Wedding News and Advice

Men need showers too.. Not the soapy kind, a wedding shower.

Grooms these days are not letting the bride have all the fun. They want in on the action too. They are celebrating their upcoming wedding with a shower just for the guys.

Unlike bridal showers, groom showers are not about cake, gifts and games. An example is a party that included playing football, drinking games and Rock Band, a video game where players perform in virtual bands. At another groom shower, guests ate from old licence plates, participated in a nail pounding contest and were judged on how manly they wrapped their gifts, most of which were tools.

But don't think this is a replacement for the bachelor party. It's just a warm up before that age old tradition.

And what do you bring the groom for gifts? Men are recognizing that showers are a great way to acquire tools and other necessities to maintain a home. Check stores like Lowes and Sears to see if the couple is registered there. Tools, electronics and equipment are all manly gifts.

Another great place to shop for your groom is the themanregistry.com. The website is all about the guys and not just about weddings.

Don't forget the invitations! Most shower invitations are flowery and girly. Try using a note card or a simple, elegant wedding invitation. You can include any wording you desire. For example, "The Color Blue" wedding invitation or note card from InvitoCards.com.

So grooms, get creative and have a shower just for you!

Labels: groom, shower, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

The bridal shower is an event to honor the bride-to-be, and planning one does not have to be a difficult task. Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning a bridal shower:

Choose a theme for the shower. Try to find one that reflects the bride's personality or interests such as wine tasting, gourmet cooking or travel. There are also more "traditional" themes such as lingerie or a bridal tea.

Find a location to accommodate your theme. A restaurant, day spa, hotel, or private home are all good choices. Many restaurants have private rooms you can use for free as long as you are purchasing food from them.

Decide on a time frame. Depending on the theme, guests and activities you have planned, most showers last between 2 to 4 hours. It helps to have a rough outline of what you are planning to include such as:

• Arrival and introduction of guests
• Food/beverages
• Games
• Gift opening
• Cake serving

Send invitations - it's best to have the bride help you create a guest list so you do not leave anyone out. Shower invitations should be sent out after the wedding invitations have been mailed so you can confirm everyone on the guest list has been invited to the wedding.

Plan a menu to be served at the shower. This does not have to be a complicated decision. If you are using a restaurant or hotel, they will have limited choices for you to choose from, and if you are using a private home, you can stick to one type of food (i.e. appetizers, full meal, desserts, etc.) Consider the time of day when planning food for your shower. You don't want to serve dinner at 2:00 PM. Most bridal showers incorporate a cake.

Select games to play at the bridal shower. Games help all of the guests feel involved and help keep the event moving. It's also a great way to help strangers get to know one another. See example here of Bridal Shower Bingo.

Choose decor to fit your theme. Look for centerpieces and props as well as table linens and wall hangings. Purchase a take home gift for your guests in conjunction with your theme such as personalized wine glasses for a wine tasting, or a mini cook book for a gourmet cooking theme. You can include the bride and groom's names and wedding date to make it a keepsake.

Stay organized, use your creativity and have a fantastic bridal shower!

Labels: bridal, bride, invitation, shower, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 6:28 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I've seen the question come up a lot lately - "Who is responsible for the bridal shower?" Well if you are old school etiquette, the bridal shower is the responsibility of the maid / matron of honor. She is the one who is your right hand for all wedding planning responsibilities.

However, over the years the rules have loosened a bit. Any of the bridesmaids in your party can take charge of your shower. Sometimes the mother or future mother-in-law will step up, or even a co-worker.

Also, traditionally, bridal showers only include women and are focused around giving very personal gifts to the bride. Hoers devours and a cake are served, and special gifts are given to the guests for mementos.

Here are some bridal shower ideas that are a unique from the traditional style:

Couple's Shower - This shower is for not just the bride, but the groom too. Instead of inviting just the girls, invite couples to attend the shower.

Around-the-clock Shower - A fun theme where you assign a time of day to each guest. They purchase a gift for that time of day. For instance if you get 6:30 AM you may give a waffle iron or coffee maker, or for 7:00 PM some lingerie or sheets.

Bridal Tea Shower - Invite guests to wear fancy hats and gloves and serve some properly brewed tea.

No-Host Shower - Have all guests meet at a restaurant where they pay for their own food and beverage. The group can all pitch in for an expensive, signifcant gift.

Recipe Shower - Send bridal shower invitiations with recipe cards. Have each guest fill it out and bring back their favorite recipe along with their gift.

Girls Night Out Shower - This is a bit like a bacherlorette party. Give the bride a list of items she needs to collect throughout the night, and have the guests bring gifts to remind the bride of her friendship with them.

