Bridal Shower Etiquette: Should we throw one for a pregnant bride?

Q: The bride is pregnant.  Should we still throw a bridal shower for the bride?

A:   Sure. A bride who is expecting can still have a wedding shower.  Of course, there might be some practical concerns for you (and the bride.)  Does the bride need baby stuff or household items more?  Many guests will likely only bring one or buy one even if there are separate bridal and baby showers, so the bride might prefer a baby shower.

Bridal Shower Etiquette: Does The Bridal Party Have To Buy Bridal Shower Gifts?

Q: Since we have to pay for the bridal shower, are we expected to buy a gift for the shower?
A:  Yes. As friends of the bride, and even though you're hosting the shower, bridesmaids are still expected to buy a gift for the shower.  Most bridesmaids chip in and buy one large item like the china from the wedding registry.  Of course, if money is tight you can do something smaller or more heartfelt. 

Bridal Shower Etiquette: Does the Bride Have To Open Up Gifts At Her Shower?

Q: The bride has said that she doesn't want to open up gifts at her shower.  Does the bride have to open up the gifts at the shower?

A: Yes, the bride has to open up the gifts at the shower.  We can understand why some brides don't want to-some feel uncomfortable with everyone "staring" at them while they're opening the presents or some don't want to feign enthusiam for the gifts.  However, the purpose of the bridal shower is to "shower" the bride with gifts.  As a result, it is definitely expected by most of the guests, if not all, that the bride will open them at the actual shower.  If the bride doesn't, many of the guests will find it rude. 

Another consideration-if the bride doesn't open up gifts, what will the guests do instead of  watching the gift opening? Some guests have said they feel weird if the bride doesn't open up the gifts and thought,  "uhh, what are we supposed to be doing?" If the bride isn't opening up gifts, it's just a lunch with females. 

Champagne Bars-Make your own Champagne Cocktails!

Image via HiyaLuv

We just love champagne bars.  Not only are they classy but they're super appropriate for every occasion from brunch to dinner. 

You can have different champagnes for guests to try.  Or you can have a make your own champagne cocktail station. Guests love making their own drinks and the chance to customize their drinks. Added bonus-no bartender needed!

-Have plenty of champange flutes on hand. 

-Put the juices in carafes with labels and suggested recipes.

-Have 2 or 3 juice choices on hand.

Suggested Recipes:

Mimosa-A classic for brunch!

Ingredients:

2 oz. Orange juice

Champagne
Mix to taste.

Passion Mimosa-An updated take on the classic with passionfruit juice instead of orange!
1oz. Passionfruit Juice

4oz Champagne

2 fresh strawberries
Mix. 
Cranberry Champagne Cocktail
2 oz. Cranberry Juice
3 oz. Champagne
Mix.

American Glory Cocktail-a great choice for spring and summer days!2 oz Orange Juice
2 oz Lemonade
3 oz Champagne

Mix.


Mango Bellini

1 part Mango Juice
2 parts Champagne
Mix. 







 

Bachelorette Party Guide: Volunteering!

If the bride-to-be is more of a do-gooder than tequila shooter, why not make the bachelorette party a 
 a reflection of her by volunteering?  Instead of spending the night going from bar to bar, spend the day volunteering.  Just think of what good a group of 6 to 10 ladies can do!

One idea is Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity's Women Build brings together women from all walks of life to address the housing crisis facing millions of women and children worldwide. Women Build events have helped to construct more than 1,900 houses.  Since the builds are just for women, no construction skills are needed-they'll provide training for you. 

Other ideas include serving at local food banks, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters that are always looking for groups to help cook meals and serve meals. 

If you have longer than a day, consider taking a volunteer vacation.  Sierra Club offers outings which vary from helping to repair the Grand Canyon to backpacking through the Adironacks.  I to I Volunteering offers international trips

Tips:

• Be sure to plan ahead as many volunteer opportunities fill up fast.

• You can still outfit the bride with sashes and bridal veils to make the bride feel like a bachelorette.

