Posted on 2 Comments

10 steps to planning the perfect bridal shower

Ashley's Bridal Shower 2012
Image Credits: ceng design, via Flickr [CC BY 2.0]
Weddings are a big celebration, as it is one of the most important events in a couple’s life. However, it is not a one-day event, where everything starts and ends on the day of the wedding. There are many other occasions that build up the thrill and make the days leading up to the wedding, exciting for the couple and everyone else involved in their lives.

Just as the couple put in a lot of time and effort in planning their wedding, the bridesmaids are expected to do their part in hosting an interesting bridal shower. Nevertheless, it is not an easy task. Although it isn’t as complicated as planning the wedding itself, there is a certain amount of planning, organizing and managing that goes into it. If you haven’t hosted many parties before, or are trying your hand at a bridal shower for the first time, do not worry. This article will guide you through all that you need to know, to plan it like a pro. Let’s begin!

1.Surprise party or planned one

The first step in planning the bridal shower is to decide whether you want it to be a surprise or not. While some brides may be all for the surprise, and will enjoy what you plan, other brides are more conservative with their likes. These brides would appreciate advance notice about what to expect. You know your friend best, so go with what she would prefer. If she has plenty of ideas and has hinted at a theme that she would like, try to plan your party around her likes. After all, it is to celebrate the bride. Ask her who she would like at her party, whether there is a theme she would love and any other inputs. Then plan the bridal shower around these ideas. Nevertheless, don’t tell her everything about what you will be arranging. Instead, just tell her the date, time and venue, and leave her guessing about the rest.

2.When to start planning

The bridal shower is on your priority list of to-do’s as a bridesmaid. So, start preparing for it soon after your friend has asked you to be on her bridesmaids list. Start gathering ideas and making plans at least 3 months before the scheduled date, and set up a bridal shower calendar. Remember that your list of tasks should include the following, in more or less the same order:

  • fixing the budget for the party
  • compiling the guest list and collecting addresses
  • drafting, printing and sending out invitations
  • booking the venue or making reservations at the chosen location if the crowd is small
  • Collecting and compiling RSVPs and adjusting the guest list
  • choosing the menu and arranging food
  • arranging for decorations
  • planning bridal shower games, collecting necessary items to play them and buying prizes
  • pick up all that is needed to entertain the guests on the day
  • deciding and buying bridal shower favors for the guests
  • Decorating or overseeing the decorations and setup at the venue

Mark your calendar for when each of these activities are to be held. Since it is likely that you will be sharing these duties with the rest of the bridesmaids, you can split the responsibilities with them. Create a list of errands to be completed by each girl, and make sure you monitor everything is progressing as per plan, once you begin the process.

3.When to hold the bridal shower

calendar

The bridal shower should ideally be held at least two weeks before the wedding date, so it doesn’t clash with any other appointments the bride may have. However, you shouldn’t plan it way ahead of the wedding. Anytime in the two months before the wedding is ideal, as the thrill of the wedding will be building up and this is the best time to host it. Nevertheless, consider other factors such as if the guests have to travel from far to attend the bridal shower. In this case, it may be a good idea to hold the shower closer to the wedding date, so it will be convenient for those who come from far. Just make sure you confirm with the bride, and fix the date accordingly.

4.Set the budget and create the guest list

First up, work with the rest of the bridesmaids and fix the budget for the party. You should have a rough idea of how big the party will be, to set a reasonable budget. So, consider this factor first. Now, move on to deciding the venue, planning the theme and budgeting for other party expenses within this amount. It is a good idea to hire the services of a professional photographer for the bridal shower. Figure this into the budget as well. Make sure you miss nobody, by asking the bride if you’ve missed anyone in your list. You cannot however ask the bride, if you have planned a surprise party. In this case, work with the rest of the bridesmaids, or ask her family to make sure you have all the important people on the list. Collect the contact information of all those who are to be invited, and make a separate list of those who have to travel from far or have to be informed early, so they can plan for it.

5.Book the venue and send out invitations

Next, finalize the venue and make the rest of the plans. This is also the time to decide if you will have to make reservations for the venue where the event is to be hosted. If so, finalize the date immediately and make sure to do the bookings on time. Simultaneously draft the bridal shower invitations. It should include all relevant details like the time, date, venue, an RSVP request and theme, if any. Apart from this, you may also like to include the registry information on the bridal shower invite, as it will help the bride get this information out to all the guests easily. You can even DIY the invites if you have the time and the skills to handle it. Send the cards out at least six weeks prior to the shower date.

