Planning a Bridal Shower should be fun! Showers shouldn't be expensive or time-consuming to the hostess. So relax and plan a shower that you, the quests, and the bride can enjoy!

The purpose of a bridal shower is to help the couple stock their home. There are several themes available: Linen, Personal, Kitchen, Garden, Bath and Beauty, Stock-the-pantry, Cooking, China, etc. The bride should choose the theme. You may be surprised. You could be hosting a very unusual shower e.g. Camping or Tools.

Your invitations can reflect the chosen theme. For example, you could write invitations on paper napkins for a linen theme or on recipe cards for a kitchen theme. Or you could use general motifs e.g. umbrellas, doves, hearts, or flowers. You could use the engagement picture of the couple.

Whatever you choose for your invitations, please do not make them more elaborate then the wedding invitations! Your invitation should state date, time, place, name of bride and hostess. The invitation should state the theme of the shower and the type of gift to bring (e.g. "help Mary stock her pantry by giving her non-perishable food e.g. can goods and baking supplies"). The type of attire should be included if you are planning an unusual shower such as a pool party. If the couple has a Bridal Registry please include this information

The colors should reflect, but not necessarily match the colors chosen by the bride. Decorations should not be overdone and should be consistent with the theme. The best place to look for decorations is in your own home. For example, you could hang robes and place make-up mirrors around the room for a Bath and Beauty Shower. If the couple is getting married on the beach, you could decorate the room with beach towels, sand, umbrellas and deck chairs.

The favors you use for your guest could become part of the decorations e.g. small potted plants, oven mitts, sachets, etc. Also, you could incorporate things you are using for games into the decorations or ask the quest to bring framed photos of their weddings to use as decorations.

Please make your food selections simple and something you can fix ahead. The hostess cooking in the kitchen is not the idea party plan. You could schedule the shower mid-morning and plan a simple brunch of juice, coffee, and coffee cakes. If it is summer, you could have a Bar-B-Q. Other ideas for food include casseroles or salads served buffet style. In certain areas; punch, coffee, cake, mints and nuts are served at mid-afternoon showers.

Some people think games are an essential part of the shower, while others would rather visit. Let the Bride decide if she wants games or not. How well the quest know each other is also a consideration. Quest trying to make polite conversation with people they don't know may or may not work. You should select no more than 3 to 4 games. You need to choose a variety of game types. Game types are word, creativity, physical, stunts, or trivia.

An alternative to games is to have someone give a make-up, cooking, or decorating demonstration. If the bride is into scrap booking, making decorations for her scrapbook would be appreciated.

The most important element of a shower is not the decorations or the food. The shower is about the bride and her family and friends. So, relax and make it fun!