Category Archives: Bridal Shower

5 Simple Bridal Shower Games (that don’t suck)

Bridal shower games are not mandatory, but they can help break up the day and be funny and cute. Save the racy stuff for the bachelorette though. At a bridal shower, you’re going to need activities that work for a mixed group of ages. Remember that people want to eat, drink, and chat, not have a regimented schedule of enforced games, so just choose a few to sprinkle in. And have prizes! People are more likely to take interest if there’s chocolate involved.

Bridezilla

Before the shower, make the most hideous veil you can with a cheap tiara, glitter, different colors of tulle—whatever you can muster. Then once all the guests have arrived, tell them that the word “wedding” and “bride” are banned. If you use one of the words, you are Bridezilla and have the wear the veil until someone else slips up! During your time as Bridezilla you are encouraged to add to the veil to make it more hideous if possible.

Ring Hunt

Hide fake diamond engagement rings around the house and tell the guests to collect them throughout the party and put them on as they find them. The guests wearing the most rings at the end of the party wins. This one is simple, non-invasive and will lead to plenty of cute pictures.

Chick Flick Charades

We all know how to play charades. But raise the bar by banning the typical tactic of acting out the words in the title. Instead, pairs of guests have to act out a scene from different chick flicks. You’ll end up reenacting the Katz’s Deli scene from When Harry Met Sally, snapping a jewelry box closed as Julia Roberts reaches for her necklace in Pretty Woman, or trying to jump into Patrick Swayze’s arms for Dirty Dancing. If both players claim to have never seen the film and thus cannot act out a scene, let them default to the title, but make sure you appropriately shame them for neglecting to watch You’ve Got Mail. You can also opt for a tiered point system: 1 point for just acting out the title, 2 points for a scene, and 5 points for acting out the entire movie in less than two minutes. Some other flicks to throw in: My Best Friend’s Wedding, Runaway Bride, 27 Dresses, Sleepless in Seattle, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Something’s Got to Give, Love Actually, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Two Truths and a Lie

Guests take turns sharing two truths and a lie about the bride. It’s a good idea to announce this game early in the shower so guests have time to think of good facts. Maybe bring it up before lunch or dinner is served or before you open presents. The facts can be about their friendship or history with the bride—they’ve been friends for 15 years, they taught the bride how to drive, they shared a lost weekend in Myrtle Beach—or a little known fact about the bride—the details of her first kiss, what she really thought of her groom when she first met him, her biggest pet peeve. Everyone else writes down the number of the fact they think is false. Those who get it right get a little prize or a point and most points win at the end. Remember to keep this PG-13 if you’re in a shower with mixed age groups or that includes relatives or coworkers of the bride who may not need to know about her scandalous behavior in college…or six months ago.

Purse Scavenger Hunt

This game may seem too simple or overdone, but in this version you add an element of urgency. In the typical game you get a point for each item that you have, but in this version it’s the first person to find the item who wins. Watching women frantically rifle through their purses is what makes it funny. People will know they have that peppermint but they just can’t find it!

Come up with a list of items a woman might have in her purse. The host reads the items aloud and the first person to fish that item out of her purse gets a prize. You can also give out small prizes for each item, but then designate points to each item for a big reward at the end. Make sure it’s on a sliding scale so that easy items like wallet and keys get one point and harder ones like dog treat, pepper spray or corkscrew get more. Here’s a fun sample list. You’ll be surprised how many of these people have in their purses!

Wallet, keys, cell phone, mirror, lip gloss, foundation, mascara, deodorant, hairbrush, tweezers, umbrella, book, pepper spray, dog treat, condom, tampon, Advil, band-aid, stomach medicine, underwear, scissors, a Groupon, a stamp, a mint, a bottle of water, USB flash drive, a $50 bill, a menu, stain remover and bottle opener. You can also throw in a few things that require a little bit of extra effort. For example: a picture of the bride. Someone’s got to have it on their phone, right? A cup of coffee will have clever people riffling through their wallets for their Starbucks gift card.

1920s Party Inspiration

Decadence, glamor, candlelight and alcohol—what more do you need for a classy bachelorette party or swanky shower? Channel the Roaring 20s with a speakeasy vibe, strong cocktails and tiny canapes. This is a great theme for an at-home party as it instantly fancies things up. Here are some simple tips for creating a 1920s vibe.

A room with dark wood or brick walls is the perfect setting for your speakeasy 1920s soiree. Choose deep, rich colors as your accents, like burgundys and mauves, and don’t be afraid to throw in a few peacock feathers. I love the vintage Deco prints used as placecards here. A vintage tarot deck could be put to use in the same way with absolutely striking results.

Visit Grandma’s house or local flea markets to look for vintage pieces that will make an impact. A lace tablecloth would be delicate and striking, but make sure it’s not a family heirloom (real lace is incredibly expensive!). An old radio or typewriter will set the mood and is much likely to end up with red wine all over it.

Prohibition meant unmarked bottles and secret cocktail lounges. Since you probably want your guests to know what they’re drinking, think about decanting your liquors into beautiful bottles with your own labels. The bar instantly feels like an exclusive destination.