6.Make food and drink arrangements

salmon

Unless you have booked an all-inclusive package at the venue, you will have to decide on the menu for the party. Plan it according to the time, venue and weather. You do not have to offer a complete meal. Light snacks, soups and deserts are the norm for afternoon and evening parties. You may like to add some signature style dishes or innovative arrangements like a s’more bar or hot chocolate station, to make it more interesting. Keep the spread uncluttered, varied and interesting. If there are theme colors, plan food choices in matching colors. Create a schedule for the food stuff that you will be making, and place orders for those that you will be buying. If you will be serving cocktails or drinks, plan when you will go shopping for mixers, garnishes, ice cubes and all that will be necessary if you are hosting it at your home or doing the arrangements yourself.

7.Plan games and activities

Bridal shower games are not just entertainment. They are a must to help the guests break the ice. Check out our posts on fun bridal shower games here and here. Assuming that the guests at the party will belong to different age groups, it is a good idea to have a mix of both traditional games and recently trending ones, so everyone can participate. Also include games that will require the guests to be seated, and those for which the guests will have to be up and active, to keep it varied. Once you have a list of the games and activities that will be held, create another list of all that you need to buy or arrange. Then get down to collecting or creating it. If required, you can even hire an entertainer or an event planner to host the day’s activities, if you don’t want to do so yourself. You should also consider the music you will be playing on the day and have the play list ready in advance.

8.Get the party favors ready

cookies-680176_1280

It is customary to send the guests home with a party favor from the event. It is up to you to decide what you would like to gift. It can either be edible favors like cookies, cakes or chocolates or non-edible keepsakes like compact mirrors, purses, key chains or coasters. You can even DIY or arrange for customized party favors that match the theme of the event you hosted. Use your imagination and get creative to make these party favors stand out. Green party favors are a trend that is not only environment-friendly, but practical as well. If you have to shop for the favors or place an order for it online, make sure you do it in time. Delivery of bulk orders can take anywhere from a week to a month or more. Some favors may require further assembly after you receive them, or some of them may have to be gift-wrapped. Figure out all these factors, so you have them ready in time for the party.

8.Get the arrangements in place, and buy the remaining items closer to the date

As the date of the shower approaches, make sure you have all the decorations ready, all the DIY tasks completed and your calendar set for when you will complete the last minute shopping. If you are holding the party at your house or at a location where you have access to before the day of the shower, you can start setting up in advance. The last-minute things to buy or collect will include flowers, food and drinks. The décor items should already be arranged for and collected in advance.

9.Create a special seat for the bride

Make sure that the bride’s seat is specially decorated or customized. You will also have to arrange for extra space to stash all the gifts she receives on the day. It is a good idea to also include a notepad or register to keep track of the gifts each person brought. Since there is a tradition of opening the gifts received at the shower on the day itself, keep a pair of scissors ready, to cut through the wrappers and a large trash can to contain all the gift wrap, once the gifts are opened. Also, don’t forget to buy your gift for the bride. You can collect funds from the entire bridesmaid group and get her a combined gift.

10.Prepare for the day

shopping

Depending on how much time you will have on the day, plan your activities so that the area is set up on time. Create a checklist of everything that has to be done on the day, where everything has to be arranged and who is in charge of what. Pick up flowers, grocery and all that is to be collected on the day and set them in place. Dress yourself up for the event, and choose a dress that you will feel comfortable in, but look great in. Check all the equipment at the site before the function starts. Co-ordinate with the guests and make sure everyone remembers the time and where they should be.

With all these steps in place, you are now all set to host the perfect bridal shower, and enjoy it too. Organizing everything on time will help you ensure that everything progresses without any hassles, and you aren’t stressed out over it.

For more tips and wedding planning advice, continue visiting us at Best for Bride. Also, visit our online store to choose the perfect evening dress to wear on the big event you are in-charge of.

Posted on 2 Comments

Bridal Shower Etiquette- Tips for the host and the bride

friends-581753_1280

Bridal showers are now an essential part of a wedding, and an occasion for the bride to socialize and enjoy herself with her close circle of friends and relatives. Bridal showers are usually hosted by friends or bridesmaids, and not by the bride’s immediate family. However, the lines have blurred now, and it isn’t uncommon to find showers being hosted by the bride’s sister or mother.

As with any other party, certain etiquette rules are associated with bridal showers too. Let us look at some rules that you should pay attention to, if you are a bridal shower host. We will also briefly touch upon etiquette for the bride at the shower.

