Beach themed bridal shower ideas needed

bridetobe920

Hi all -

We just pulled off an wonderful 1st birthday party for our daughter on Saturday, which hasn't left me much time to think about a bridal shower I am throwing for my sister this weekend.  The theme is beach (blue, coral, peach verses bright colors).  So far, I have shells and starfish to use to decorate the table.  I also have a blue tablecloth, and beach/ocean themed prizes for the games (i.e. Ocean scented candles, bath soaps, etc.).   I guess my main concern is the food.   I had planned to do baked ziti, salad and bread, but I am worried it would be odd with the theme.  Any thoughts?  I was also thinking of some kind of blue punch, but not sure.  Any help is greatly appreciated!

Mrs07

What about dessert?  If the desserts are starfish-shaped cookies or something, I wouldn't think the main meal odd.

eta - lol totally misspelled desserts 

whineymom

I think more seafood when I think beach theme...Shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, white clam chowder, hot sourdough bread rolls, big crispy salad with homemade ranch dressing. BUT I also think keep the menu simple so you can be a good hostess and actually enjoy the festivities yourself. There is a drink called "sex on the beach" that could be whimsy and fun depending on your crowd. To add to the above comment: love the cookie shape ideas. grind up grahm crackers very finely to look like sand. Have the cookies laying in them. Sand dollar shapes? bikini decorated cookies... That's my 2 cents...hope it helped. 

lsgarver

I think it's totally fine to have a "normal" menu at a theme party.  Think of ways to decorate the buffet table so the theme is apparent around the food, rather than in the food, e.g. nets strung around the serving dishes, marking the names of the dishes on sand dollars and displaying them as labels, stringing starfish to skirt the table, putting pillar candles in hurricane vases with small seashell filler, etc.

A beach theme can get really overworked so don't worry so much about getting it all theme-y, just make it pretty with thematic touches.  Good luck and come back with pics once it's done!!

GatorWedsNole

The food doesn't sound very beachy - but since it's only a few days away, I would consider keeping the menu.  Plus ziti and salad are pretty universally liked foods.

I agree with PP that dessert should def be beachy.  Maybe a simple poundcake with cocount ice cream.  Or a pineapple cake. 

I like the idea of a blue drink, but does that "go" with ziti? 

Can you create a beachy sountrack?  Maybe some calypso music.

GL!

WishesSheCouldCook

What about kabobs? 

6fsn

I certainly agree you don't need to match the food to the theme, but at least think about matching it to the season.  The thought of baked ziti in 80+ weather just seems blech.  How about a nice pasta salad with lots of fresh veggies and some grilled chicken on top.  Add a tossed green salad, caprese skewers, and crusty bread. 

I like the idea of doing a beachy theme for the desserts.

jeng507

My sister/MOH made my shower beach themed too and she did an amazing job with it! She had me and DH sit up front in beach chairs in front of a kiddie pool with a beach umbrella over us....she had hawaiian music playing...we had chicken kabobs and rice...the centerpieces were big fish bowls with sand and sea shells in them with a candle in the middle...the best part was the desserts, she made sand cups! (kinda like mud cups with the gummy worms) she used vanilla pudding and graham cracker crumbs and put a drink umbrella and gummy sandals in them! Soo cute!!! Good luck!

ILoveRedVino

6fsn:

I certainly agree you don't need to match the food to the theme, but at least think about matching it to the season.  The thought of baked ziti in 80+ weather just seems blech.  How about a nice pasta salad with lots of fresh veggies and some grilled chicken on top.  Add a tossed green salad, caprese skewers, and crusty bread. 

I like the idea of doing a beachy theme for the desserts.

This. 

BlackDiamond3201

I don't think all of your food has to fit the theme. You can make some type of cookies with a beach theme or have the cake made with a beach theme.

 

 

Krisnizzle

Jerk chicken kabobs, grilled pineapple, grilled fish, rice and peas.  You could also make rum punch, always makes me think of the beach!