Hosting a Bridal Shower

Minimax052910

Hey guys!

 

I'm hosting my best friend's only bridal shower...she's soooo excited, especially since it's her only shower. Therefore, there's tons of ladies invited to the shower. The list is a little over 50 females.

I'm nervous, because I want to throw a really fun party. I know most people don't like bridal showers and some of them can be really corny. This is why I'm here.

First thing first...the shower is going to be held at a church (bride's request) which means no alcohol

Please please help me out here...let me know what I should NOT do or what I should do. Thanks you all! 

Maybride2

Honestly, I always cringe when I read "shower" with a guest list bigger than 25 or so. But if that's what you're stuck with, I'd plan it to be a little less "shower-like" - no games (because there aren't really any fun games for that many people to play at one time), and I would ask guests to bring their gifts unwrapped (since unwrapping 50 gifts will take hours, and there's only so long that people can gush over seeing someone open presents, kwim?). Have lots of food and drink, plenty of sitting room, and encourage people to talk to eachother.

Magdala

There are three things that the host MUST do for a bridal shower:

1) have a variety of food/beverage to keep people well fed and well quenched.

2) know the layout of the hall/venue/restarurant to direct people for coat closets, rest rooms, fuse box (yes, the lights blew at one shower)

3) keep the guests entertained during the tedious watch-the-bride-open-gifts (present bingo, trivia contests, background slide show)  It helps to have small prizes for the 'winners'

northtamarack

Keep in mind that even if you do invite 50 people, not all of those will be able to show. 

Having it at a church could actually be a good thing - no one has to clean their home, you most likely will have a large kitchen to use, etc.

I would start by deciding the flavor of the shower.  Do you want to go fancy?  Casual? Middle of the road? 

Then I'd ask the bride about her wishes. 

One thing that I found very helpful was to go and look at blogs for inspiration. 

 GL!  Have fun!

GatorWedsNole

For a 50 person shower - what you should NOT do is turn down help.   If someone asks what they can do - tell them and be specific.  "It would be a big help if you could bring a dessert" or "I'd love to add another dip to the menu" or "It would be great if you can make a playlist for the shower and bring an ipod/speakers or CD/boombox to play for background music"

As far as games and activities, I would try to stick to "paper' games like word scramble, bingo and identify celebrity baby photos. This way everyone can participate.  I also like the idea of having everyone write advice on little note cards to the mom - you can collect them in a basket and raffle a prize to card that's picked out of the basket.  (these cards are a nice keepsake for the mom)

For decor, I like things that serve as a double duty:
- bud vases: centerpieces and favors
- candy/cookes in pretty boxes: stacked centerpiece and favors
- potted plants: centerpieces and prizes
- baby clothes hung on a line: decor and gifts for mom
- frame a few photos of the mom as a baby and display them.  The grandma would probably love to take these home.

For the menu, you might want to consider a brunch shower:
- juices
- coffee / tea
- muffins
- quiches
- honey baked ham
- fruit salad
- croissants & chicken salad

Because there will be no alcohol, maybe you could do a special toast to the mom-to-be using sparking white grape juice.  That can be festive.

HTH!

 

clarm83

Overall, I'm against cheesy games, but there was one at my shower that got lots of laughs...While I opened presents, my MOH passed around sheets of paper where people wrote "vows" for DH and me.  For instance, for mine they wrote stuff like "I vow not to compare you to George Clooney," & "I vow not to complain about your stinky feet."- silly stuff like that.  This worked as a great distraction to keep people entertained while I opened presents, and all of us had a great laugh, reading them out loud at the end.  

lauraoct10th

GatorWedsN... This is a Bridal Shower, not a baby shower.

My MIL Hosted mine. Since my mother lives on the west coast and we live east coast.  She did a wonderful job. She played off of my wedding colors. I used Tiffany blue. So she did the entire theme as Breakfast at Tiffany's.  Althought to me the movie is so-so.  It worked great, it was a surprise shower so i had no say.

On the invites she request everyone dress in thier favorite "little black dress and Pearls." She had it mid- moring so she served brunch. Very easy to do food items, my future in laws all pitched in and brought different items like muffins or scones, orange juice. There was alot to choose from.

 We played pin the diamond on the ring, and toilet paper dresses. It was the best shower i had ever been to. ( So glad it was mine).

As favors she had diamond ring cookie cutters and candy ring pops scadderd on the tables.

if you need any other ideas just let me know.