| Weddings aren't always the same boring,
traditional style you might remember. More and more couples are
mixing in their own expressions of individuality with unusual theme
weddings, even incorporating the occasional motorcycle. More recently,
this bizarre wedding fare has spilled over into the bridal shower
as well.
For one thing, the old-fashioned bridal shower is becoming less
common; no longer is it only for brides. Co-ed showers, or "Jack
& Jill Showers," as they've come to be called, are all
the rage these days. These are showers that are thrown for the couple
together. Often the Jack & Jill Shower is as simple as a barbecue
in the backyard or even a weekend backyard. In other cases, those
planning the event have gone so far as to charter a yacht. Some
have built it around a common theme (such as Star Wars or horses
or a favorite musician). You could use a local beach or park or
even something as unusual as a bowling alley or baseball park for
your Jack & Jill Shower.
At a Jack & Jill, don't expect to play the traditional bridal
shower games such as the toilet-paper-wedding-dress. After all,
the guys get a say-so in the day's entertainment. You should include
something that he'll also like, such as softball or volleyball.
Or the true sorts lover could have an Olympics-themed shower, with
scheduled sports events (nothing too strenuous) throughout the shower.
Another great idea is to have a casino-style shower, with several
tables of casino games. There's really no end to the ideas you could
incorporate; just remember that the idea is you want to allow both
men and women at the party to enjoy the event. That's the whole
point of going co-ed.
Since a Jack & Jill involves males and females, when you're
planning the shower, keep the groom and the bride both in mind.
You might consider registering at a local golf-pro shop or at a
hardware store or home-improvement store, just to make sure that
the gifts are balanced between both. To help your guests from having
to guess, some are now throwing a "stock the bar" part,
which the guests are asked to bring their favorite alcoholic beverages.
As an alternative, you could use a media or electronics theme and
ask the guests to bring DVD or CD gifts, or perhaps an accessory
for a gadget that you know the couple owns.
Since so many people, male and female, are enjoying sports today,
you might also load up the couple on sports gifts such as team memorabilia,
matching apparel, or even event tickets.
If you know the couple loves vacationing, create a honeymoon shower
and fill it with luggage and other travel-related gifts. These are
just a few ideas. The key is to find out about the couples interests
and then get creative. Not only will the couple remember their Jack
& Jill shower for the rest of their lives, but the guests probably
will too!
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