Wedding Invitations

Ever notice there always seems to be at least one hideously ugly wedding gift? Sometimes we can make it “disappear” without anyone noticing. But other times we are doomed to keeping it, depending on the person who gave it to us or the significance behind it. If you’re lucky you can put it away until that particular person visits. Hopefully they live far far away and surprise visits will be few and far between. 

I remember a family member once gave me a fuzzy bath robe she received from one of her many bridal showers. She would have kept it but she was given three of them. A person only needs so many bath robes.  There was however one condition to me receiving it. I would have to temporarily give it back to her if that gift giver came to visit because they would expect to see her using it. The giver was extremely quirky but also very important in their lives.

In the particular story that inspired this blog, the newlyweds received a painted portrait from a guest who sincerely thought he was a good artist. It was a very heart felt gift that a lot of time was put into, but it was so hideous everyone cringed when they saw it hanging on the living room wall.  Unfortunately the artist was a close friend who was always over and would be hurt if he didn’t see it. It would be poor wedding etiquette to get rid of it, so when they rearranged their entire house, they re-hung it in the guest room. This way they could still satisfy their friend and not have to look at it all the time.

In keeping with bridal shower etiquette, make sure the bride assigns a bridesmaid to keep a list of the gifts received and who gave them at the shower, so she won’t forget anyone when she is writing her thank you notes.

A note to the bride: Of course you will write a thank you note, but don’t forget to bring a gift for the hosts of your shower to show your gratitude. Flowers, wine, a fruit basket, cookie bouquet, or personalized stationery are some ideas.

There are a number of ways you can host a bridal shower and still keep your costs down if you have a small budget. Have the event at the home of the shower hosts.

There could be a potluck dinner or one cooked by the hosts and the bridesmaids. Consider using potted plants, confetti, or balloons as centerpieces instead of elaborate flower bouquets. Your home is already decorated and provides a pleasant relaxing atmosphere. You don’t need to go all out for decorations.

Door prizes are a good incentive to get people into the swing of things and break the ice. Have fun games of activities planned for the bridal shower. Guests can bring anecdotes about the bride, complete to dress her in a toilet paper gown, or get quizzed on trivia about her and the groom.

Cute shower party favors include small plants, sachets, scented soaps, candles or bath oils, a decorated tin full of colored jelly beans or pastel candies, tiny glass vases with fresh-cut flowers, homemade brownies or pretty cookies wrapped in colorful cellophane and ribbon, a box of festive tea bags or coffees, miniature books, picture frames, stationery, or pretty notepads.

Instead of a shower guest book that people sign, try something more creative such as a wooden plate for guests to autograph with pain pens, or a champagne bottle that can be signed with metallic pens.

Mount a funny photo of the bride on a piece of matting or poster board, and have each guest write a message to her on the border. These will be fun keepsakes for her to hang or display in her future home.

If the bride’s coworkers want to give her a surprise bridal shower, they could have her boss call her into a conference room where boxed lunches and gifts await.

Send three recipe cards (or index cards) to each guest with their bridal shower invitation. Ask them to write down their favorite appetizer, entrée, and dessert recipe and to put their names and phone numbers on the recipe cards. At the shower, collect the cards and arrange them in a pretty recipe box to present to the bride. This will begin or enhance her cooking repertoire and give her a helpful contact to consult if she has trouble with a recipe.

Have each invitee bring a different kind of recipe: a recipe for a happy marriage. Guests can offer quotes, suggestions, and anecdotes to share with the bride to prepare her for successful married life.

One hostess mailed each guest a blank photo album page with instructions to decorate it with photos, quotes, anecdotes, or meaningful ideas for the bride-to-be. Each invitee presented her page at the shower and added it to the album for the bride-to-be to take home.

Fun bridal shower themes include “Around the Clock,” for which each guest is preassigned a time of day to correspond to her gift, “Lingerie,” “Kitchen,” “Recipes,” or “Holidays.”

Couples’ showers, rather than the traditional “girls only” events, are becoming increasingly popular. Typically, evenings are better for these events.

For a couples’ shower, be sure to choose a theme that both genders can appreciate, such as “Around the House,” where each guest brings a gift that corresponds to a preassigned room of the house, or “Outdoor Activities,” for which guests bring items the couple would enjoy outdoors, such as sporting equipment, beach towels, or exercise gear. The “Handy Couple” shower is a popular way for the honorees to stock up on tools and home accessories, and “That’s Entertainment” is a fun theme for stereo or video equipment, CDs and videos, and maybe even a popcorn popper.

Who should throw a bridal shower for the bride? Can my mother or sister sponser it?

Bridal showers are hosted generally by the bride’s maid of honor or
other close friend or friends. The invitations for these are usually
informal. Many bridal showers have gift themes, such as kitchen,
linens, lingerie.

It would be inappropriate for a family member to host a bridal shower
since the purpose is to receive gifts. It would appear that they are
soliciting gifts on your behalf.

Many years ago a father proved a dowry of gifts that would
accompany a bride (his daughter) into the marriage making her more
attractive to potential husbands. It would help give them a better
financial start in their new lives together. Today’s modern bridal
shower is a newer tradition to take its place. It is attended by family
and friends and is a way to jump start a bride and her groom to provide
them with some of the basic necessities.