Bridal Shower favors have evolved a lot over the last forty to fifty years. When I was a small child, the winner of the bridal shower game usually got to keep the household item. They where considered the Bridal Shower Favors. They arranged from a lot of different cooking utensils, to household cleaning products such as a toilet scrub brush, and the ever so popular a box of Hammer Baking Soda with a hand printed list of all its usefulness.

I remember when I was a small child my mother and the rest of the groom-to-be aunts gave his bride-to-be a family and friends a bridal shower. A lady who had children older than I was at the time, won one of the shower games and was tinkled pink that she won a toilet scrub brush; “Oh my,” she claimed, “I was just about to buy a new one, my old one that I received as a shower gift twenty years ago is loosing all its bristles. This is wonderful, now I don’t have to buy a new one.”

Cleaning ones house has evolved into disposal materials that’s better for the environment. In fact a lot of woman don’t even clean their own homes, these days. I can imagine a younger lady getting a regular old toilet brush for a bridal shower gift and not knowing what the thing was for.

So, what’s left to give out as bridal shower favors. Well you could get online and type in Bridal Shower Favors like I did and buy everything to theme soaps to little candles. You could give something out as elegant as wine stoppers to something as domestic as beer bottle openers. You can even give them heart shape measuring spoons for their own kitchen (if they cook and bake). My personal favorite for over indulging is the little monogrammed bags with any letter(usually the first letter of the bride-to-be’s new coming last surname)and filled with candies of your choice.

Or, you can go the same route I always did for the bridal showers I helped give to the brides-to-be in the past. I always found homemade bridal shower favors a more personal touch for the guest and for the bride and her mother and future mother-in-law. For insistence with a garden theme bridal shower, the favors could be a mix of flower seeds slipped into cellophane and the ends gathered together and tide with ribbon that also holds a personalize note from the bride or the bride’s mother or even written by the people that are giving the bridal shower. Just a simple thank you for coming to the bridal shower and making the day special for the bride-to-be and her mother.

The company called Pamper Chef also does bridal showers. The one I helped give I made twenty cut out cookies in five different shapes and20wrapped them individually in cellophane with color ribbon I attached the matching cookie cutter. The guest got to enjoy the bridal shower favor in two ways instead of one way. They got to eat the cookie and use the cookie cutter for their own baking. The quest that didn’t bake, I noticed they did two things; they kept the favor or gave it to a relative they knew loved to bake.

My mother always prefers the eatable bridal shower favors, especially the chocolate kind. However the problem with that bridal shower favor once the food item is gone my mother would throw away the container that held the food item. No matter if it held a personal note or the bride-to-be’s name.

Which brings us to that special bridal shower favor that the guest will want to hold on to for quite sometime. And the most famous question bridal shower givers ask is how much money do we want to spend. Of course it all begins with how many people are giving the bridal shower and how much money can they afford to spend. I personally have done the bridal shower where the bridesmaid gave the party. To the bride-to-be’s family live out of town, however the groom-to-be’s family lives in town so they give a bridal shower to the bride-to-be as a welcome to the family party. I find giving a bridal shower as the bridesmaid gives you less money to work with, since you already have pay over a hundred dollars for the bridesmaid dress, than another forty dollars for the shoes.

And don’t forget the twenty dollars for the matching purse. Than theirs that wrap or coat you need to get for the winter weddings. Plus your bridesmaid are usually limited to two to four women. Where as a family bridal shower you can have two to ten women helping pay for the bridal shower. Once you decide on a budget you need to make your list of things you need. Food, game prizes, cake, and serving ware. What money is left over is usually what you use for decorating and the favors.

So, you can spend as much or as little money you want on bridal shower favors. However this writer believes in the more personal touch of the bridal shower favors. Weather they are eatables or the throw in the draw kind of bridal favors. By adding bridal shower favors for the guest to take home with them, that makes it more personal for the bride-to-be and to me that’s more important.

It is possible to make your bridal shower something your guests will remember by placing some thought and emphasis on choosing the right invitations and bridal shower favors for the event. These impress the guests a lot, and makes them know how well prepared you are for the bridal shower.

When choosing your bridal shower favors, choose something that the guests can and will treasure for a long time after the bridal shower. With such a bridal shower favor, the guests will remember the special day that they had spent with the bride. Choose cute, fun and unique bridal shower favors which serve as tokens to guests. Keep the more special favors for those who had won the bridal shower games.

Though you have a large range of bridal shower favors to choose from, it is always better to choose a bridal shower favor that is related to the theme of the bridal shower. With this, you find some coherence in the party event that makes it easier to associate with the bridal shower. Choose a bridal shower favor that serves as a small remembrance to the guests in the form of personalized stuff like shirts or even friendship rings.

You could also consider sweet edibles for your bridal shower favors like special chocolates or candy that you can wrap in personalized foil. Choose the best candy bar from a wide range of them like the Belgian or dark, almonds or bubblegum; your guests will really like taking this home.