Don’t have an old library cart? A bookshelf can easily double as a bar. Line up glassware on an old silver tray if you have it. A mirror is a great alternative. Add candles at night for shimmer or flowers for a daytime event.

During Prohibition, the quality of alcohol was pretty low, so big batches of punch were a good way to make a little liquor go a long way and mask the taste. You can make a high-class (and way tastier) version, like this pomegranate champagne punch. Note that it uses one large ice block, another authentic detail to the era. For a really large one like this, fill a loaf pan or metal bowl with water and freeze. For individual cocktails, you can buy king-size ice cube trays like these.

When it comes to wardrobe, you can carry the theme a little, a lot or not at all. If you want to add a little 1920s vibe but not put pressure on all the ladies to buy complete ensembles, nothing says flapper like headwear. A scarf, a velvet cap, a feather—it all looks good. Add a long strand of pearls or elbow-length evening gloves to almost any outfit and you’re all set.

Inspiration from Wedding Chicks, Green Wedding Shoes, and Ruffled.

My Favorite Things Bridal Shower

No, I’m not talking about raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. I’m talking about channeling Oprah for a “My Favorite Things” bridal shower, a versatile theme that allows you to present the bride with a huge range of gifts and also get all the guests participating without much fuss. (I love Julie Andrews as much as the next woman, but when it comes to gift-giving, go to the master.) This is also a great low-budget theme. It’s best done at home and the cost is split between guests, but still quite low per person. Dinner or lunch is pot luck–style and the gifts can be small and personal in nature.

For your meal, ask each guest to make her favorite dish. To do this well will require a little bit of planning and coordinating on the part of the host, but it will be worth it in the end. After sharing the theme with the guests, create a Google doc or email list with different slots for the courses: appetizers, mains, sides, desserts or drinks. This way you can be sure you’ll have a balanced meal. You can also ask guests to call you with their preference if you have older guests who don’t email. As the host, you should take on the main dish, but can defer if one guest is really eager or agrees to step in if cooking isn’t your forte. In this case, make sure to invite this guest to cook in your kitchen if they’d like. Everyone else should prepare their dishes at home and be ready to serve or just reheat at your place. But since main dishes can be hard to transfer and require more prep, offer up your kitchen if someone volunteers to shoulder this task.

Have each guest email you a week or so before the shower with the name of their dish so you can make up a menu (great for scrapbooks later!). Also ask each guest to bring an index card with their recipe. You can send out custom cards with the invite or let guests make their own. You can buy a recipe box (check Micheal’s or The Container Store for a start) or make one yourself by purchasing a box at your local craft store. Add all the recipes at the shower and present it to the bride as one of her gifts. You can also ask the guests to send you a Word doc with their recipe and put together a book for the bride. Use a binder and sheet protectors or get fancy and have a book printed using a service like lulu.com. I’ve made cookbooks for my family using their service and the finished product is very nice.


For the gifts, each guest should bring one or a few of her favorite things. It can be a beauty product, kitchen gadget, gift card for a clothing brand, food product, decorative item, piece of jewelry—anything! Along with a recipe card, send each guest a card for their gift as well and ask them to jot down a quick line explaining why this thing is so great! Then ask the bride to read each card and guess which guest chose each thing.

Send the guests home with a few of the bride’s favorite things as their party favor. Or a brand-new car. Whichever you can manage.

Beach Weekend Invites

August makes me think of extreme heat, sunny days on the beach and that moment of anticipation before you plunge into the ice-cold water for some much-needed relief. It’s the end of summer, but also probably the perfect month for a bachelorette weekend if your bride has an October wedding (one of the top four months for weddings according to The Knot). Here are some of my favorite beach weekend invites.

This sunny invite comes from one of my favorite Etsy vendors: SocialitePaperworks. I think Raquel makes some of the most modern, cute bachelorette and girls weekend invites that I’ve seen. Her pieces are feminine and flirty but also clean, crisp and unique.

This invite is definitely outside of the type I usually go for, but it’s such a cute concept and the illustration won me over. Plus, it’s not something I’ve seen before. The artist is also open to complete customization, so each placket on the sign can say whatever you like and you can even request a different font or colors to correspond with your bride.

Now this one is totally up my alley. Cute graphics and a great color combination that’s muted yet modern, plus lovely unique typography. It’s totally perfect for Miami in particular, what with its Florida Deco vibe.

Beach party a bit out of reach? You can still cool off with a summer pool party. This invite can be customized for a bridal shower. I love the typography and the ikat print, especially the bold red mixed with pale blues and that pop of emerald. It’s fresh and cool, just like your shower.

Planning a couples shower? Check out this adorable lake house-themed option, complete with Chinese lanterns, cattails and a cute little duck.  The seller, Paige Burton Designs, also has a similar beach invite for couples showers. The colors and lines are striking and whimsical without being too cutesy. Love it!

