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Most brides are so consumed with planning their wedding day that the other bridal events get left in the dust. Think about having a themed engagement party or bridal shower. Themed parties are just so much fun for all guests. Your family and friends will surely love it.

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When planning a luau party, make sure you have mini umbrellas for your cocktails, lays for every guest to wear, and party fans for a giveaway. Make sure to create luau themed desserts for all your guests, like shell shaped cookies and cupcakes with bright flowers. From details to centerpieces and decor, this shower theme can easily be achieved!

How would you plan a luau?

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Happy Planning

Photo Credit: Redwall Photo

Photo Credit: Redwall Photo

Click here to check out the entire feature!

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And for the tutorial for these sweet little soap bottle apron favors … check out this post!

Cheese Pumpkin Appetizers

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Apple Cheddar Melts

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Cranberry Brie Appetizer Bites

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Butternut Squash Spread on Cheese Croutons

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Goat Cheese Truffles with Maple Spiced Pecans

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Pumpkin Pie Bites

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Sweet Acorns

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That’s what the couples shower is for.

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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!

All the pre-wedding excitement and sharing of wedding stories got me thinking about ways bridal parties can make the bride feel special as her big day approaches.  And I’m not talking about simply throwing bigger and better parties – indeed, neither of yesterday’s events was an over-the-top affair – but meaningful gestures that let the bride know her friends and family are looking forward to her wedding and will be there to support her when the day arrives.

So I put together the following list based on things we did yesterday, ideas I’ve come across and things that (lucky me) were done for my benefit.  I bet any of these (or a combination thereof) would make any bride-to-be feel loved.

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1. Create a soundtrack for the wedding warm-up

We all love to take our favorite tunes to the gym – they get us excited for the workout ahead.  A warm-up for a wedding is no different!  You and your fellow bridesmaids can assemble a playlist of tunes the bride loves or that remind you of favorite moments in your friendship, and have these songs serve as the soundtrack for the shower or bachelorette party.  And while you’re at it, why not burn a CD for everyone attending?

2. Have everyone pitch in

No matter how large the guest list, chances are most party planning gets done by a few people.  Having all the attendees contribute to a scrapbook or recipe book allows them to provide the bride a lasting memento of the days leading up to her wedding.

3. Take the bride to school

If the bride in your life has a favorite hobby or is looking to hone a new skill, having your shower guests attend a class or getting a lesson from an expert will give her a great opportunity to do so.  You can have a great time (as we did) cooking a new dish, gardening or crafting.

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4. Toast the bride with her own cocktail

If the shower takes place at a restaurant, chances are there will be cocktails involved.  Why not have the cocktail feature the bride’s favorite flavors?  Check with the restaurant’s bar staff to see if they’ll put together a cocktail for you – chances are they’ll welcome the chance to create something new and interesting.

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5. Take the bride on a journey

Who says a shower or bachelorette party needs to be located in one place – literally or figuratively?  The bride-to-be will surely love a trip down memory lane that happens through visits to important locations in her and her fiancé’s past or through stories about the important events that took place at those places.

Hope these ideas have given you some great ideas for how to show some love to your favorite bride-to-be!

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Themed Weddings are so much fun, why not have a themed bridal shower and spread the party planning fun around?

Having beach themed bridal shower is a fun way to make a party just a little more festive. There are many ways to incorporate beach themed items into a bridal shower without breaking the bank.  The ideas are endless!

All of these items can be easily hand crafted or bought (if you are in a time crunch). Look below to see if you can incorporate any of these ideas into your party!

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Think about buying little apothecary bottles and put sand and charms in them for decor. Or, use them to have the guests write a special message in the bottle to the bride. Look for apothecary bottles at flea markets and online if you are interested in this idea.

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Remember these tasty treats? Buy a bunch of beach themed chocolates and hand them out as favors, or decorate cupcakes or other treats  with these yummy chocolates!

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Parasols always add a festive look to a beach themed party! Lay them open and out on the floor or hang theme from the ceiling for a wonderful look.

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Poms – poms always add a romantic – fun touch to a bridal shower! I just love them! they can be easily made, or purchased online and at craft stores.

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Bring in some potted plants in buckets! They make a lovely floral arrangements, and guests can also take them home and replant them in their backyard.

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When having an outdoor party, paper lanterns are always a must!

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How about having a sea shell wreath? Do these say beach or what? and you can always reuse them whenever the summer season comes along!

Happy Planning

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Hostess with the Mostess pulled together everything needed for this totally cute “kissing fish” themed bridal shower.  Here are some of their decor ideas …

Photo Credit: Hostess with the Mostess

Photo Credit: Hostess with the Mostess

Photo Credit: Hostess with the Mostess

Photo Credit: Hostess with the Mostess

Check out the post for more info and details on where to find all of these great decor items!

So with that in mind, why not shake up the traditional bridal shower to incorporate things near and dear to the bride’s heart?  Here are a few ideas for events that will bring people together in a fun setting to honor the bride and celebrate her favorite hobby.

Wine Tasting
For all you budding oenophiles out there, a wine tasting is a fun and interactive way for your group to learn something while sipping tasty new vintages.  There are many wine tasting forums in cities across the US, and many upscale restaurants also host tastings with their sommeliers.  Perhaps you can taste wines from the brides’ favorite region, or somewhere she and the groom will be traveling on their honeymoon.  Or you could incorporate some sparkling wines with which to toast her upcoming nuptials.

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Cooking Class
If your guest of honor is a foodie, there’s an excellent chance she’ll love the opportunity to cook up a yummy meal with all of you.  A cooking class is easy to find; even if you’re not in the neighborhood of a well-known culinary institute, many adult education centers feature a range of classes for all abilities.  You can work with the instructor to feature a twist on her favorite foods, or cook foods from her country of ancestry.  And the best part, of course, is that you get to share a great meal you’ve prepared together!

Photo Credit: CambridgeCulinary.com

Sporting Event or Lesson
Sports-oriented parties aren’t just for the guys anymore!  Why not bring guests to cheer on the bride’s favorite team, or if she’s working on her swing, treat them all to a golf lesson at a local driving range?  This is a great option for a bride who isn’t thrilled about traditional, overly girly parties.  The good news is, you can still pamper her with great seats, a great meal during or after the game, and an energetic party to fit her style.

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Dance Class
Dance has gotten a lot of attention lately as a great alternative to traditional cardio workouts.  It’s also a fun way to spend time with friends and learn a new skill in the process!  Dance studios offer everything from traditional ballroom dance lessons to exciting workshops on flamenco and belly dancing.  There’s truly something for everyone, and if you’re bride enjoys getting out on the floor, a dance class is a great way for you to share her enthusiasm!

Photo Credit: Lexet Swall

Spa Session
I don’t know many ladies who don’t love a trip to the spa.  There are a million options for treatments and services to fit every taste, and many of them can be done in a group setting.  How about treating guests to a manicure and pedicure, or giving them each a makeup and skincare consultation by an esthetician?  Many spas have technicians who will come to your home or event location and pamper you and your guests on site.

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Hope I’ve given you some fun ideas to help you plan a great shower!