Planning a wedding can be an exciting, emotional and at times, overwhelming, experience. A wedding shower should be a fun, relaxing event that reflects the bride's style and interests.
Around the Clock Shower
For an Around the Clock shower, guests receive an invitation with a specified time of day that their gift will be used by the couple. Morning gift ideas include a coffee pot, breakfast tray, waffle maker, bathrobe, towels or electric toothbrushes. Afternoon gifts could be a hammock, magazine subscription, manicure/pedicure gift certificate, grocery store gift cards or a picnic basket. Gifts for evening hours include soaps and other bath items, bed linens, lingerie, DVDs and popcorn, restaurant gift cards or a bottle of wine.
Fill the Room Shower
This type of shower focuses on gifts related to a specific room in the home. Gifts for a kitchen-themed shower include cookbooks, kitchen gadgets, spices, flatware, placemats, candles, serving platters, a windowsill herb garden, a toaster, espresso machine or gift certificate for cooking lessons.
Entertainment-related gifts for a rec room-themed shower include board games, a Netflix movie subscription, poker set, wine rack, karaoke machine, jigsaw puzzle or stovetop popcorn maker. Serve guests a variety of appetizers and send everyone home with a favor bag filled with the bride's favorite candy.
Travel Theme Shower
For the bride who loves to travel, design the shower around her favorite destination. Gifts for the couple on the go include travel pillows, reusable water bottles, monogrammed cosmetic cases, gift cards for digital photo prints, journals or a mobile tripod (like Gorillapod).
Prior to the event, find 8 to 10 photos of the bride and groom from their travels. Have the photos printed and bound into a hardcover photo book (inexpensive online printing companies include Snapfish, Shutterfly, MyPublisher and Kodak Gallery). Design the layout so that the pictures are printed on the right side of the book and blank, white pages are on the left side of the book. Pass the book around during the shower and ask each guest to choose a blank page and write a special message or piece of advice for the couple. Present the bride with her new keepsake.
Honeymoon Shower
A honeymoon shower is all about what the bride and groom will need for their big trip. Gift ideas include gift cards to a local sunglasses shop, his-and-hers flip-flop sandals, beach bags or tote bags, tanning lotions, restaurant gift cards, massage gift certificates, bubble bath, champagne and glasses, chocolates or lingerie.
Between the Covers Shower
A Between the Covers lingerie shower is best for the bride who won't be uncomfortable opening those types of gifts in front of guests. Amazing Bridal Showers points out that a lingerie shower can include a wide range of gifts the bride can use to "pamper herself before and after her wedding day," such as nighties, bras and panties, couples games, body lotions, perfumes or spa treatments.
A different spin is the Between the Covers book-themed party for the bride who loves to read. Ask guests to bring a variety of reading-related gifts they think the bride would enjoy, like the latest bestsellers, romance novels, cookbooks, a travel reading light, stationery, crossword puzzle books or a journal.
Tags: gift cards, Between Covers, shower include, Around Clock, bride groom, bride loves