Yoga Bachelorette Party

When I found this New York Times article on incorporating workout classes like yoga and Pilates into a bachelorette party, I have to admit I was at first quite skeptical. After all, the first thing I associate with the word “bachelorette” is alcohol. But the more I think about, the more I actually do like this idea. Then I saw these images on Bridal Musings, and I was sold:

Let’s be honest: Most brides are trying to look their best the day of, and that doesn’t end with the bride. The bridal party wants to look good too…after all, we have to be in all those pictures! Plus, I know lots of girls who love working out (I happen to be one of them). And since I’ve always loved the idea of incorporating activity into showers and parties (see kickball and field day suggestions), I don’t know why I didn’t entertain this idea earlier. Why not run a 5K together complete with sashes, signs and T-shirts? A dance class might be perfect—you still get your groove on, but you also burn calories! And the physical activity part can just be the beginning of the party. Start with yoga, then head to the spa for massages or manicures and toast the bride with some champagne, then finish with a dinner and, yes, drinks.

Some additional advantages I see:

  • We’ve all seen a friend get way too drunk or overdo it at a party. Adding a workout class before the drinking begins will help get everyone’s metabolism up and you’re less likely to get wasted. Chances are you’ll also drink less.
  • If the bride really is super dedicated to looking great for her wedding, this kind of party will make her feel good about herself and allow her to let loose with her friends as well.

Some things to keep in mind:

  • When choosing your class or activity, think about the skill level of all your guests. You want to be sure you choose something that all those invited will not only feel comfortable with but will also enjoy. If your friends are all super-athletic, feel free to pick a higher-level class. But if you have mixed skill levels, go with beginner. The comfort of your guests is the most important thing and, honestly, this isn’t about getting the toughest workout of your life. It’s still a party.
  • Make sure guests bring a change of clothes if there will be other activities after the class, and make sure the facility has showers, hair dryers, shampoo, and everything else the girls will need to get ready.

Brides love this idea? This bride had her yoga party the morning of the wedding and turned it into a brunch for her bridesmaids. Also an amazing idea!

Photography by: Andrea Lee Photography

Couples Shower: Field Day

I recently saw these images from an amazing pre-wedding field day on Pinterest and they completely inspired me. I think this concept would be perfect for a couples shower!

The photos brought me back to my days as a camp counselor and reminded me of how much fun “adults” (note the quotation marks…) can have revisiting games from our youth. My friend Nicole organized a game of kickball for her rehearsal dinner and we had an amazing time being silly and showing off our skills on the field. Old-school field day events like a three-legged race, egg toss or the fill the bucket game you see pictured above would also be great additions to the event. I love the referee they recruited (and I’m secretly hoping it’s the bride’s dad…wouldn’t that be perfect?). Personalized baseball tees would be the perfect favor for the day.

Fiesta Bridal Shower Inspiration

Everyone loves a fiesta, especially in the summertime. The colors are bright, the food is delicious and the drinks are strong—the perfect inspiration for a fun backyard bridal shower. My advice is to not go too literal on the invitations—in other words, stay away from sombreros, tacos or margaritas. Instead choose color palettes and motifs that evoke the occasion. This Etsy number uses spot-on color combos, but a modern chevron pattern. I also love the mix of fonts, which really gives the invite an personalized look.

The decorative flourishes on the edges of this invite from Wedding Paper Divas evoke a festive fiesta, but white space and typography make it seem a bit more fancy.

I also like this option from Polka Dot Design. It’s a simpler version of the Etsy invite above, but as a bonus they have napkins and Lucite serving trays in the same pattern (and the back is printed in allover chevron).

Now decor. The traditional choice would be Fiesta ware, but if you can’t get your hands on the real stuff, ask around for brightly colored plates and serving bowls and mix and match for an eclectic feel. I love the mix and match feel of this tablescape: bright traditional Mexican textiles as a tablecloth, mix-and-match colored plates and a few quirky pieces in the center.


I also love the chic simplicity of this setting. The colored glassware in particular pops on the table and the sunflowers evoke the perfect summer mood.

Can we talk about how adorable this idea is?? Flowers in limes!

For drinks, I love the look (and taste!) of this strawberry basil sangria, made with chardonnay and a bit of club soda for bubbles. Add don’t forget the margaritas, of course.

A serve-yourself taco stall looks adorable and lets guests regulate the amount of spice they like in their food. Fill small bowls with chopped lettuce, diced jalepenos, halved cherry tomatoes, and slices of red onions and avocados. Then choose your fillings. For a no-hassle option, you can always shred rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, but if you want to fancy it up, try these tequila-glazed chicken thighs (then shred into taco-sized pieces). For a delicious and fresh salsa topping for your tacos, boil sweet corn for about 10 minutes, then use a knife to take the kernels off the cob. Next, mix with chopped avocado and cherry tomatoes. Stir in two tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons sea salt, 1/2 cup chopped cilantro and the juice of one lime.

For a side dish, I love these grilled sweet potato fries with lime cilantro vinaigrette. They’re super easy to make and taste delicious.

And for dessert, you have to go with Mexican wedding cookies! Check out a recipe here.

Additional sources: Hostess with the Mostess Mexican fiesta, Celebrations.com fiesta and The Stir table settings.

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