Friday, 22 October 2010

Fun Summer Bridal Shower Theme

A beach theme bridal shower is a great choice for the future bride or couple, who love sun, sand, and water. There are so many fun ideas. So, let's "hit the beach".

If you live near water, take advantage of this location. If not, or the weather is in question, base your choice on the number of guests. Whether you use a home or rent a hall, remember to allow some extra room for games and dancing.

Your beach party invitation, can be a simple design to go along with the casualness. The front of your card could have sunglasses, a beach scene, seashells, or a beach chair. Request that your guests come in beach attire. This could be a t-shirt and shorts, or a sundress. You may also suggest bringing a gift that's related to the beach theme bridal shower.

*** Have a great beach theme bridal shower idea? Share it!

Beach theme bridal shower decorations: Fake or live palm trees immediately set the mood. If it's nighttime, trim them with mini string lights. If you're not at the beach, fill a kiddie pool with sand, and add some pails and shovels. Hang fishnet, adorned with shells. Stand some real or cardboard surfboards around the room. Set out beach chairs, draped with beach towels, for the guests. How about some umbrellas?

Beach theme bridal shower paper goods you'll need.
One of the nice things about a beach theme bridal shower is the easy cleanup!

Your beach theme menu can include goldfish crackers and watermelon for snacks. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and cold salads are simple meal choices. Have fun with tropical drinks.
Hawaiian punch or mixed fruit drinks are an option. If you're having cocktails, remember lemons, limes, stirrers, and mini umbrellas. Pineapple chunks and cherries are also a good idea. Drinks could be served in pineapples or coconuts.

Your dessert could be a beach theme bridal shower cake. Make a sandcastle cake by stacking 3 or more cake layers. Use different size pans, or cut the baked layers to desired size. Stack largest at the bottom, and get smaller with each layer as you go upward. Use vanilla or chocolate frosting. Add a decorative flag on the top and surround with seashells.
*** There is also a castle Bundt pan from NordicWare, available in stores and online.

Printable games, for your beach party, available immediately.

Indoor and outdoor games:
? Volleyball...use beachballs to add to the fun.
? Hula hoops...have contests for who can do routines the longest, for example swing around their arms, knees or waist. Most creative award.
? Badminton
? Horseshoes
? "Name that bridal shower beach party tune". Use any song with a beach theme. Start the song and see who can guess it first. Here are some to start: "Surfer Girl", "Under the Boardwalk", "Wipeout" and "Margaritaville".
? Limbo-how low can they go?

Hit the beach music will enhance your theme. Some favorites are:
? Beach Boys
? Bob Marley
? Jimmy Buffet
? Sublime
? Sugar Ray

Beach party favor:
? Seashells
? Flip-flop floating candle
? Beach chair picture frame
? Lip balm or gloss
? Small metal pails filled with candy

? Personalized mint tins are a unique bridal shower favor idea.

Bridal shower beach party theme gifts:

? A gourmet picnic basket is a great idea.
? Beach bag filled with towels, lotion, sunglasses and flip-flops.
? Beach chair and umbrella
? Weekend getaway to a beach resort (or a local hotel with a pool).
? Lotions, spa and foot care for beach-baring skin.

Choose beach theme bridal shower ideas with the bride-to-be or couple in mind, and it will be smooth sailing.


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Last Minute Bridal Shower Checklist You'll Need

A bridal shower checklist is a list of tasks to be completed on, or just before, the day of the event. This can be very helpful in eliminating any last minute unnecessary stress.

Prepare one ahead of time. Then, as the party gets closer, go over each item. Mark off as "completed" anything that you have already accomplished.


The following suggestions will help your plans come together:

? If this is a surprise wedding shower, have a plan in place to get the guest of honor to the party.

? Someone should be ready to greet the guests. This is typically the hostess or a member of the bridal party. It may be necessary to have an additional person or persons, outside the location, to tell them where to park.

? Are many of those attending the party, meeting for the first time? Consider using name tags. You may want to have a special color or design for the bridal party. This would make them easily identifiable.

? Keep a guest list nearby, with each person's name and phone number. Have directions to the party location written down, in case a guests needs help.

? Bridal shower decorations are in place. Make sure you have time blocked, and enough help, to decorate ahead of time. This should all be finished before the first guest arrives.

? Next on the bridal shower checklist is to check on the menu. Have someone assigned to refill snacks, buffet items, etc.

? Have all items ready for bridal shower games: paper, pencils, cards, etc.

? Music to complement your theme is a great bridal shower idea. You may want to include some of the bride's or couple's favorite songs. If you are playing cd's, have them stacked to play for the duration of the shower, or have a person ready to attend to this.

? Have someone in charge of taking pictures, or have some disposable cameras and ask guests to take candid shots.