Limit the party guests

There are two things to pay attention to when inviting guests for the shower

  • only invite guests who are invited to the wedding too
  • the number of guests at the bridal shower is not huge.

The idea of hosting a bridal shower is to have an intimate gathering with the people who mean the most to the bride. These people are definitely on the wedding list. If you are not sure of who to invite, here is some help. Make sure you invite the bridal party, the bride’s close friends and family. It is also alright to ask the bride if you have missed anyone she would like to have at her party.

Timing is crucial

A wedding shower should be held at least two weeks ahead of the wedding date, but no earlier than a month. Make sure that you send out the invitations at least two weeks before the date, so the guests are allowed sufficient time to make plans to attend the party.

Plan the cost and date and be prepared to pay

It is the host of the bridal shower who pays for the party—not the bride, nor the bridesmaids. Unless all the bridesmaids want to pitch in and help with both conducting and paying for the party, they are not obligated to. In any case, make sure that the party is properly budgeted for and the expenses and ideas are agreed upon beforee going ahead with plans.

Now here are the rules for the bride

Thank the host with a gift

After all, your host has gone through a lot of trouble to plan your wedding shower. It is only appropriate to give her a small gift to appreciate her efforts. This could be a bottle of wine or a bouquet of flowers. Don’t forget to include a thank you note as well.

Don’t be demanding and don’t make suggestions unless you are asked

You can have your wedding the way you want it, but don’t expect the same of your bridal shower. Gifts you receive at the bridal shower are usually less expensive than wedding gifts. So, be gracious and enjoy the ritual of opening your gifts at the party, instead of focusing on what you receive. Make sure you write thank you notes to the guests for what they gifted you on this occasion.

For more wedding tips and advice, visit us on Best for Bride.

Posted on 4 Comments

Breaking Tradition: 5 Wedding Planning ‘Rules’ You’re Free to Overlook!

Traditional wedding planning was based on rules and even more rules. Luckily, we aren’t bound by endless customs and traditions when planning our wedding today. While it isn’t wise to toss all the rules, beliefs and wedding etiquette aside, few can be ignored so we can realize our vision of the perfect wedding.

So, what are they? Let us find out.

1.It is the bride’s family that pays

euro-427533_1280

With weddings getting bigger and more expensive everyday, it is not such a good idea to place the entire financial burden on the bride’s family. The couple can sponsor their wedding themselves, rely on funds from the groom’s side or even split the expenses. What matters is that you have the desired wedding, not who pays for it. Also remember that it is only right that the people footing the bill have a say in how the wedding ought to be. So, if you and your parents or in-laws disagree on the guest list or wedding menu, try to find a compromise that works for everyone.

2.Your wedding dress should be white

via Best for Bride

Although white is the most popular option in wedding dress colors, you don’t need to choose it. In fact, white wedding dresses became popular only in the 19th century, before which, brides wore dresses in different colours. So, if you aren’t smitten with white, pick any colour that appeals to you.

3.The groom shouldn’t see the bride before the ceremony

This was believed to be bad luck. Superstitions aside, photographers today encourage couples to click a few pictures together before the ceremony. This allows them to get the best shots, when the bride’s makeup is fresh. It also allows them to effectively capture the first reaction of the groom when he sees his bride in her wedding attire. This is a memory that the couple will often cherish, and so this is a good way to do it right.

4.You can have only one Maid of Honor 

More and more brides are now opting to have two Co-Maids of honor, if they have two favorite girlfriends. This makes sense, as it wouldn’t be nice to choose one over the other when both ladies are equally important to the bride. It is also more practical, as they can divide the bridesmaid’s duties and ensure everything sails smoothly, putting the bride’s mind at ease.

5.Weddings have to be expensive

Not necessarily. You can choose to keep the wedding small and meaningful if you do not have the budget for a big wedding. After all, it isn’t about throwing a big party or starting your life together on a big debt. It is about celebrating your love as a couple, with the people who matter most to you. Whether you can afford a wedding party with thousands of guests or you choose to get married with only your closest friends and family attending, you will still be pronounced man and wife. So, plan a wedding within your budget, and make sure you get the best deal you can afford.

For more wedding planning advice, tips and stories, visit us on Best for Bride.

Posted on 3 Comments

Pantone colors for autumn/winter 2016 and our bridesmaids dresses in these colors

At times, we simply have to turn to the experts for advice. Where it comes to wedding colors, the dizzying variety can easily cause us to swoon. For brides who are lost for choices, what better place to turn to than to the global expert on colors, Pantone, for inspiration on what’s hot and what’s not.