Bachelorette Party Guide: Walt Disney World

If your bride-to-be is Disney obsessed, why not throw her bachelorette party at Walt Disney World? Have it the same weekend as her destination wedding there.  Get her her very own pair of Disney ears and a Disney bride shirt and head out to WDW.

Traditional Bachelorette Activities

Hit the bars.  After hitting the parks, head out to some nighttime attractions in Disney World.  Start off at Disney's Boardwalk Area.  Head to Jellyrolls in Disney's BoardWalk Area at Walt Disney World Resort which is a lively piano bar with dueling pianos and audience sing-alongs.  Want more traditional clubbing? Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney's BoardWalk Area at Walt Disney World Resort is a nightclub showcasing cool bands and hot DJs.  This nightclub plays the hottest songs from the '80s, '90s and today.  Or go to the House of Blues for a club where live music continually plays. 

Take in a show.  La Nouba is another extraordinary avant-garde circus spectacle performed by Cirque du Soleil exclusively in the Downtown Disney West Side area at Walt Disney World Resort.  Or try the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show which is an all-you-care-to-eat, family-style luau featuring hula dancing and a fire-knife performer at Disney's Polynesian Resort-get the chocolate volcanoes!

Do a spa day.  Disney has several spas that you can visit.

Make it Disney

Drink around the world.  Head to Epcot for a Disney bar crawl-get a drink in each country.  If that's too much drinking, try centering around the same drink.  Maybe attempt to try the best margaritas in Disney World. 

Take in a VIP tour. Even if the bride lives at Disney, chances are that she hasn't been on these tours.  You can take a behind the scenes tour of the parks, find out how they make the gardens at Epcot, or see the animals at Animal Kingdom.

Build the bachelorette party around Disney's festivals and events.  Make the bachelorette party around those dates to have even more to do.  Choose from Epcot International Wine & Food Festival, Atlanta Braves Spring Training, or a half-marathon. 

Want more Disney travel tips?  Beers and Ears has a complete list of every beer sold in WDW-this might be useful if the bride has a favorite one.  Find dining advice at The Disney Food Blog where you can search all of WDW's restaurants to find the best one for your group. 

New Spring Collection for Dessy

It's spring and along with new flowers comes the new spring collections even for wedding and bridesmaid dress designers.  Dessy's new spring collection is a hit.  We are loving the Social Bridesmaids line-contemporary, chic dresses that are very re-wearable.  

Look at this Style 8109 - an one shoulder cocktail length dress in stretch charmeuse with a  matching belt at natural waist and wide kimono sleeve. It's very different and perfect for an evening reception.  

Or this Style 8115-an one shoulder full length lux chiffon dress with scarf and flower detail at shoulder.  Very Grecian-this dress is so glamorous.  

This collection definitely deserves a second look.  These are dresses most of us would love to wear at a wedding.

Disclaimer: We are affiliates of Dessy and may be compensated for this post. However, our opinions have not been influenced in anyway.

Bridal Shower Invites: Send Digital Ones with Smilebox

Another digital invite by Smilebox While most of us still send out paper bridal shower invites, there are other options especially now that even most of our grandmothers have e-mail and Facebook.  Digital or e-mail invites can be just as glam and even more eco-friendly.  Of course, digital invites can also save you money-no need to buy postage! We particularly like the designs from Smilebox.  With Smilebox, you can  easily create invitations.  You can pick from thousand of templates, add photos you want to use, add music and voila, you've made a Smilebox!  What sets Smilebox apart though is that it gives you more ways to share than other digital invite sites: Facebook, email, blog, printing at home or to a store, and burning to DVD.   Tip:  Printing is a nice option because you can then use the invite for scrapbooks or as a memento.  It's the best of both worlds.  Smilebox is an affiliate of ours; however, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are ours and were not influenced in anyway.

Bridal Shower Game: Pass the Bouquet

What you Need:

Bouquet

How to Play: Just like in Hot Potato, pass around a bouquet of flowers while wedding themed songs like "Here Comes the Bride" play. When the music stops, whoever has the bouquet is out. Last one left with the bouquet wins!

Bridal Shower Game: Toilet Paper Bride

Bridal Shower Game: Toilet Paper Bride

The Idea: Who can make the best bridal gown out of toilet paper?

