I'm hosting a bridal shower

[ASTalumna06]

If you want to cut down on games and only play one or two - any more than this could be overkill for a 2 hour party - I would suggest handing everyone a designated number of raffle tickets (maybe 3) when they walk in the door, and the prize for a game would be an additional raffle ticket.

I honestly hate showers of any kind and avoid them at all costs. But if I have to attend, I enjoy breaking things up with a fun game. I just wouldn't have them take up most of the time of the party.

[agzg]

Yeah I'm thinking four might be just too much. Maybe we could do some "who traveled the farthest" or something to increase the number of chances people have at a given basket.

[ComradesTrue]

A little late to the game, but 2 cents from a veteran of what seems like over a hundred bridal/baby showers.

Yes, four games is too many, especially with that many guests and 2 hours. I would suggest just one, with the possibility of a second that can be whipped out if there seems to be a party lull. However, if it is a 2 hour party, you can pretty much expect things to go like this:

First 15-20 minutes after official start time: people are still arriving, saying hello, putting purses in bedroom, placing gifts whereever they go.

Next 20 minutes: people are making their way through the food/drink line. Again, with that many guest, this will take a while.

Next 15-20 minutes: people will finish eating

Next 15-20 minutes: Game 1

Next 30 minutes: presents. Will prob take even longer with 40 guests. One minute per present would not be unusual.

At this point you are 90-110 minutes in. People will want their drinks refreshed, a little chit chat at the end, gift baskets, etc.

If things move along quickly, then you can bring out Game 2 after gifts.

Good luck and enjoy! Designate someone ahead of time (preferably not a hostess or a first degree relative) to take lots of pictures for the bride. The hostesses will be way too busy keeping out the food/keeping drinks refreshed/introducing people/answering the door/etc. to get too many pics, and the relatives will want to enjoy.

PS- Love the gift basket idea and really like the raffle aspect of it.

[WCsweet<3]

I stumbled upon this post and thought it might have some cute treat ideas for you.

http://www.everythingfab.com/2011/05...-of-great.html

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

LOL. I'm attending a bridal shower this Saturday. I hope they break things up with some wine.

LOLLLL

[nittanygirl]

I dislike games, but I like the raffle ticket idea. One, it gives everyone a good chance to win or not win if they don't want to put their raffle tickets in (some people are embarrassed by winning things) AND because it helps people get to know each other/feel comfortable since showers with HUGE groups of people can get awkward.
Good luck!!

[aephi alum]

The last bridal shower I attended was several years ago. The bride was the daughter of a friend of my mother-in-law. MIL strong-armed me into driving her there, as the shower was in Brooklyn - I will not drive in Manhattan, but MIL won't drive in any borough of NYC ... anyway ...

Games are stupid IMO. At this shower, they did a "get into a group of 4, here's a roll of toilet paper, dress up one of the group in a 'wedding dress' with the TP" game. The only people who played were the little girls. And they did the "we asked your fiance a bunch of questions, let's see how your answers match up to his" game, and some of the questions were IMO too raunchy to be stated around small children.

Also, the shower was held in summer, in a private home where there was NO air conditioning. I enjoyed the party, but I was really happy to get back into my car and crank the A/C.

Keep it tasteful, have it in a venue with A/C if it's hot and you will be fine.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Games are stupid IMO. At this shower, they did a "get into a group of 4, here's a roll of toilet paper, dress up one of the group in a 'wedding dress' with the TP" game. The only people who played were the little girls. And they did the "we asked your fiance a bunch of questions, let's see how your answers match up to his" game, and some of the questions were IMO too raunchy to be stated around small children.

Why were there even kids there? I don't think small children--or any children, really--are appropriate at a bridal shower.

