Know somebody getting married? Kick off the fun and festivities by throwing a casual, coed wedding shower for the new couple and their friends, coworkers, wedding party, or family.
Wedding showers have evolved from traditional ladies' get-togethers to more casual, relaxed parties for both men and women. Since gifts for the home are used by both partners, why shouldnt both the bride and the groom be at the shower to accept the gifts and socialize with guests?
Friends of the new couple, family of the bride or groom, or anyone in the wedding party can throw a wedding shower.
Its Just a Party With Gifts
If youve never hosted a shower before, relax. Its just a party where the guests bring gifts for the new couple.
While a traditional shower used to feature games, if youre hosting a coed wedding shower, dont feel obligated to play bridal bingo or any other old-fashioned pencil-and-paper shower games.
If your stuck for activities for the party, remember that the couple can open their gifts at the party, which is an event in itself.
Wedding Shower Themes
Showers usually have themes associated with the type of gift the guests are asked to bring. Back in the day, friends of the bride would host personal showers, in which guests would bring something personal for the bride, such as nightgowns, perfume, jewelry or something to wear; kitchen showers, with gifts such as dishtowels, dishes, cookware and anything else to stock the newlyweds kitchen; linen showers, where guests would shower the bride with towels, sheets, tablecloths and place mats.
Shower themes still have their place. While very few couples today are building a household from scratch when they marry, it's still fun to get new things for a new life together. Think about what items the newlyweds will need, and ask guests to bring something in that category. Be sure to include in the invitation information about where the couple is registered. With wedding registries, theres no excuse for buying something the couple wont want or need.
In addition to their gift to the couple, ask guests to bring a small token gift to go along with the theme - a favorite recipe to add to the couple's collection, a book for their library, a CD for their collection, a travel-sized item for their honeymoon trip, or a picture frame for a photo from their wedding.
WedAlert.com has more ideas for Twentieth Century Bridal Showers.
Favors
If youre giving out party favors, make it something your guests will actually use. Knickknacks with the couples names and the wedding date on them are outdated and not really appropriate for todays coed wedding shower.
FavorWarehouse.com has some cool, new ideas for bridal shower favors, including wine stoppers and bookmarks.
Shower Food Ideas
If your shower is an evening cocktail party for a mixed group, have finger foods and appetizers on trays throughout the party rooms. Or host a casual dinner party with chili or homemade pizzas.
Some more ideas for shower foods:
- Have a barbecue mixed grill with shrimp kebabs, grilled pork tenderloin slices and marinated chicken breasts, all served together with side dishes of pasta salad and three bean salad. Get a backyard volleyball game going while you heat up the grill.
- Serve sushi, chicken kebabs with peanut dipping sauce, rumaki, crab Rangoon, and other semi-exotic finger foods.
- Mediterranean party food favorites are always a hit: Sausage and peppers served on bruschetta, marinated mozzarella cheese, Greek olives, and roasted red peppers on pesto toasts.
- The Food Network has ideas for foods to serve at many different types of showers.