What you Need:

Toilet Paper (and lots of it)

Scissors

Tape

How to Play:  Tell the guests to break up into groups.  Give them a time limit and tell them they have to make the best wedding dress they can out of the supplies you give them.  At the end of the time limit, have the groups model off their creations.  The one the bride likes the most wins!


Want a variation? Have guests make wedding veils or bouquets as a twist. 

Garden Inspired Bridal Shower Favors

Hosting the wedding shower with a garden theme? Every guest will love this flower inspired bridal shower favors. 

1.  Project Wedding has a great, easy DIY bridal shower favor-give each guest their own potted plant. Be sure to choose flowers that are in season.  The best part is that you can use the flowers as decoration for the shower too.  For a unique twist, try mini lucky bamboo plants

2.   Instead of actually giving out potted plants, why not give seeds that can be planted.  With personalized plantable seed card favors, the entire piece of paper can be planted leading to tasty herbs.   This can be more convenient for guests who have to travel for the shower.  You can find out how to make your own (sortof) on Don't Eat the Paste.  For an interesting take on these favors, make seeded paper bookmarks  seed matchbox favors, plantable seeded paper flowers, and seed packets with tea packets.                                                                                   

3.  Flowers don't have to be real to fit in with the theme-or to look stunning.  Look at the gorgeous Gerber Daisy favor boxes  which you can fill with candies, cupcakes, or cake for a favor.  You can find DIY versions of gorgeous bouquet flower favor boxes at  Once Wed and  and these summer inspired flower favor boxes.  These boxes are so beautiful that they can still be decoration even in the middle of winter.      

                          

                                      
4.  Like in number three, the flowers don't have to be real to still create the "in the garden" effect.  Look at these towels wrapped up to look like roses -completely practical yet still pretty.  Or these rose soaps -for a DIY version head to Hearts, Hands, and Hope.                                                                                  

5.  Why not make your favors extra safe by going with something you know every guest loves? Chocolate!  Make chocolate covered roses for favors
or hand out chocolate covered sunflower seeds.









Affiliate links were used but they did not influence our thoughts or opinions.

Bridal Shower Invites from Wedding Paper Divas

When we think of Wedding Paper Divas, we think of weddings of course-their invitations, save the dates, and thank you cards are gorgeous and perfect for so many different types of themes.  However, until recently we didn't realize how extensive their collection of bridal shower invitations are.

Among the gems:

Love this invite-how perfect for a bridal showers where the focus is on cooking.  The apron is just so cute. This is also part of a line where invites can be as low as $.69 each; granted you do need to order quite a few to get the .69 rate but it's still a great deal. 

Or look at this  unique bridal shower invitation-the die cut circle shape alone is unique and trendy. We love the happy couple on the front and the romantic words on the back.   This invite stands out though in a world of cutesy invitations.          

We also love this stunning silhouette of a kissing couple for a wedding shower invite. The design is simple and timeless and, of course, silhouettes are very trendy right now. 

This is just a sampling of the invites available from Wedding Paper Divas. We hope you consider thme for the shower you're planning. 

(Disclaimer: Affiliate links were used in this post and we may be compensated for this post; however, our opinions and thoughts were  not influenced in anyway.) 

FREEBIE: Printable Cherry Blossom Bridal Shower Invitations

Paper Glitter has a great free printable template: Cherry Blossom invitation and matching envelope. Originally used for a baby shower, the Cherry Blossom invites are perfect for bridal showers and are really trendy now. 

Bachelorette Party Game: Scavenger Hunts

Instead of leaving the bachelorette party to chance, many hosts put together a scavenger hunt of tasks and items for the bride to do or get. The idea is to have as much fun as you can and many of these scavenger hunt items are pretty much guaranteed to do that.

A few ideas to help you:
-Be safe! Set guidelines as to what you will do and be careful.  Don't put yourself in precarious situations.  Use common sense.

-Decide on if you want photos or not.  If you're taking pictures, decide ahead of time if the photos are going to be Facebook eligible or not. 

