower for this nightmare bride? Nothing you do seems right anymore, so how in the world are you going to plan a party for this raving-mad woman?
Fear not. It happens to the best of us and Patti the Perfect Party Planner has a lot of experience in dealing with nightmare brides. After all, there's a nightmare bride in all of us just waiting for the right amount of stress to be unleashed.
Take It to the Spa
Chances are, your nightmare bride is just wound a little too tight. Planning a wedding can be stressful and planning the wedding shower will be a nightmare for you if you can't get your friend to unwind.
To help your friend release some stress, take her to the spa for a day. A good massage will oftentimes work wonders for those nightmare bride episodes, leaving you to plan your party in peace.
Reassure Her
Nothing goes as far as a little reassurance. Gently but firmly let your nightmare bride know that you are the one planning the wedding shower and that everything is going to go perfectly, but she needs to back up a little or you'll be to nervous to plan anything at all.
If you let your friend know that she's displaying nightmare bride behavior and you reassure her that there's no reason for worry, she might just calm down long enough to see that you've been doing a wonderful job -- and not because of her panic attack-induced rampages.
Send Her Away
If sending her to the spa for a day doesn't work and reassuring her doesn't work either, your nightmare bride may need a trip away for a few days. If you can't arrange to have her go off on a two to three-day trip, find things to keep her occupied.
For example, tell her that you just don't have the time to prepare a few of the appetizers and you need her to do the shopping and the cooking. While she might be a bit perplexed that you expect her to cook for her own wedding shower, at least she'll be out of your hair for a few days.
When dealing with a nightmare bride, just remember, as much as you may want to strangle her at that moment in time, underneath it all she is still the friend you love and cherish and she'll be back soon.
November 3, 2006
Wedding Showers on a Budget
How to throw great wedding showers when money is a big issue.
So you think throwing wedding showers on a budget has to be a nightmare? Think twice! Throwing wedding showers on a budget can definitely be challenging, but the task can be challenging in a fun way.
There are a number of things you can do keep your wedding shower costs low, and Patti the Perfect Party Planner is going to show you how to throw a great wedding shower with minimal expense.
Location, Location, Location
When I plan wedding showers, I always take a look at the cost of the location. Where wedding showers are thrown winds up having a big impact on how much the total party costs.
For example, renting out a banquet hall at a ritzy restaurant costs a heck of a lot more than hosting the shower in your living room or your backyard. Many banquet halls require minimum head counts and they charge quite a pretty penny per plate.
To keep your wedding shower costs as low as possible, you'll want to host the party at your home or the home of a relative of the bride. If you decorate properly, your backyard or living room can have just as elegant an ambiance as that ritzy restaurant you were looking at.
Decorations
No one says you have to spend big bucks on decorations made for wedding showers either. Make your own wedding shower decorations or go to a discount party supply store that sells decorations for wedding showers and get your decorations there.
Entertainment
The idea of hiring expensive entertainment for wedding showers needs to be put aside if you're trying to keep costs minimal. Instead of hiring entertainment, plan games to play at the party and borrow a karaoke machine for some added fun.
The Menu
Wedding showers are notorious for finger sandwiches and other tasty treats, but don't pay big bucks to have the food catered in. With a little time and effort, you can prepare the menu items yourself and save yourself quite a bit of money.
Simply prepare the menu ahead of time and shop for the items you'll need at a discount grocery store. Then prepare the food the day before the wedding shower and you'll be set.
Wedding showers don't need to be expensive to be a hit. With the right amount of planning and a bit of extra effort, even wedding showers thrown on a budget can outshine the more expensive parties.
November 2, 2006
5 Great Bridal Shower Gift Ideas
Three great bridal shower gift ideas that are sure to please.
For some of us bridal shower gift ideas come naturally, for others, it's a mind-wracking nightmare. If you fall into the latter category, you've probably come here looking for some great bridal shower gift ideas to ease your troubled mind.
Don't fret. You've come to the right place. I'm Patti the Perfect Party Planner and I'm here to give you three great bridal shower gift ideas that are sure to please even the pickiest of brides to be.
Great Bridal Shower Gift Ideas Number 1 -- Oil Paint Portrait from a Photo
Out of all of the bridal shower gift ideas I'm going to throw at you, this is one of the most beautiful and unique. There are a number of services out there who will take a photograph and turn it into a beautiful oil painting. While it isn't cheap, it is an absolutely memorable gift.
To do this, you'll need to get a photo of the bride and groom together. If they have an engagement photo available, it's best to use that. Call around and price different services and ask for work examples. Choose the one that's best for you and have them perform the work for you.
It'll be a gift that's sure to turn into a beautiful family heirloom.
Great Bridal Shower Gift Ideas Number 2 -- Beautiful Quilts
Quilts always make great gifts and they're usually included in the list when one is coming up with great bridal shower gift ideas. There are many different kinds of quilts available. When giving a quilt as a bridal shower gift, it's usually best to stick with wedding ring quilts and photo quilts.
Photo quilts can be extra special. Since it's a gift for the bride-to-be, have a bunch of her pre-wedding snapshots put into the quilt to create great memories for her.
Great Bridal Shower Gift Ideas Number 3 -- Forget the Lingerie
The bridal shower gifts are supposed to make the bride happy, so forget the uncomfortable lingerie. Try getting the bride the ugliest, most comfortable pair of flannel pajamas you have ever seen and watch her eyes light up.
Remember, it's the thought that counts. Regardless of what bridal shower gift ideas you come up with or what gift you wind up giving to the bride, if the gift is given with thought and care it's a gift that will be appreciated.