Bridal shower themed tips

Create a themed bridal shower that the bride will love.
From the magazine, Simply Creative Weddings

By the Book...
Being a bridesmaid is an honor -- and a lot of work. One of the biggest jobs is hosting a prewedding party that your friend, the bride, will love.

The best bridal showers take their cue from the personal taste of the bride. Is she the outdoorsy type or a bookworm? Would she prefer a mountain of lingerie or a library of special edition books?

If she's the latter, you can take a novel approach by incorporating a book theme into your pretty-in-pink party.

Find more pink party ideas in this article. And, check out our Bridal Shower Tips article as well, using the link below.

Decorations

Pretty in Pink
Pink and green set the scene for the oh-so-important prewedding party. Cover utilitarian tables with easy-to-make linen tablecloths.

Circles and rings cut from decorative card stock shower the room in polka dots. (For hanging, fishing wire is sandwiched and glued between the circles.)

The no-sew chair covers mimic an elegant wedding veil and are fashioned from two yards of white tulle caught up in a pink tulle bow.

Avoid the expense of professional floral arrangements by using a creative container. For centerpieces, we filled the bottoms of large glass bubble vases with candied almonds, then placed a cylinder vase toting a small bundled bouquet inside.

Take Your Seat
Simple paper and vellum circles tucked inside dahlia petals reveal guests' names, above. Ribbon markers tucked inside purchased journals display each guest's initials -- another clue to seat designations and a thoughtful guest favor.

The napkin at each setting displays the bride's monogram and becomes a sweet gift just launder after the shower and present the set to her.

Menu Ideas

Tasty Treats

Make-ahead appetizers
Single-bite hors d'oeuvres are sure crowd-pleasers. Choose recipes with few ingredients and quick preparation.

Make-ahead appetizers make shower day more relaxed. Serving food buffet-style establishes a casual atmosphere, encouraging guests to chat. You'll save time and money, and partygoers will appreciate the variety.

With loads of fresh produce nestled in a pesto cream cheese spread, Open-Face Sandwiches add big bursts of color to the buffet.

Antipasto Kabobs
Serve up meats, cheeses, and vegetables kabob-style, and you're sure to please even the most finicky eater. These no-cook Antipasto Kabobs are easy to make, easy to serve, and easy to eat.

To serve, cut plastic foam to fit inside a dish, stick in the kabobs, and cover the foam with candy. Keep the kabobs refrigerated until it's time to serve.

Punch
Strawberry-Lime Punch

To maximize table space, use a pedestal to give refreshments a lift. Our punch bowl also can serve as a platter when turned upside down.

Our punch bowl is decorating with an ice ring of strawberries and limes and pairs nicely with appetizers as well as dessert.

Raspberry Cheesecake Tarts
A simple white serving dish makes a striking presentation when topped with Raspberry Cheesecake Tarts.

Floral place mats keep tabletops interesting. Use purchased mats that coordinate, or make your own from decorative papers you've laminated at a copy shop.