? Your bridal shower checklist should include a gift helper. This person will write down each gift, and who gave it. This makes it easier when "thank you" notes are written. This person can also help assemble the bows onto a paper plate, for those using the ribbon hat tradition. Have scissors and trash bags nearby the gift table.

? Have someone on your wedding shower checklist assigned to give out the favors as guests are leaving, and to thank them for coming. (Favors can also be placed on the tables, ahead of time, and used as part of the decorations.)


Add a "day of" schedule to your bridal shower checklist...

See more helpful hints for wedding showers...

Trish Burrell, EzineArticles.com Platinum Author

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Do it yourself bridal shower favors for that personal touch.

Are you considering do it yourself bridal shower favors? You may be a crafty person who enjoys adding your personal touch. You may be trying to save some money on this area of party expenses. Whatever the reason, homemade bridal shower favors are easy with the right supplies.

Simple bags are easy do it yourself bridal shower favors.
Some of the styles available are:

? Organza: these sheer material favor bags, come in several sizes, and a variety of colors. They have a drawstring ribbon for closing after you have filled them.

? Frosted film bags: these luminescent holders come with a soft rounded handle. They vary in size from 4"x3"x6", up to 16"x6"x12", and an assortment of colors.

? Paper bags: these come in a variety of sizes and colors, and have a twisted paper handle.

? Plastic gift bags: these are clear plastic bags. You may also choose one with a design. Fill bag, add a twist tie or ribbon, and you're finished.

? Favor packaging can coordinate with your theme. Palm trees, purses, backpacks, corsets, suitcases, and watering cans are just some of the container ideas you can choose.

Favor boxes are an alternative to bags.
These containers come in various sizes.

? Cardboard: these come in solid and print designs. Shapes vary, and some have handles. They can be imprinted with the saying and design of your choice.

? Acrylic: round, square, and heart are just some of the shapes for this style box. Just fill with candy, and add a personalized ribbon!

Other easy ideas:

? Tin containers are available in different shapes. These heart tin kits are quick and easy. Just fill, and add bow and tag.

? Candy wrappers: did you know you can create your own personalized candy bars? My Candy Bar Wrappers will let you choose your saying and a design of your choice to be printed. You then use a glue stick or double sided tape to seal around the candy bar of your choice, creating unique do it yourself bridal shower favors.

? Small jars: these also come in all different shapes and sizes. Think baby food jars, perfume vials, small jelly jars, spice containers, etc.

Personalized MY M&M'S? Candies.

? You've chosen your container, now you need to fill it. Any small candies will be appropriate. Jelly beans, almonds, hard candy and mints, are just some of the choices available.

Customized Chocolates Customize Your Words On MY M&M'S? Candies Or Create A Color Blend!

Finish your do it yourself bridal shower favors with one or both of the following:

? Personalized satin ribbons will add the final touch.
Add the name of the bride, or couple, and date of the shower.

? Bridal shower favor tags help to personalize your favors. The shape can be rectangular, square, heart, round or whatever you think fits your theme. Adding the name and date, transforms an ordinary item into a special keepsake.


? More ways to make your favors special...

? Please take me to the favors page...


? Go to Bridal Shower Ideas For You...

Trish Burrell, EzineArticles.com Platinum Author

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Thursday, 21 October 2010

Funky, Fun and Unique Bridal Shower Gifts


Weddings are undoubtedly a joyous occasion, but while starting a new life together is really exciting, it can also be very expensive for the bride and groom, which is why the tradition of the bridal shower began. Whether you're the maid of honor organizing the wedding shower and looking for ideas, or you're shopping for bridal shower gifts to help the blushing bride set up her future home, here are some ideas to help you find fun, creative and unique bridal shower gift ideas that won't hurt your budget!

HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF THE BRIDAL SHOWER

There are many different stories about the early origins of the tradition of throwing a pre-wedding party for the bride to be and "showering" her with gifts for her new home, although most agree that the custom began as something of an alternative to providing a monetary gift or dowry to the bride, especially for poor families.

The most widely circulated legend about the beginnings of the wedding shower is the story of a young Dutch girl in the 16th or 17th century who fell in love with a miller whose generosity towards the poor meant that he himself was never able to save up a fortune. The girl's father disapproved of the miller's poverty and so refused to give his daughter a dowry, but the young girl's friends in her village, wanting to help her with the marriage, brought her many household goods to contribute towards her dowry.

The giving of wedding shower gifts also has some similarities with the hope chest or trousseau tradition, where special household things such as linens, clothing and sometimes dishware would be set aside and given to a girl of marriageable age.

Today, the wedding shower is as much an occasion for the bride-to-be to relax and celebrate with her friends and family, as it is about giving and receiving useful wedding gifts. It's usually held about 4 to 6 weeks before the actual wedding, organized by the maid of honor with some help from the other bridesmaids, and attended by female friends and family.