Another bridal shower favor idea is a picture frame. A heart shaped picture frame or frames of various varieties like chrome or silver plating, with a mirror cover is a fantastic and great choice as a bridal shower favor. You could also include a picture of you as a couple in the frame, to remind the guests of the wedding ceremony and reception.

There is basically no end to the list of bridal shower favor ideas. You can use your creativity and imagination in choosing the right bridal shower favor by looking through sites on the internet, and stores offering bridal shower favors. You will then get ideas to implement in your bridal shower favor. Of course, you will have to keep your budget in mind when choosing and making your bridal shower favors, lest it does not prove to be too much of a financial burden for you.

The Custom

The underlying reason for a Bridal shower is that it’s a perfect occasion for family and friends of the bride to spend relaxed time with her before the big wedding day. A Bridal shower is commonly hosted by the maid-of-honor and bridesmaids or friends and family of the bride or groom. The custom is said to have grown out of earlier dowry practices when a poor woman’s family might not have the money to provide a dowry for her, or when a father refused to give his daughter her dowry because he did not approve of the marriage. Another custom was to help the new couple set up a home, or to help the bride get together a trousseau. The Bridal shower kicks off the wedding festivities and it is important that everything goes well.

Basic Planning

The bride has probably been stressed from all of the planning, and the shower gives her some much needed time to unwind with her friends. The bride is the princess of the day, so be sure that in your planning you don’t do anything that will make her feel uncomfortable. Unless you feel it’s mandatory to surprise the bride, involve her in the planning. In order to take some stress off of the people involved in the planning of the party, you may choose a location that caters and also has beverages available for the guests. If you are working with a group of several women try to limit the planning to one meeting where you can choose a them and then decide who will do each of the basic planning step like as obtaining the guest list and sending the invitations, accepting the invitation responses, choosing a location, creating centerpieces, buying favors, arranging for the games, selecting the menu or buying the gift. Choosing a theme ensures that everyone on the same page. Give each member of the group a budget and set them loose. If you are planning the party on your own, be sure to make a list and do just one thing at a time.

Theme

A Bridal-shower theme is a way of designing a party around a certain subject, time in history, or part of the world. Bridal shower themes are as varied as the brides themselves and add a specific ambiance to the party. Once you have chosen a theme, the rest of the shower planning becomes easier because invitations, decorations, and favors can all be coordinated to fit the theme. . Whether the bridal shower theme is part of the wedding or unique event that the friends of the bride put together and creates inspiration and a more magical environment. There are so many themes from which to choose. Some of the most popular are: kitchen shower, exotic locale, the bride’s favorite pastime, using the bride’s heritage, plan a shower with her favorite ethnic foods, or stock the bar. A Halloween themed bridal shower can be a fun and inventive way to celebrate the bride-to-be, as long as the event does not scare her away from the altar! Use your imagination to create the perfect theme.

Location

The location is important when having a Bridal shower. If the location will be a venue that is a particular size or that needs reservations, make sure to get the reservations as soon as possible to ensure the shower location. Once the location is decided, it is important to choose the date and time for the bridal shower. Be sure to consult the bride before deciding upon a location.

A local restaurant, the home of one of the hostesses or a Country Club where one of the hostesses is a member are ideal locations. Having the party at a restaurant or club gives you the advantage of using the expertise of a highly trained Catering Manager in planning your party. The Catering Manager’s job is to please her guests. Take advantage of her knowledge to select the theme, décor, food and every other part of the shower.

Invitations

When you’re trying to come up with a unique bridal shower invitation idea, you can drive yourself crazy, but remember the bridal Shower invitation is the first impression of your party. The first thing you will want to ask yourself when you are thinking about a unique bridal shower invitation is, ‘What is the theme of the shower. The theme is very important when you’re deciding what kind of invitations to send. For example, if the theme of the bridal shower is a ‘Cinderella story,’ you can find beautiful imprinted invitations to match or create your own. Many desktop publishing programs have great invitation templates and your local office supply store has a great selection of paper products for printing.

Be sure to plan your bridal shower and order your bridal shower invitations at least 8-12 weeks in advance. If you have many out of town guests attending you may want to mail the bridal shower invitations as early as 6 weeks in advance so everyone is sure to reserve the date for your party so that they can attend. Bridal shower invitations should not only invite your guests to the event, they should contain clear instructions on the location of the shower, any theme that is being used for the bridal shower and an RSVP card that can help you determine the number of guests attending you can expect at the bridal shower. You can always find an approach that will fit your budget from basic one layer bridal invitations all the way up to more expensive and higher quality layered approaches. Paying attention to the little details when it comes to bridal shower invitations can make a nice statement with your guests and provide them with an elegant keepsake of the Bridal shower.