[MaggieXi]

I think games are only appropriate when the average of the guests is close to the age of the bride. Women who have kids, who are older, etc. have other things to do, and spending in an inordinate amount of time on games, makes the shower kind of painful. When I was in my 20s the games were fun. Now, I'm in my 30s and have probably been to a zillion baby or bridal showers and I get annoyed if there is more than 1 game - especially if it takes more than 15 minutes.

My cousin's recent luncheon bridal shower, I traveled 2 hours in the pouring rain and horrible traffic - the majority of the guests had a similar trek. When we got there, the seven bridesmaids made us play an icebreaker game (game 1), then we had to pick out of a hat what table we were going to sit (Do not do this! I wanted to see and chat with family I hadn't seen in over a year and I was stuck sitting at a table with people I did not know and it sucked) (game 2), then salads, then another game (game 3), then lunch, then another game (game 4), then presents, then another game (game 5). By game 5, mosts guests were trying to leave. The shower itself ended up being 4 hours long and then another 2 hour trip home. In a 6 hour day - about an hour and half was spent playing games. I love my cousin, but this is not how I want to spend my Saturday.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Why were there even kids there? I don't think small children--or any children, really--are appropriate at a bridal shower.

I think they invited every female on the wedding guest list, regardless of age. The kids seemed to have fun, and there were opportunities for adult chitchat. There was a separate bachelorette party, which I attended - all women on the wedding guest list who were within a few years of the bride's age were invited. (It was rather more fun than the shower. We hit a few bars, and hot men bought us drinks. )

This is the same bride and groom whose wedding party consisted of the following:

- Maid of honor: bride's best friend from childhood (she was single)
- Best man: groom's best friend (also single, I believe)
- Bridesmaid and groomsman: bride's oldest sister and her husband, with "accompanying baby" (the younger of their two daughters)
- Bridesmaid and groomsman: bride's other sister and her husband, with "accompanying baby" (their only daughter at the time - I think they've had another since)
- Bridesmaid and groomsman: groom's sister and her husband, with "accompanying baby" (their daughter)
- Flower girl: bride's oldest sister's older daughter (2 years old) who got scared during the procession and ran back to mommy

The message was plain: BREED OR ELSE. And breed they did - two little girls. But they seem happy, and that is what is important.

</threadjack>

[honeychile]

I like the raffle idea, too, much better than actual games. Something similar would be putting a sticker on the bottom of a plate or chair and that person would win a prize. They did that at a wedding I went to (!), and it was for the centerpiece - like I could take it home on the plane! But I did give it to someone else at the table.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I like the raffle idea, too, much better than actual games. Something similar would be putting a sticker on the bottom of a plate or chair and that person would win a prize. They did that at a wedding I went to (!), and it was for the centerpiece - like I could take it home on the plane! But I did give it to someone else at the table.

The only reason I like a raffle better than the sticker thing is that the gathering will be fairly informal and that way folks get to kindof choose what they can win (since my baskets are so awesome).

Thanks for your input everyone! I think we'll do one game game, then maybe the gift BINGO if people are bored. Then raffle everything off!

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I like the raffle idea, too, much better than actual games. Something similar would be putting a sticker on the bottom of a plate or chair and that person would win a prize. They did that at a wedding I went to (!), and it was for the centerpiece - like I could take it home on the plane! But I did give it to someone else at the table.

Haha, I thought about doing something similar to give away the centerpieces at our wedding reception. I was going to announce, "We'd like to give away our table centerpieces to our guests. For each table, the centerpiece will go to the person whose birthday is closest to - stop grabbing at the flowers, you August babies! - closest to our birthdays. Mine is at the end of November and DH's is in early December." Didn't do it though. People at many of the tables pretty much discussed and decided who'd take home the centerpiece based on who was local and interested, and a few were left behind.

</threadjack>

[honeychile]

^^ One of the interesting parts was that I didn't know many people, but there was a Tri Sigma seated next to me. She got the flowers. Who said greeks don't stick together?

[agzg]

So, I have half of the favors and most of the baskets done - shower's next weekend and things are coming together.