Plan Wedding Showers Like a Pro...

It's not hard to find great wedding shower poems, but many people never think of it. They gather invitations, decorations, food, and more, but they don't stop to think about wedding shower cards and what sentiments they want to express. For that reason, brides end up with piles of cards that say things like 'best wishes' or 'good luck' -- boring and impersonal concepts!

Wedding shower poems are a great way to express what you really feel. You can do all sorts of things with them, too: use them in your own wedding cards, create posters for decoration, or create favors. There are so many wonderful ways to use poetry to express wedding shower ideas that it's amazing more people don't do it!

Finding and using wedding shower poems

So where can you find wedding shower poems? There are many different options! When you're choosing poems, there are two types you're probably going to look at: classic love poetry and more contemporary, often amateur, poetry written specifically for and about bridal showers.

When it's time to start getting those poems together, here's where you can look:

1. The Internet

Searching for terms like 'classic love poems' or 'wedding shower poems' and you'll turn up dozens of both famous and original poems. No matter what you're looking for it's sure to be online somewhere!

2. Good old fashioned books

Hit your local library and find anthologies of love poetry. Spend a few hours browsing (or using a photocopier) and you'll turn up piles of fantastic poetry to fit any wedding shower ideas.

3. Write your own

Are you a writer yourself? Nothing makes wedding cards special like a personal poem you wrote by yourself. If you're not a skilled writer or you're uncomfortable with poetry, check with other guests. You may have a secret writer and not even know it.

If the bride writes poetry, it's an incredibly sweet touch to get your hands on something she's written and working it into the wedding shower itself. Depending on the bride, this can be a nice surprise, but if you're not sure you should get her permission first, just in case.

4. Encourage each guest to contribute

If it fits into your theme, it's fun to ask each guest to write a poem in their wedding shower cards. You can assign poems if you are really worried about duplication, but it's a nicer touch if everyone picks poems that they think speak to the bride. Poetry doesn't have to be love poetry to communicate a feeling!

If you've never thought of using poetry in a wedding shower, there are some fantastic poems out there that would convince you otherwise right away. Enjoy them as you browse for great wedding shower poems!

Posted by Patti at 9:05 AM | Permalink

You probably already know how much I love coming up with wedding shower ideas. I plan so many showers every year it becomes old hat. I still love it, but sometimes I feel the need to get creative. After all, there's only so many times a person can play pin the tail on the donkey before they start to get bored.

So lately I've been thinking up new and creative bridal shower ideas for the showers coming up this fall, and I thought I would share some of them with you. Enjoy!

Creative wedding showers ideas for any bride

Have fun with these shower ideas for any style.

1. Plan around the food

Usually I start with a theme and from there, I choose my menu. But the other day I thought why not try it in reverse? So I hit the Internet and found some great cupcake recipes, and the next thing I knew, I had a cupcake themed wedding shower: cupcakes to eat, a game involving drawing the bride using a spray can of whipped cream, cupcake candles. I even had each guest bring their favourite cupcake recipe for the bride.

I never would have thought of starting with food because it seems so counterintuitive, but it wound up giving me fantastic bridal shower ideas for the entire party.

2. Go exotic

International themes are always popular, and the more exotic the better. Arabian Nights makes a fantastic theme for any wedding shower because it's so romantic. Hire belly dancers if you can find them, drape things in cloths and throw down some pillows. Your decorating is done! It's such an easy thing, and it goes over very well with everyone (looks way more complicated than it is!).

3. Kid for a Day

The bride is really moving into a new phase in life, so why not give her one last chance to act like a kid? Hire a petting zoo or bouncy castle, or host the party somewhere with a trampoline. Encourage guests to dress down and, weather permitting, give them water guns for a silly water fight. Have bright bowls of candy and hot dogs. Give guests their party favors with a 'fishing pond' style party game.

It sounds silly and it will raise a few eyebrows, but it will be SO much fun, no one will be complaining when they leave.

4. Come as You Were

A fun theme for any party, but especially when you're looking for bridal shower ideas, is a come as you were party. Depending on the crowd, it could be 'come as you were when you were in high school,' 'come as you were when you got engaged,' or 'come as you were when you received this invitation.' The last one is a lot of fun -- you'll have people hamming it up, showing up in robes and curlers.

It's a fun theme that lets you get away with silly decorations and food, which is always a blast.

These are the new wedding shower ideas I can't wait to try, and I hope you're excited about them too!

Posted by Patti at 12:22 PM | Permalink

My favorite wedding shower recipes are light, simple, and delicious. Depending on the time of day and the theme, your shower might involve anything from a full meal to a light lunch to a dessert buffet -- but there are some recipes that are always appreciated.

For example, who doesn't love a sweet treat, no matter what time of day? Who can't enjoy a really delicious dip with a veggie platter? If you're looking to cook a roast for twelve, I can't help you out -- but if you want some simple and delicious bridal shower recipes, you're in the right place.

My favorite bridal shower recipes

Here are my "go to" wedding shower ideas -- the recipes that carry me through any theme or party with only a few adaptations.

Please Anyone Veggie Dip

Experience has taught me that you're better off keeping your dips simple. Fill them with weird ingredients and people shy away. Use straight salad dressing and people are impressed. This recipe's a little more complicated than that -- but not much!

1 cup reduced fat sour cream
1 cup light mayonnaise
2 tbsp milk
5 tbsp chopped parsley (or 2 tbsp dry)
5 tbsp chopped dill (or 2 tbsp dry)
2 tsp dry basil
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender, or whip them by hand. Refrigerate and serve with vegetables and crackers.

Easy Cream Cheese Sandwiches

These make great bridal shower recipes if you can get your hands on wedding cookie cutters. Use white bread (this is one of the few situations where it's preferable to whole wheat!) and cut them out. If you don't have cookie cutters, cut off the crusts and slice them into triangles.

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup celery, diced
1 tbsp cream or milk
Salt and pepper to taste
White bread

Mix the first five ingredients in a bowl. Spread two pieces of bread with the mix and put them together to make sandwiches.

Champagne Strawberry Salad

This delicious recipe fits all wedding shower ideas and themes, and is the height of elegance.

2-3 bunches of spinach, chopped
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
1-2 cups champagne
1 red onion, sliced
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp poppy seeds
2 tbsp white wine vinegar

Soak the strawberries in the champagne overnight.

Combine the spinach, strawberries, and sliced onion. Mix the yogurt, honey, poppy seeds, and vinegar in a bowl and whisk together. Drizzle over salad and serve.

These three bridal shower recipes are served at just about every shower I host. I never hear complaints, and even the three of them by themselves are sufficient to keep people fed and happy. Add some punch and a sweet dessert, and your shower menu takes care of itself. These wedding shower recipes may even find their way into your regular rotation.

Posted by Patti at 12:16 PM | Permalink