The Pantone color trends for Autumn/Winter 2016 brings us an unusual yet attractive mix of hues and shades from the color spectrum. This year, the theme featured is real and unreal, or absent and present. Mysterious as it sounds, the color palette is surprisingly fresh and perfect to work with.

If you are to get married in the coming months of this year, it is a great place to begin, and we suggest starting with your bridesmaids. After all, nothing highlights the color theme of your wedding, as much as the colors that your wedding party sports.

It is once again time to shuffle through our unbelievably extensive collection of bridesmaids dresses, and find out the our favorites in the most happening colors this year. So, let’s begin.

Beautiful in Black

Gone are the days, when black wasn’t an appropriate color for a wedding. Now, it is the newest “Prestige” color, and one that adds a mysterious vibe to your wedding. Perfect for the indoors, it will stand out and is great for a formal ceremony. As the ultimate neutral, you can pair it with any other color in bouquets and other accessories. And don’t overlook the fact that black is a universal favorite, so this is your go-to choice if you want your girls to use their bridesmaid dress more than once. Plus, black is refined, sophisticated and not to mention, grown-up.

Now let’s take a quick peek at our favorite dresses in black.


 

And for those of you brides who don’t want to go with black all the way, the Alfred Angelo bridesmaids collection brings you some fantastic color block beauties with black on the yoke. Here’s a sample.

Vibrant and White

More and more brides are now defying tradition, as they choose white for their bridesmaids. The modern bride knows that there is more than just one type of white, and it is impossible to confuse the bride with her bridesmaids, when her dress choice is done properly.

If you are a modern bride looking for a challenge, how about getting your bridesmaids to wear white on the most special day in your life? Just make sure that there is at least one factor that visibly sets you apart (ideally the dress hemline, the fabric or finish), and you can play all you want with other colors in your bouquets, accessories and rest of the wedding décor. White bridesmaids will complement any other décor color, and also add that necessary balance, with which you can make the rest of the colors in your palette pop. Also, a great choice if your wedding gown is not white, but a different hue. Take a closer look at the dresses featured below. Now, here are dresses that will be just fine for everyone’s taste, despite being white. Don’t you think?

And, here are these dazzling white beauties from our bridesmaids collections.


 

Glassy and gorgeous green

Unlike the mints and emeralds of the previous years, this year Pantone’s color palette draws our attention to two different types of greens—a cool,glassy green and the other a yellowish olive-like shade. Green is a beautiful color that is usually associated with spring and summer. Nevertheless, when done right, and it can intensify any other color used with it. It’s subtle but striking presence, will make a beautiful addition to your winter or autumn wedding landscape. When choosing this color, pay attention to the skin tone of your bridesmaids. Not all girls can easily sport every type of green. Nevertheless, with these two options that are in trend, you can mix and match options to find dresses that are suitable for every one of your bridesmaids. Take a look at the greens that are bound to make heads turn this year, through the dreamy bridesmaids dresses below.


 

Wow with Yellow

Yellow is a powerful, tropical color that acts like a ray of sunshine in the cold wintry weather scene. This winter, add an extra dose of joy to your winter palette with muted yellows that remind us of the serene skies and refreshing warmth of summer, that is far off. It is a color with a positive vibe to it. Nevertheless, exercise caution when adding yellow to your wedding colors, especially if you have other bold colors in your palette. Although yellow is a color that blends in with most other colors, you should be picky with the shade you choose, as not all yellows work equally well with other color combinations. Now, for some divinely, delightful yellow dresses to add sunny splendor to your wedding palette, check out what we have in store.


 

Warmth with Orange

In a welcome twist from the previously popular clementine, this year the preferred orange takes on a spicy and warm tone that is subtly sophisticated. Infused with cinnamon, camel and caramel, choose dresses with the orange shade barely there to be in line with the trend. The good thing about this twist to the tale is that these oranges blend in better with more color palettes, and do not stand out. This makes it easier to choose dresses that will work the mix ‘n’ match trend well. Plus, these colors are not too bold, and so will complement most skin tones as opposed to the characteristic brightness of the original orange shade. Here are the latest from our collection that give wings to the beautiful color.