Decorations

One of the best things about throwing a bridal shower is choosing the decorations. Decorations for your shower should pull together the look you’re trying to. The decorations at a bridal shower are very important, particularly if it will be themed. Your decorations can be bright and dramatic, or soft and romantic. Confer with the bridesmaids about the theme of the bridal shower, establish a budget, and finalize decision about decorations, menu, favors, and music and bridal shower games.

Whether working with a Catering Manager, or are creating centerpieces on your own, remember to incorporate the theme of the party. Many people think that centerpieces have to be lavish and expensive, but the simplest bud vase of flowers, monogrammed with the bride’s initials, can make a beautiful statement. Another idea for centerpieces is to incorporate your party favors into the centerpiece. Another interesting bridal shower favor idea is to create a breakaway centerpiece, where several smaller pieces comprise of the centerpiece. This saves time and money. A simple floral arrangement with a circle of theme related favors sets the table with a beautiful and meaningful touch. Favors can also serve as place cards. If your location does not offer a simple centerpiece, or you are looking for something more creative, consider saving money by making all of the decorations and favors.

Games

Deciding whether or not to have bridal shower games and is a very important part of A Bridal shower planning. Bridal Shower Games make excellent ice breakers when the guests do not all know each other. Games also keep things moving along and are a way to facilitate relations between the guests. It’s easy and keeps your guests sticking around until the very end, anticipating the fun that’s in store. About 20 minutes into the bridal shower, it’s time to test your guests with this fun little game that tests their observation skills. Today bridal shower games can be downloaded from the internet and easily printed out on your home computer. Personalized games are also available. Make sure you remember to buy prizes or gifts for the game-winners. Personalized gifts or gifts incorporating the showers theme are inexpensive and can be ordered at the same time you order your favors. These gifts are a valuable keepsake of the shower.

Favors

Favors are not a requirement, but they are a fun way to share your wedding day memories. Bridal shower favors are often personalized with the name of the bride, or of the bride and groom and the date of the wedding. The most precious favors are those that celebrate the bride’s personal style and incorporate the theme of the party. The favors, which serve as small mementos for each of your party guests, should also fit the theme. The selection of party favors is endless. Just remember, the favors you choose should be feminine, elegant, and practical.

Gifts

Once the guests have been greeted and any games have been played, the bride should be led to her chair to open the gifts. After the shower is over, it is proper etiquette for the bride to thank her guests, not only for the gifts, but for sharing the day with her.

The hostesses of the luncheon or party should find the right gift for a bridal shower is to show the bride how much you care. Choose from the bridal registry and select a gift that she might not otherwise receive.

Any Bride-to-be will tell you one of her favorite mementos from the A Bridal shower is a miniature picture album filled with a photo of her and each guest (taken at the shower) and a handwritten bit of advice from that guest slipped into the adjoining page.

It is also proper etiquette for the bride to give a gift to the hostesses as a special “Thank You” for the party.

A bridal shower is a fun way for a friends and family to celebrate her, prior to the wedding whether it is an afternoon luncheon party, a spa retreat, or night on the town, the Bridal shower is always a highly anticipated part of the wedding festivities. Throwing a bridal shower is the perfect way to show the bride how much you care and is a great opportunity to create wonderful, long lasting memories with friends and family.

The first step in planning a bridal shower is to come up with a list of bridal shower ideas for possible party themes. The theme of the bridal shower should reflect something that the bride-to-be likes. For example you can use the bride’s favorite movie as inspiration for the bridal shower’s theme. Other possible bridal shower ideas for themes include: Hawaiian theme, Western theme, Beach theme, tropical theme, kinky theme, or Victorian theme.

After the theme for the bridal shower has been selected the next step will be to pick out an invitation design that compliments the bridal shower theme. The cost of the bridal shower invitation will be based on the material that it is made out of, the vendor that offers the bridal shower invitations, how many invitations you order, and if the invitations are customized. You can save money by buying a pre-printed set of bridal shower invitations, or by making your own.

Next you will need to take your ideas and apply them to the decorations for the bridal shower. Your decorations should reflect the theme of the bridal shower, and they should offer an aesthetic function as well as a practical function. The bridal shower decorations that you will need include: table cloths, napkins, centerpieces, glasses, draping fabric, banners, and wall hangings.

In addition to bridal shower invitations and decorations, your bridal shower ideas also need to be translated into bridal shower favors. The first types of bridal shower favors that you will need are door prizes. Next you will need bridal shower favors that you can hand out as game prizes. Finally you will need bridal shower favors that can be given to all of the guests just for showing up.

The final things that your bridal shower ideas will need to be applied to are bridal shower games. Traditional bridal shower games include games like Toilet Paper Wedding Gown Designer, The Life Thread Game, and Balloon Pop Games. Bridal showers with themes will need to find games that incorporate an element of the theme into the game. For example a western themed bridal shower may offer games that incorporate props like cowboy hats, cowboy boots, and lassos.