HOW DO I ORGANIZE A GREAT BRIDAL SHOWER?

Organizing a bridal shower can be a daunting task, especially if party planning is not your strong suit. Plus, with all the decorations, refreshments and gifts that need to be purchased, it can also turn into a bit of an expensive nightmare.

So what sort of things should you keep in mind to throw a fantastic bridal shower that will be a fun time for all involved?

Theme up: Choose an appropriate bridal shower theme that will fit the bride's personality. For a beach or destination wedding, consider a tropical or ocean theme with seashell decorations and margaritas, while a garden party theme with mini sandwiches, tea and floral decor might be an elegant twist on a more traditional celebration.
Wherefore art thou?: Where you will have the shower will depend on the number of guests - a smaller do can be held at an attendee's home, while a big group should celebrate at a hotel, the park or community hall.
Be our guest: Besides the bride herself, immediate family members of both the bride and groom should be invited to the shower, as well as the bridal party; for anyone else, it's usually a good idea to consult with the bride or her mother to determine the guest list. You should only invite people who are also invited to the wedding.
Games & activities: Don't forget to have a little fun! Some ideas for bridal shower games include asking the guests trivia about the bride and groom; getting the attendees to provide marital advice; or having a little contest to make a "dress" for the bride out of toilet paper.

BRIDAL SHOWER GIFT IDEAS

Of course, the main event at a bridal shower is when the bride opens up her gifts, but where do you start to help the guests decide what to get, and to make sure they're items the bride will actually enjoy?

The easiest approach to simplify the gift selection process is to set up a specific bridal shower registry or to get guests to purchase items from the bride & groom's wedding registry.

But for a more creative approach that's still easy and fun for all involved, try choosing a specific category of bridal presents, such as lingerie, bakeware or relaxation & spa products. You can always talk to the bride and ask her what type of stuff she thinks she will need the most.

Another neat bridal shower gift idea is to have each of the guests bring a photo or special memento they have shared with the bride, plus scrapbooking materials, to give her a personalized gift that she will always cherish!

This is also a real cool idea - how about making some personalized candles for the bride and groom to burn at each major milestone of their marriage? Check it out at this Hub: Unique Bridal Shower Gift Idea

And for the funky and fashionable bride, consider getting bridal shower attendees to buy vintage gifts and accessories from specific decades that she likes, such as vintage lipstick holders or perfume atomizers, or fun '50s diner furniture.

If the guest of honor is big on being environmentally friendly and doesn't mind pre-loved items, this is also a great way to go green if you have some heirloom items in excellent condition.

Another green wedding gift idea? Get the bride some gardening tools to help her start off her very own vegetable, herb or flower patch as it's a gift that will last a lifetime! Seeds, composters, tool sets, watering cans are all great ideas for this type of present.

HOME ESSENTIALS THAT WILL MAKE FOR GREAT BRIDAL GIFTS

Even for the most easygoing bride, it can be difficult to figure out what sort of presents to buy, so here's a list of useful wedding gifts that any woman will appreciate, whether she is a high-powered career woman or plans to be a busy stay-at-home mom.

Storage, shelving and organizers

As the saying goes, you can never have too many shoes... or too much space to store them! Help her keep organized with something like the Essential Home 15-Pair Shoe Organizer from Kmart.com, which is really convenient and easily stackable. Plus, the bride with an eye for design will be able to incorporate storage into her home's aesthetic in a funky way, so storage and organizers are really a neat item to have.

Bath products

Towels, linens and other bathroom items are an essential for any home, as everybody can do with a nice relaxing bath or shower at the end of the day. Look for plush and spa quality products that will provide the bride - and groom! - with a luxury bath experience.

Luxe materials such as Egyptian cotton for towels and memory foam for bath pillows make for an especially nice gift - try the Cannon Egyptian Cotton Bath Towel from Sears.com, for example.

Bedding

Everyone appreciates a good night's sleep, so give the happy couple sweet dreams with some comfy sheets, duvet covers or pillows! Most people know that the higher the thread count for cotton sheets, the softer and finer they are. However, keep in mind that some but not all extremely high thread counts of over 500 might be inflated. So remember that standard cotton thread counts are around 150, while good-quality sheets start at 180 and a count of 200 or higher is considered to be the best.








For more ideas and tips on what to buy for the big day, check out the eBillme wedding page!

Krystle Chow is a writer for eBillme - the safest way to pay in cash online! She loves food, fashion and beauty, film and TV, technology and shopping. A graduate of Carleton University's Journalism program, Krystle has been reporting and blogging on technology for more than three years. You'll often find her either on the lookout for hot deals and new trends, busy keeping up with the latest and hottest shows on the big and small screens, or indulging her love of Broadway musicals. You can follow Krystle @krystlechow.