Honeymoon Shower - Focus on the honeymoon! Give the bride gifts she can enjoy on their trip such as a bathing suit, lingerie, massage oils, or romantic music. Decorate in the theme of their honeymoon destination.

Media Shower - This shower is focused on entertainment. Give the bride gifts such as movies, CD's, gourmet popcorn, or a blanket to snuggle under while hanging out on the couch.

Trim-a-tree Shower - This is a fun idea for a couple having a holiday wedding. Guests can bring gifts for the tree like ornaments and garland, or they can bring holiday themed gifts for their home like serving platters, recipe books, etc.

Labels: bridal, shower, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 7:46 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Labels: bridal, bride, shower, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 4:25 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Are you having trouble coming up with an idea for a Bridal Shower? Well here's one that is sure to make your life easy.

A No-Host Shower is becoming more and more popular these days. Choose a restaurant or country club where each guest will buy her own food and beverage. A significant and expensive gift is usually given by the group, but you can choose to do individual gifts as well.

The shower organizers usually provide invitations, favors, entertainment and gift selection (if you are giving a group gift).

TIP - Bridal Registry is for more than tabletop these days. Couples are registering for computers, do-it-yourself supplies, sports equipment, gourmet gadgets, and furniture.

Labels: bridal, shower, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 5:21 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Labels: bridal, bride, games, groom, party, shower, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 8:54 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Need some food ideas for your Bridal Shower or your Rehearsal Party? Here are a few that are easy to make, but are sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Simple Cheese Souffle

You will need:
8 slices of bread, buttered and cubed (cut off crusts)
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
7 eggs, beaten
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups milk

Generously grease casserole dish with butter. Layer bread cubes and cheese in dish. Combine eggs, milk, and seasonings, pour over bread and cheese. Top with extra grated cheese. Let stand for at least 8 hours in the refrigerator. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.


Seafood Pasta Salad

You will need:
1 cup Miracle Whip
1/2 cup Zesty Italian dressing
4 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
4 cups corkscrew noodles
3 cups imitation crab meat (chopped)
2 cups broccoli flowerets
1 cup green pepper (chopped)
1 cup tomoato (chopped)
1/2 cup onions (chopped)

Cook noodles. Combine dressings and cheese. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients. Mix lightly. Chill (Serves 8)

Labels: bridal, party, rehearsal, shower, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 6:35 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Here is an idea for a bridal shower that will give the newlyweds gifts for every hour of the day.

Assign a time of day to each guest attending the shower. For example 7:00 AM or noon.

Guests should then choose gifts that coincide with their time of the day. So if you are assigned 7 AM you would get a waffle iron or coffee mugs. 9 PM would be a comforter or a nightgown.

You can ask the guests to write a tip for the time of day they are assigned and then compile them into a book for the bride.

For decorations you can uses clocks and floral arrangements with Evening Primroses and/or Morning Glories.

Serve food that guests can assemble themselves such as tacos, subs or individual pizzas, arranging the condiments as if on a clock face.

For favors, give each guest and egg timer or a tiny hour glass as a momento.

Labels: bridal, shower, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 4:33 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Just in! InvitoCards.com is adding Bridal Shower invitations to the storefront. Keep checking back as we are still in the process of adding new invitations and accessories.

Labels: bridal, invitation, shower

Posted by Invito Cards at 9:05 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

So, as I was sitting her uploading the new Bridal Shower collection to InvitoCards.com, I thought it would be nice to post a series of ideas for bridal shower themes. For my first shower post, I thought it would be best to mention a Couple’s Shower.

In the original tradition of the Bridal Shower, it was a special celebration between the bride and her friends. Lingerie, bath crystals and other personal items were presented to the bride as the shower gifts were just for her.

A Couple’s Shower allows the groom to participate in this age-old tradition with a new twist. It’s a celebration that both the bride and groom attend. Couples are invited to the shower, and the gifts are for the bride and groom to enjoy – lingerie is still a perfect gift!

Here are some ideas to make the perfect Couple’s Shower:

Activities – Ask each guest to share advice for keeping a marriage exciting. Use the first letters of the bride and groom’s names to begin each statement. Consider playing a game with teams like Scene-It (men vs. women, or couples vs. couples)

Menu ideas – Have an interactive menu such as create your own pizza, submarine sandwich, or a taco bar.

Gift ideas – Bring gifts the couple can use together, such as his and hers matching bathrobes, outdoor games, or books.

Decorations – Find old movie posters or prints of famous couples-in-love throughout history and display them at the party.

Favors – Take pictures of each couple at the shower, and provide them with the print and photo frame.

Labels: bridal, bride, groom, shower, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post