Category: Shower

Gone are the days of the groom picking up his tux and simply showing up at the ceremony on time. More men are taking active roles in the wedding planning process, and thus more couples are looking for ways to celebrate together. The traditional shower – complete with tea, petit fours, and orange blossoms – is a lovely event, but some couples might want to do something different as they celebrate their upcoming wedding.

That’s what the couples shower is for.

Photo Credit: Click Photography

If you’re hosting a wedding shower, consider this approach to the event. While showers are traditionally a ladies-only affair, you could invite both men and women to open up the party to a larger group. There are some really unique ways to host a memorable shower (or “celebration,” if you think “shower” might scare away your male guests) and to get your guests excited and involved. Here are two ideas to get you started.

Do Something – A shower is a great time for everyone to get to know each other before the wedding, so create an activity or event that will put everyone at ease. There are many fun ways to plan your event and they will certainly vary depending on the number of people your plan to invite. If you have a small group, you could go golfing or whitewater rafting … run a 5k together or set up a ski trip for an afternoon.  If you’re having a large number of guests, simply rent a venue and plan some fun games or creative ways for your guests to interact. A group activity will help break the ice, and it’ll also offer some great photos and memories for posterity.

Give Back -Turn your big day into a happy day for someone else. Some couples use their weddings to support their favorite charities, so let the shower do the same. Maybe you ask for donations in lieu of gifts, or perhaps you encourage guests to bring canned goods to donate to a food bank. Guys may feel more comfortable at a “shower” if their gift is one that gives back (and they don’t have to watch the couple open a whole slew of domestic gifts)! Couples can also register with certain stores that will donate funds to a designated charity, ensuring that each gift opened at the shower is also a gift to someone else. Learn more about that program at the I Do Foundation.

There are lots of things to consider when planning a couples shower, but it’s invariably a fun and exciting event for all involved. Below you’ll find some good examples of fun couples invitations from Wedding Paper Divas. Invite all of the bride and groom’s close friends and family, and encourage your single invitees to bring a date or a friend, for this type of event certainly falls under “the more the merrier.”

Photo Credit: Wedding Paper Divas

Photo Credit: Wedding Paper Divas

What kind of showers have you attended? Would you be likely to host a couples shower, or would you keep the pre-wedding celebrations to his-and-hers? Let us know in a comment!