Most scavenger hunts are done in teams so you can split up and "compete" against each other. The prize can be anything-maybe drinks or the hotel room will be on the losers?  However, others do the scavenger hunt as one big group. 

Some sample ideas for a Bachelorette Party Scavenger Hunt:

• Find an item with the groom's name on it
• Take a picture with a newly married bride or couple
• Call or visit a radio station and request "their song"
• Collect condoms
• Take a picture in the back of a cop car or on a fire truck
• Find pennies from the bride and grooms birth years
• Take a picture with a crying baby
• See if you can get a guy to give up his boxers or briefs
• Find a couple with the same name as the bride and groom

We've gone ahead and put together some FREE Bachelorette Party Scavenger Hunt printables for you. 

Download
1) Bachelorette Party Scavenger Hunt, 
2) Bachelorette Party Scavenger Hunt Version 2,
3) Bachelorette Party Scavenger Hunt Version 3, and
4) Bachelorette Party Scavenger Hunt Version 4

Feel free to use ours-we have 4 different ones to choose from.  Leave a comment if you have any ideas for scavenger hunts too! 

Please note that we are not responsible for how/if you use the scavenger hunts. They are only listed for entertainment purposes.  If you use them, you assume all legal responsibility for your actions.

DIY Cupcake Bachelorette Party Flags

Pretty Chicky has a great freebie-DIY Bachelorette Party Cupcake Flags.  Each flag has a saying like so good, naughty, or sinful.  So cute and perfect for a bachelorette party!

Bridal Shower Theme: Disney

Bridal Shower Theme:  Disney

Is your best friend Disney obsessed? Is she getting married at Walt Disney World (or wish she were)? Then a Disney themed bridal shower might be just what the bride needs.

Invitations

Set the tone for the bridal shower with the invites. You want to know everyone whose invited to know that the bride can't get enough of Mickey.  The one to the left, a Disney Themed Bridal Shower Invite is the right combination of Disneyness and wedding. 

Or this cute Mickey and Minnie Mouse invite. Change the wording to reflect a bridal shower.

Looking for something even more customized-Etsy shop Ever After Printables can make a custom bride and groom illustration with Mickey Mouse ears to use in wedding shower invitations. 

Food

You can go quite a few ways with food. Tea parties lend themselves quite nicely to Disney themes. 

Use a classic Disney Mickey & Minnie wedding cake topper for the bridal shower cake.  Make cupcakes and decorate them with Mickey Mouse candy confetti sprinkles or fondant Mickey Mouse cupcake toppers. We also love the Mickey and Minnie Mouse inspired cake pops (shown on the left) from Mom's Cake Pops.

Decor

There's many ways to go with a Disney bridal shower. Some will focus on the princess or fairytale theme.  Others will focus on one character like Tinkerbell, Cinderella, or Mickey Mouse.  You could have each table be something different too.  

• Have the bride wear a wedding themed Minnie Mouse ears hat.  

• Use Disney confetti  on the tables, alongside an edible arrangement of Mickey Mouse Party Bouquet   and black and red flowers.      

• For the guestbook, have the guests sign a Disney scrapbooking album. After the shower, fill with photos of the event.    

Favors

•  Create personalized T-shirts (or for that matter bags, mousepads, coffee mugs) with the bride to be's favorite Disney characters like Minnie Mouse or Tinkerbell.  For example, on the back, write "Bridesmaid" on them.

•  Go with the princess part of Disney. Fill carriage boxes with candies like jelly beans.

• Give Mickey Mouse cookie cutters along with Disney themed cookies like these from Fun Favors.             

 

Affiliate links were used in this post but they did not influence our opinions or thoughts. 

Bridal Shower Etiquette: Invite Groom's Ex-wife to Bridal Shower

Q: The groom was married before. Should we invite his ex-wife to the bridal shower?

A: In this day and age of multiple marriages, dealing with ex's can be difficult.  This situation really depends.  If the groom and his ex are still close, and the bride feels comfortable, then inviting the ex-wife to the wedding is probably fine; however, it's best to steer clear and not invite an ex to the bridal shower. Chances are it would be too weird for everyone involved.