| The bride strolls down the aisle in
her designer gown adorned with lace and wildflowers, her father
by her side with a prideful tear in his eye. The church is beautifully
decorated, and the crowd is anxious with the excitement of hearing
those two important words: I do.
And you have the joy of knowing you gave her a very special gift
for this occasion…the perfect bridal shower!
Okay, now that I’ve piled on the pressure, you should know
one thing. This may be a very important and nerve racking experience
for most, but you can make it a fun and memorable day for all…including
yourself!
First things first. Talk with the bride to be. It’s her big
day, after all, so it’s important to find out some of her
favorites. Flowers, foods, drinks, colors…these are all important
details that will make this day even more special for her. However,
don’t make it an inquisition. She has enough on her mind without
feeling the burden of planning the shower. Keep it simple, perhaps
over lunch or drinks.
And, most important, make her feel confident that you will have
everything, from planning to the budget, under control.
Next, you need to learn one word: teamwork. An organized event will
be low-stress and high-fun. Track down several people that you trust
to follow through on tasks, and assign each one a different job.
Having each them report to you on the progress of their “mission”
will give you the opportunity to supervise as well as handle your
own tasks.
Now the $64,000 question: What theme will you use for the party.
There are so many to choose from, but one of the most popular, and
fun, is the garden theme. Plenty of fresh flowers and plants, woodsy
decorations and exotic colors will make this shower unforgettable!
You’ve already finished the hard part; interviewing the bride
and finding out her favorite flowers and colors. Now you have all
the info you need to give this a personalized touch and make the
bride feel special.
It’s time to have fun and get creative. Make simple yet elegant
centerpieces from her favorite flowers.
Use flower pots and other plants to decorate every corner, shelf
and mantel in the room. Try to decorate every room the guest will
visit, including the kitchen, dining room, living room…and
even the little girl‘s room! Make it an adventure to step
into any room in the house.
You also know the bride’s favorite colors from the interview,
so use them in your scheme, as well. Ribbons, tablecloths and napkins
are all part of the decorating process, so use her color selections,
as well as plenty of pastels to give that “garden feel.”
You’ve decorated with beautiful flowers and amazing colors,
created fantastic centerpieces, and made sure every room felt like
a garden on a summer day. Please don’t make the major mistake
of going “cheap” on glasses, plates and flatware. Disposable
always says cheesy. If you don’t have nice glassware or flatware,
find a way to get some, just for this one day. It will truly add
to the occasion.
As you plan the menu, it’s important to remember not to draw
attention from the bride. Fancy is nice, but overboard is bad. Make
it simple by offering several appetizers and perhaps several more
“light” main dishes to keep the guests happy. Of course,
a cake is expected, as well as a nice pastry or two. And, if you
want to kick it up a notch, make some cookies or pastries that go
along with your garden/flower theme.
Punch, iced tea and water are great staples for the perfect shower.
Feel free to get creative with the presentation…edible flowers
are always a nice touch when placed in the punch bowl. Also, champagne
is also a fun way to begin, or end, the meal.
If your bride enjoys party games, the garden theme is perfect for
that. Everyone will enjoy creative games that involve flowers and
plants, and will absolutely love receiving garden-themed gifts.
Make sure that the party favors are fun, as well. Something, such
as notions with seeds that the guests can take home and plant, will
have them remembering this special day for months, and perhaps years,
to come!
The most important thing to remember when planning your garden-themed
shower is to keep it organized and simple, and to be as creative
as possible. It will be the best, and most memorable, gift the bride
will receive.
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