Host Bridal Showers at Sale Prices
With wedding season gearing up, it's a sure bet that someone you
know will be tying the knot this year. Whether the bride is a
friend, a relative, or a relative-to-be, as a woman you're bound
to be invited to at least one bridal shower. You may even have
the sometimes-dubious honor of being the hostess. It doesn't
matter if you're the bride's best friend or a mere acquaintance,
a bridal shower can take a big bit out of your budget if you're
not careful. With a bit of forethought, however, you can take
advantage of sales to make hostessing a bridal shower a breeze.
To ensure that the bridal shower is a success, follow these
simple steps:
Guest List: First, decide upon the number of guests your venue
(most likely your home) can reasonably accommodate. Then work
with the bride-to-be in determining whom to invite. Most
importantly, get a sense of the demographics of the invitees.
Are they her co-workers, friends of her mother's, or her best
buddies? The guest list will determine the theme and tone of the
shower.
Activities: Depending on the guest list, silly bridal shower
games can be fun. If it's a crowd of sophisticates, though, you
may want to stick to the basics and pass on the games.
Supplies: Bridal-themed paper products and decorations can bust
your budget. If you have serviceable dishes, flatware, and glass
ware, by all means use those. Keep an eye out for sales and
discounts on shower decorations, or get creative and make your
own.
Gifts: When guests RSVP, they're sure to ask about gifts. You
can circumvent that by making the shower a themed event. Perhaps
the bride-to-be really wants cutlery, or maybe she needs luggage
for her honeymoon. You can suggest that guests pool their money
and buy a big ticket item - like a piece of furniture or a TV -
or suggest gifts that will indulge the bride - such as lingerie,
fragrances, and jewelry. You could even opt for something more
out of the ordinary. One idea is to get a list of the bride and
groom's all-time favorite movies, and ask guests to bring one
DVD and to make a contribution toward a DVD player. This will
get the couple's entertainment center off to a great start.
During the Shower: When guests arrive and you take their coats
and handbags, ask them if they wouldn't mind turning off their
cell phones. Everyone will enjoy the shower more if cell phones
aren't ringing every few seconds. Ahead of time, ask one of the
guests to bring her camera, or distribute disposable cameras to
each of the guests as they arrive. Ask for the film or collect
the cameras at the end of the evening so you can get the photos
developed and present the bride-to-be with a scrapbook of the
occasion. You should also have a camcorder on hand, along with a
volunteer who will record the party. The bride-to-be can share
the video with her fianc