Wine Tasting Bridal Shower
What it is: A wine pro or sommelier teaches the group how to taste at home or at a wine bar or vineyard. Choose a theme for the wine, like all vintages from the year the couple started dating or wines from wherever the couple is going on their honeymoon.
Best for: The bride who likes to sip; it's also best with smaller parties.
Planning tip: If you're planning to buy the wine yourself, follow this handy guide: Assume every bottle holds eight tasting servings. So, if you have eight guests and you want to taste four different types of wine, you'll need one bottle of each. After the tasting, figure about half a bottle per person.
Bartending School Bridal Shower
What it is: This type of shower is best suited towards a classy cocktail hour instead of a more casual daytime get-together. Hire a local bartender—from your favorite bar or from a bartending school—to come and show you how to make some fun cocktails.
Best for: The super-chic to-be-wed who prefers cocktail dresses to sundresses.
Planning tip: Just in case the socializing doesn't pick up right away, have some icebreaker tricks on hand. Doing something as simple as putting Mad Libs about the bride around the room can help encourage guests to get talking.
A Craft Bridal Shower
What it is: The focus of the shower is to get hands on and make a DIY project. These days, there are tons of options, like flower arranging, painting ceramics or making valentines or ornaments if it's around a holiday.
Best for: A creative and crafty crew that won't mind getting their hands dirty.
Planning tip: Go to a class or have an instructor come to your home and walk everyone through making their own item. Buy pretty boxes and ribbon to wrap up each guest's finished product to take home.
Tea Party Bridal Shower
What it is: The most classic shower theme of all is usually held at home or in a teahouse. Just because it's a tried-and-true idea doesn't mean you can't put your own creative spin on it. Create a bohemian vibe with colorful lanterns and low-slung seating or something more quirky and whimsical (think: Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter!).
Best for: The traditionalist or the prim-and-proper bride.
Planning tip: Have guests get into the theme with their attire by encouraging them to wear hats, gloves and bow ties. Traditional fare, like tea cakes, cucumber sandwiches and fruit tarts, are always crowd-pleasers, and set up a loose-leaf tea bar for guests to create their own take-home favors.
Pool or Beach Bridal Party
What it is: Everyone wears their swimsuits and sunglasses for a casual party by the water.
Best for: A summer shower and a playful crowd who won't mind getting their hair wet.
Planning tip: Tropical cocktails with bright umbrellas are basically required for this kind of party. Instead of the traditional shower games, rework the rules so you can play them in the water (think: The Newlywed Game meets Marco Polo).
Plan the perfect shower for the bride-to-be in your life and devour the details of a day to remember (second to the actual wedding of course)!
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