 

Pleasantly purple

Purple has been in the limelight for quite some time, and this year is no different. With the color wheel spinning more towards the direction of muted berry colors, purple moves from bright to being a mellow and neutral shade. This is a fantastic color that yields a powerful color palette with neutrals like grey, white and black. It also livens up the atmosphere when combined with yellow, turquoise or green. While the former looks strikingly sophisticated, the latter is a pleasing palette of cheer. One of my favorite things about this color is that it is the one of the few colors that the various shades work together so perfectly, that blending or mixing various purples is a breeze. We have so many perfect purples in our collection, that it took quite a while to find out which of these will make the top list. So, here are our picks. What do you think of them?


 

Brilliant in blue

Blue is the eternal winter favorite, and this color works its way into almost every winter party. If not through the dresses, blue makes its presence felt in the rest of the décor. It could be how the color is synonymous with the cool gray weather of autumn and winter, or how a slight change in the shade can change the entire ambiance. This year’s Pantone’s blues however are submerged in greys and greens to create spell-binding colors that are unique and form excellent combinations with metallic colors. So, if your palette focuses on the metallic trend that is in vogue, check out how these bridesmaids dresses in exciting blues can work for your palette. We have two distinct looks, that are unique in their own way. Which of these will you be adopting at your wedding?


 

Don’t frown on brown

Warm and soft, the brown Pantone spectrum ranges from the rich red wine browns to the tan and spicy nutmeg shades. Brown has an overpowering presence, and it is a color that can work by itself or go well with various other colors in your palette. A dark neutral, that has a serious magnificent personality, it is perfect for a winter wedding where you want to warm up the wintry ambiance with a suitable choice of color. The darker the brown, the more formal the effect. It blends beautifully with muted pastels like peach and dusty pink, and can also work well with creams and milky white. Add a touch of silver as your metallic accent for sophistication, while gold gives it a dazzling dreamy finish.

Take a look a our wonderful brown dresses at Best for Bride, and choose the one that you think is best.


 

Richly regal in red

Red is a tried and tested color, that is effective with an almost explosive effect. Although the spectrum of red includes hues ranging from brightest to the serious and dull brown-reds, the most popular choice for winter and autumn remains cherry reds. These are, after all, synonymous with the holiday season. Nowadays, the combinations with red are unusual, thus breathing more life into this versatile and dramatic color. While red and gold have been the eternal holiday favorites, we can find red and navy, red and cream and red and pastels as the hot and happening combinations. To add fervor, joy and pops of color to your wedding palette, here are the reds that your bridesmaids would love to dress in.


 

Pretty in pastels

Ever since pastels entered the wedding scene, they have been a continuing trend. They are still in style this year, but this time take on bolder and more visible hues, in stark contrast with the muted, barely there look that was the characteristic feature of last year’s color palette. The pleasant thing about pastels is that you can choose any color in a pastel shade, and it will never be too overwhelming. Hence you can blend pastels into your palette, whether you want to mix it with another color or colors, or let it be by itself. The serene and calming composure of these colors work well in the cool weather, and generate a cool, but cosy ambiance. At Best for Bride, you can find bridesmaids dresses in every pastel shade you can possibly imagine. Due to space restrictions, we have narrowed down our choices to those featured here. But, these are just the tip of the iceberg, check out our gallery for many many more dresses in perfect pastels.


The shimmer of metal

Metallics are another trend that we will be revisiting this year. They add instant textural finesse to every outfit, and are a unique standalone element that cannot be compared to any other color. We can expect to see metallics in every color, beside the traditional gold, silver and copper that have been on the scene for sometime now. Whether done entirely or limited to a section of the dress, metallics add a signature style to any bridesmaid dress. This trend is in fact not restricted to our fashion choices for bridesmaids. Many brides are also opting for gold and silver dresses in place of the traditional white. The sheen of a metallic dress is glamorous and this instantly uplifts the style quotient of the entire party. Plus it is an option that blends well with any other color. Need I say more? Here are our favorite metallic bridesmaids dresses for this season.


That brings us to the end of the discussion on Pantone’s colors for autumn and winter 2016. We hope you had fun browsing through the beautiful bridesmaids dresses we featured here.

This and several hundred more options await you at our all our Best for Bride stores. If you have shortlisted any of these designs, or need to see more to make your final decision, continue on to our bridesmaids dress collections here. You will find an inexhaustible variety of designer dresses with every feature you can imagine. Available in a range of sizes, price ranges and from top designer labels in wedding dress collections, you will have no difficulty finding your choice, however specific it may be.  So, have fun picking the dresses for your wedding party from our collection.

For more wedding tips, advice and shopping information, continue visiting us on Best for Bride.