One of the best (and easiest!) games I've seen at a shower was to secretly question the groom about things related to the two of them as a couple. Then, at the shower, ask the bride the same questions and see how many she gets right. For each one she gets wrong, she has to chew a piece of bubblegum -- sometimes they end up with a mouthfull!
If possible, videotape the groom's answers to play back -- but with the short timing involved here, that may not be feasible. But just have his answers recorded on a cute piece of paper so she can keep it for her scrapbook.
Some ideas for questions to ask him (could easily be done over the phone or on email -- just make sure he keeps it SECRET from her!!!) -- and obviously these would be different depending how long they've known one another and stuff:
*what elementary school did the groom go to?
*where was your first kiss?
*who first said "I love you", and where were you when it was said?
*what is the groom's favorite movie (song/actor/book/etc.) of all time?
*name all of the companies the groom has worked for/schools he attended/whatever
*what is the first restaurant you ate in as a couple?
*where was the first trip you took together?
*family questions -- naming all cousins
*what city was the groom born in?
And it can go on and on and on... about 10-15 questions is usually good, and make some of them HARD! Like "how many bones has the groom broken in his life?" or "at what age did the groom first lose a tooth?" or "what was the groom's first car?"
If appropriate for the company involved, you can even get risque/fun with some of the questions -- "what would the groom say is his favorite part of the bride's body?" or whatever. Just make sure the people there (and the bride herself!) would be okay with those types of questions.
As for the gifts, I think with enough people in the room you are okay to have her open gifts in front of everyone... but if someone specifically says something to you as the hostess about it (uncomfortable about the confusion or whatever), then it may be best skipped. Just make an announcement that for the sake of time, she'll open them later -- you could even offer if people *want* to stay around and watch, they can. But have a definite ending time for the shower, and if people linger to watch, cool. Otherwise they have an excuse to go ahead and leave if they're uncomfortable staying and/or didn't bring a gift.
I would say you're fine without a goody bag... saves you time and energy. And as for decorations, can you get ahold of some pictures of the couple as kids and/or from their relationship? Get color copies made and paste them around or put them in inexpensive frames on each table.
Good luck -- and have fun!!
sisterly wedding advice needed please
The cake, food & invitations turned out well (with exception of gift confusion alluded to above), but that is about it so far! As you can probably tell, I'm going a little (ok - a LOT) nutty about this, and so I'm hoping some of my fellow gammies can maybe help me out someway, somehow, to throw down a great shower.
Thank you! Thank You!
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