Personalize Your Bridal Shower Invitations

Bridal shower invitations are your first contact with guests. You want them happily looking forward to the upcoming event. Your invitations can make a statement by reflecting the type of shower you are planning. You can do this by selecting your party colors, a picture that would indicate the theme, or any other appropriate design.

? Unique Bridal Shower invitations are available at Wedding Paper Divas. They carry a variety of high quality designs. Choose one that is that reflects your party plans. You will also have the choice to customize your design with personalized text. Matching "Thank You" notes are also available.

? Theme invitations can be found to coordinate with most party ideas. There are numerous designs, and they are relatively inexpensive. You will often find a whole line of items to match, simplifying the rest of your party plans.

Questions You May Have:

? When should they be sent?
Four to six weeks in advance of the party. This gives your guests plenty of time to mark their calendars, make any necessary plans, and respond.
*** If most of your guests are from another state (or even another country), give them as much notice as possible.

? What information should be included? This is the who, what, when, where, and why. It tells your guests the basic facts about the party. You can explain the theme, if there is one. You may also want to enclose directions.

? Should I add the bridal shower registry?
This is often debated. Some guests love the idea, as it makes gift buying easier. Others consider it "asking for gifts". So, this addition is really a judgment call on your part.

Are there any do's and don'ts when it comes to your invites?
? Invitation etiquette questions you may have.

? Insert some confetti inside the invitation for a fun surprise. This also can be geared toward your theme or party colors. You may want to

? add a decorative seal for that extra special touch.

Want to print your own bridal shower invitations? Anything you do yourself always adds a personal touch. If you are making or printing your own, you'll need to decide on your wording. Sometimes, we get our best ideas by browsing. Take a look at sample wording and see what appeals to you.

Another creative yet inexpensive idea, is to add clip art to your invitation, or envelope. Use designs that relate to your party style.

With PhotoStamps you can turn your own digital photos into real US postage! Create yours today.
Use a picture of the bride or couple, on your envelope, for that extra special touch. How about a childhood picture?


? Thank you notes add convenience and continuity to your planning. Purchase them ahead of time, to be given to the "guest of honor". The day of the bridal shower, give the thank you notes, along with a list of gifts received and who gave them. This simple gesture will be greatly appreciated.

Whether simple or elegant, your bridal shower invitations should peak your guests' interest, and help them look forward to a special event.


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Trish Burrell, EzineArticles.com Platinum Author

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Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Bridal Shower - A Perfect Way to Show How Special She Is


Bridal showers are a perfect way to show brides how special they are to their family and friends. There are so many great ideas to apply to make the bridal shower successful. Of course, this is the main goal of the hostess - making the event as perfect as possible. However, despite of the charming adornments and delightful meals present in the party, planning for it is not always as easy as you want it to be. As the hostess, you are responsible for so many things. Planning for this event definitely require patience and willingness to show, ''hey girl, you mean a lot to us.''

The first thing you need to consider when planning a bridal shower is the budget. This is the most important factor to lead you until ending. First, decide how much you are willing to spend. Traditionally, the bride has nothing to do with the expenses. A bridal shower is thrown as a gift to the bride-to-be, therefore it is very inappropriate to include her bank account in the line. The hostess, however, can ask for contribution from other friends.

After the budget has been decided, you will then need a theme for the party. There are several themes to think of, such as a lingerie theme, tropical theme, beach theme...etc. You must think of the bride when choosing a theme for her party. Consider the things she love; her interests and hobbies and her overall personality. After all the party is for her, so relating everything to her is definitely a good idea.

When choosing the shower decorations, pick those that suits the theme of the shower. It is always a smart idea to incorporate items that will easily tell what theme you would like to show to the guests. Aside from the decorations, the theme will also tell you what menu should be on the serving table, as well the time of the day.

Of course, the bridal shower will be incomplete without gifts. One thing that makes it a shower party is, different gifts will be showered to the bride-to-be. This has been an old tradition, and often these gifts include household wares, silly lingerie, marriage guiding books and other gifts that can help the bride prepare for her new life as wife.

During bridal showers, the gifts are not only for bride but for other people also. In fact, bridal showers are the perfect time where brides often give gifts to their bridesmaids. Popular bridesmaids gifts include personalized tote bags, engraved compact mirrors, jewelry pieces, and other things that the bridesmaids can use at wedding day. Lastly, the both the hostess and the bride would like to end the party by thanking all the guests. Giving out bridal shower favors is a great way to say thank you to all those who spend their time with the bride. There are so many great choices of favors available online, just pick those that, of course, suits the theme of your party. So basically, these are the things that usually bridal shower has, but above all, have fun when planning and choosing bridal shower accessories and supplies. Don't get stress over little things, plan ahead so that you'll have plenty of time to decide.








Jnet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics. If you're looking for wedding favor ideas, visit the website Mybridesmaidsgifts and choose from their products. Shop for jewelry gifts online!