| Bridal showers are an exciting time
not only for the bride, but also for you and your mutual friends.
The look on her face when she sees the surprise (or not so surprise)
shower you planned so carefully for her is priceless, but sometimes
deciding what to plan is difficult. How do you make the party fun
without relying on a bunch of wedding clichés or games everyone's
expecting, but dreading? How do you make the day memorable without
breaking the budget?
One way to keep the shower original and affordable is to make the
decorations yourself. Design a thematic table centerpiece with individual
place cards, but make it with an interesting substance, such as
fruit or candy. Adding personal touches shows how much you care
for the bride and the guests.
Just because you're celebrating a joyous occasion doesn't mean you
have to splurge or go overboard with decoration. Most of the time,
adding one special piece means more than a lot of haphazard or sloppy
ones. Keeping the trimmings minimal places the focus on the bride
herself. Try a communal "gift" such as making a card for
the guests to sign; it will be something the bride will cherish
for years. Take lots of photos during the shower and make an album
for her after the party is over – the gesture won't go unappreciated.
The biggest problem with creating decoration for outdoor parties
is making sure they withstand the weather. Your party won't last
for weeks, but take into effect the day's sun, rain, and wind damage
that could spoil your careful planning. Also, making sure your guests
are comfortable is more important than protecting the decor: if
they aren't comfortable, they won't have fun. Invest in a temporary
gazebo or large umbrellas to shade the party. If it's summer time,
provide cans of bug spray. If an unexpected rain shower threatens
the joy of the day, the shade you had from the sun will double as
protection against water. Be sure the decorations you've put out
won't dissolve in the rain and create a mess on your lawn.
Because this might not be the bride or groom's first marriage, avoiding
white might be a good alternative to facing or causing embarrassment
later. Using pastels is a much better option – it keeps the
mood light and beautiful without suggesting anything about the bride
and groom's lifestyle. Even if you choose to use white, red is also
a wonderful color to incorporate because of its association with
romance. It provides a bold accent to keep your decorations interesting.
To make sure your hard work doesn't go to straight into the trash
once your guests go home, make sure the centerpiece is something
the bride can take home with her. Decorate with things she can use
in her new home, such as silverware, crystal, or linens. Also, make
sure your guests are able to bring a token with them as well. Giving
away miniature flower vases or other goodies leave a good impression
of the party and of you as a hostess.
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