I'm hosting a bridal shower - Page 2

Shellfish · #1 06-06-2011, 09:36 AM

I was at a shower recently, and one of the games was really pretty great: One person thinks of a word relating to weddings or marriage that starts with an A; then the next person repeats that word and adds a word beginning with B, and the third person repeats the A and B words and thinks of one beginning with C. You work your way around the room and through the alphabet (returning to A again if you get through Z). If a person messes up any of the words that preceded her or can't think of a word for her letter, she's out. The last person standing is the winner.

ASTalumna06 · #2 06-06-2011, 10:36 AM

I went to a wedding this past weekend, and the DJ had the bride and groom play a game after the MOH and Best Man's speeches. He had both of them take off their shoes, and switch one shoe with the other person. Then he asked them questions like, "Who made the first move?".. "Who wears the pants in the relationship?".. "Who takes longer to get ready before going out for the night?".. "Who, after tonight, will be the first to say, 'I'm not in the mood'?".. and the bride and groom would have to raise a shoe, either theirs or their spouse's, which they thought best answered the question. It was actually really funny.

You could carry this same idea over to the shower. Give everyone two notecards, one that says the bride's name, and one that says the groom's. Then ask a question, wait until everyone is ready with their answers, and all at once have everyone hold up their desired notecard. Everyone who has an answer that matches the bride's gets a point. The people who have the most matching answers at the end will receive tickets for the raffle.

erica812 · #3 06-06-2011, 10:55 AM

I love showers!! I had so much fun hosting my sister's bridal shower. I did a "tea," and my sister loved it.

Four games does sound like a lot. I would think one or two, at most.

Enjoy the experience.

agzg · #4 06-06-2011, 11:06 AM

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.

WCsweet<3 · #5 06-06-2011, 08:25 PM

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

nittanygirl · #6 06-06-2011, 09:32 PM

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 · #7 06-06-2011, 11:58 PM

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 · #8 06-07-2011, 08:30 AM

Quote:

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 · #9 06-07-2011, 09:36 AM

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 · #10 06-07-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

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 · #11 06-07-2011, 11:27 PM

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 · #12 06-18-2011, 10:17 PM

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

agzg · #13 06-26-2011, 08:33 PM

The shower was so fun, and the one game was perfect, minus the fact that the bride was super fast opening presents so we would have had time for another. I'm fine with one, and so was she.

It almost rained us out! But it cleared up in time for the shower and we had tents outside so were able to tough it out, minus that it was a little muddy.

I am le tired. 16 hours of driving in one weekend, who thought that was a good idea?

KSUViolet06 · #14 06-26-2011, 08:47 PM

Cute baskets and YAY for limited games. I hate games.

I double hate children being present. So yay for none of those.

My god, this post makes me sound like Oscar the Grouch.

agzg · #15 06-18-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

The bridal shower was a ton of fun. There were either 3 or 4 games but they were so fun that I didn't even notice. The food was awesome. We hung out later for dinner, drinks, and laughter after she escaped her family.

My friend, whose shower it was, shares my sentiment about these types of events. It wasn't her idea to have a formal shower with games. LOL. I could tell by her demeanor. My friends and family love and know me enough to not torture me with the formality of a shower with games and stuff.

LOL. Well, I went from four to one, and even the shower enthusiasts seem to be on board.

We also got dinner reservations to kick off our bar crawl later that night!

I'm so excited to see all my college friends again.