The Bridal shower, besides the wedding of course, will be one of the most memorable events for the bride during her wedding year. Yet, the shower does not only have to be memorable for the bride herself, but also for the attendants. A great shower will always result with proper planning and time. This article will provide you with many helpful hints that will assist you in putting on a fun and enjoyable party for all involved.

Where to party?

First, and foremost, you must decide on where the event is going to take place. There are several options. You must take into account all of the things that will come along with your decision of where to hold the shower, such as: Budget, Convenience, cleanup, comfort, space, etc...

Depending on these things, you could decide to hold it: at your home or a friend or family members, at an apartment complex clubhouse or renting out a space in a restaurant. Most people usually will opt for the home since it is not costly and is comfortable. Just be sure you have enough space for all of the guests to sit or roam about and mingle and also to play some shower games in. Also, consider the cleanup that it will entail to host a party of a large number of people.

The Invitations

You can pickup shower invitations just about anywhere these days that will provide all of the information necessary about the party. Just be sure to include a date to RSVP by so that you may plan accordingly. Also be sure to include directions to the location of the shower and any information on a registry that the bride is involved with. It is a great and optimal idea that the bride registers for shower gifts as it happens so often that many people will buy the same gift or will just buy the wrong gift altogether. This way, it ensures that the bride will recieve the things she wants and needs, and in her size.

FOOD

So, what is the best shower food?? Finger foods, of course. Theyre easy aand inexpensive and are very good fillers. Some great and easy finger foods to consider could be: Turkey ham or roast beef wraps-buy some tortilla shells, rolls two slices of ham, turkey or roast beef and one slice of cheese up into them and slice into fours and put a decorative toothpick in them. Also some tortilla chips and salsa aand a cheesedip always goes over great at a party. Another great snack is a vegetable tray including broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, olives{black and green}, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes {cheese cubes are always a plus to the veggie tray as well} and a ranch dip. You could even also have a fruit tray as well with some cherries, clementines, plums, apple slices, pear slices, pineapple and cottage cheese.

A great way to present dessert would be a miniature wedding cake. The colors of the cake should be the same as the colors that will be on the bridal cake at the wedding. This will surely be a wonderful addition that the bride will surelt remember for years to come.

To drink: A simple punch will do. Depending on whether or not this party will include alcohol, this punch is easy to make regardless. All you need is one gallon of carnberry juice, two two-liters of gingerale, one gallon of strawberry sherbet {alcoholic-two cups of dark rum}, mix and voila, you've got the perfect shower punch. Also, be sure to stock up on some cans of regular and diet sodas for the soda-drinkers, it's not necessary to buy name brands if you are on a budget. Most people will be having such a good time and won't even notice. Your best bet will be to probably get a cooler and a few bags of ice to be sure the drink stay nice and chilled. A few bottles of water or a couple of gallon jugs will do well also, for the avid water drinkers.

The Decor

The decorations should be fairly simple. They should always coincide with the wedding colors. A nice idea for the centerpiece on the table, instead of one of those gaudy fold-out ones, involves the topper for the bridal cake. You will have to ask the bride if you may borrow it for this one. If that is not a possibility, no problem. You can just pickup one of those cheaper but nice-looking ones at walmart or target or a party store for not much more than a few bucks. Now, they do this at most party stores, you will ahve to bring them the cake topper and ask them to put it inside a ballon for you with some decoration. Trust me, they will do a very fine job. Ask them to use confetti or stringer that are the colors of the wedding and tie it up with some ribbon. This always makes for a fabulous centerpiece and fabulous conversation.

Another nice idea is to make a collage of pictures of the bride from infancy through childhood through teens to adulthood and have it framed and hang it above or have it set on the table for all to see. This always brings a smile to everyones face and is also great for conversation.

In addition to these decoration tips, you may want to add some other things to your shopping list such as: a tablecloth or two, layered{wedding colors}, wedding confetti to spread on the table, wedding colored streamers, wedding bells to hang on the brides chair, candles to add that romantic feel, and of course, balloons. Some nice fresh, inexpensive flowers{carnations} always add a nice touch to any event as well. Also, to make the bride-to-be feel special at her party, if your budget allows, a beautiful corsage would be a perfect finishing touch.

Games

What's aa shower without those good old-fashioned shower games? Here are a few that should get the party started.

Clothes pins-This game begins when the guests walk through the door and lasts for the entire shower. As each guest arrives, they are given a clothespin to wear and instructed not to mention the words wedding, married or marriage for the entire span of the shower. If they mess up and someone catches them, the person who caught them gets their clothespin{s}. Whoever ends up with the most clothespins at the end, wins.

Guessing game- Give everyone a sheet of paper and pen. Put seven items from around the house into a bag so that they cannot see and paass it around. Ask them all to feel inside the bag and write down what they think the items may be. Whoever guesses the most right, wins.

A Bridal Poem-Write down one line about the bride{or bride and groom} on a sheet of paper and start passing it along to the guests. The next guest will write another line, trying to coincide as well as possible with the line you wrote. That guest must then fold the paper over so that the next guess can only see the previous line and continue with the poem only from the line she sees and so on. When it reaches the last guess, she must read the poem aloud.

These are just a few fun games to entertain during the shower. Some of the prizes can include soaps, candles, bath salts, picture frames and the like.

Happy showering!