Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Bridal Shower Help!
Hi Everyone,
I am throwing my friend a shower at my home. I have zero experience entertaining or hosting an event like this. I need tips and ideas. It will be during the day, on a Saturday. Probably 12-3. What should I serve? Any decoration ideas or any ideas you have seen at other showers? It will be around 20 friends and her Mom and sister. She is the kind of person who loves small details- so these type of ideas would be great. She loves to entertain and always puts lots of thought into the details of the party so I want to do the same for her! SHould I use her wedding colors in the decoration? They are purple, green and silver.
Thanks and sorry if this quest gets asked often I tried doing a search but it didnt work out so well!
Edit: She is 26 and would like a more modern feel to a traditional shower with some creative details. Think Martha Stewart section of a craft store 
I dont know how else to explain the type of things she likes besides she just likes details!
Re: Bridal Shower Help!
It really depends on her style/age and what type of event she is looking forward to. I despise the traditional showers. I think a luncheon with a sleek, modern asian theme would be really cool, and you could easily incorporate greens and purples into the decor.
What about a wine tasting paired with heavy hors d'ouevres? If you have a local wine store in the area, they'll typically put together some different wines and suggest things to pair them with. Whole foods or Trader Joe's could probably help too. You could make little menues with the pairings in her wedding colors and do plates, napkins, etc. in her wedding colors as well. And maybe tie the favor into the wine them and do little wine stoppers or wine charms for everyone.
If that seems like too much, I'd just do heavy hors d'ouevres and a signature drink or two in her colors. For a baby shower I did blue martinis and served them with a two pick with three gummy bears on it. Something like that (but not kid themed obviously) would be cute.
Good luck!
I don't think the wine tasting would be such a good idea, since the mommy-to-be wouldn't even be able to participate and might feel left out.
Here's a few ideas for semi-nontraditional showers (color scheme):
http://lifeoftees.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/real-parties-blue-green-baby-shower/
http://lifeoftees.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/cowboy-baby-showernot-too-fancy/
and lots more here:
http://lifeoftees.wordpress.com/tag/baby-shower/
First of all, I'd like to say that I think it's great that you're hosting a shower for a detail-loving friend when it's a challenge for you. I'm sure she'll really appreciate all the work you're putting into it. I'm going to throw out a bunch ideas with the hopes that one of them might help inspire you.
Check out this link for some visuals:http://www.hostesswiththemostess.com/themes/bridal_showers
Personally, I would stay away from wedding colors and surprise her with a fun and modern color combo. Maybe orange/brown or red/aqua.
To help you with that "Martha section of the craft store feel," I'd choose pattern and colors and stick to it as much as possible. For example, orange/brown stripes or red/aqua polka dots. That kinda thing.
A signature cocktail in the right color would be a nice touch.
You can personalize the shower by having her initials on certain things like invites and maybe on napkins, or on cookies/cupcakes for dessert.
For food, I like PP's idea about asian food. How about some kind of bar? Taco bar? Mashed potato bar? What does the bride like?
Good luck!
It's for a bridal shower...
Someone who's detail oriented would probably love hors d'oeuvres. That being said, I don't know what your skill level is, but here are some ideas.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/menu/views/small_plates_big_flavors
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/menu/views/christmas03_cocktail
What's going to make it look modern are a) lots of color and b) picking items that have twists on tradition in both their ingredients as well as the way they're served. I love the way that the bloody mary shrimp shooters look and I think that your friend and I have similar tastes based upon what you've written.
That being said, if you go this route, you're going to need an extra set of hands to help with assembling, ample storage and a good timeline so that you aren't innundated with everything all at once.
oops, sorry, it's been one of those kind of days. In that case, I recently threw my sister a Kentucky Derby themed bridal shower that was lots of fun. We held it at a small local race track, you can see pics here:
http://lifeoftees.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/a-day-at-the-races-2/
and here's a really cute black and yellow one, I love this color scheme.
http://lifeoftees.wordpress.com/2008/07/22/real-parties-yellow-black-bridal-shower-2/
Since you have a daytime shower, how about a garden tea party?
Where I'm from it's custom to use the bride's colors for the wedding for the shower b/c she of course loves those colors
I think heavy appetizers could work but make sure you have enough b/c of the time of the shower - lunchtime. And instead of a traditional cake - use her fave dessert: we did an ice cream sundae bar for my sister's shower --- people loved it b/c it was different & fit my sister's personality to not to traditional cake.
If you are doing games, you might consider "10 ?s" where you ask the groom in advance & then have the bride answer at the shower to see if they match up: this goes over well b/c people get to know the couple better this way.
Another idea is to have the groom come at the end of the shower to help finish up opening gifts & meet people he hasn't yet/etc. This was done at both my shower & my sister's after a friend did this -- love it!
Have fun!
If budget is a concern, first look and see what you have on hand and what items you could borrow for a more elegant party rather than buying a bunch of "bridal shower" paper goods that are crap and get thrown out. Right now, you might be able to find purple, green & silver items from Christmas clearance or even your own Christmas stash so start there. You don't have to use her wedding colors but it's an easy option without a theme. If you want a theme, Mardi Gras would be fun (and in this color scheme) since that falls around this time of year.
For food, does she have a favorite cuisine?