First comes love, then comes … the wedding shower. Before the wedding comes the shower, where traditionally the bride enjoys a great day with family and friends and where creative food and fun decor shine.
The shower can be held anywhere, depending on the guests invited and the budget of the group throwing the affair. Smaller groups can do intimate tea rooms or someone’s house, and larger groups can do community rooms, country clubs or fire halls. Expert wedding planner Alexandria “Allie” Proko of Alexandria Catherine Events explained, “Many people in this area host in their homes; however, some people don’t want to have to do that, so it’s sometimes in their best interest to rent a location out temporarily, where places can offer tables, chairs, tablecloths, plates and serveware.”
In planning the wedding shower, it’s sometimes a surprise gathering for the bride, and thrown for her by her bridesmaids. “My shower was definitely a surprise to me! I had been on the way to the mall for art supplies for the favors when my maid of honor and my mom quick called me to come over to the restaurant to check something for the wedding,” said Kimberly Snyder of New Jersey. “I walked in the front door and yep, I was surprised! I had no idea. They had gone with the farmhouse theme of my wedding, and my bridesmaids, my mom and soon-to-be mother-in-law served an elegant brunch.”
Weddings showers can have themes, like following the wedding theme or a movie theme the bride/couple relates to. This makes decorating exciting and creative and can also make it easier. “When people have specific themes to work toward, knowing the bride will loves a certain movie or theme like Paris, it is an added gift to the bride,” Allie notes.
Recent bride Cathy Sabatino had a full afternoon tea at a local tea shop. “The staff was very attentive and all my guests raved about the food and atmosphere. I loved the intimacy of the space for such a special occasion.” Her bridesmaid, Bridget Mayberry, said the tea room was lovely, the staff was wonderful and the food was delicious.
Alexandria said food is having a moment. “Brides are shifting toward more casual fare with a gourmet twist and excellent presentation at both their wedding and shower such as mini appetizers, mini desserts, cupcakes, fruit cups and sorbets.” Another creative option is food trucks paired with local breweries or distillery options, or brunch with mimosas and a bagel bar.
Decor is always a focus of any party. “Hot pink has been pretty popular with peach/orange tones, but it’s really just about using a pop of color in a bold hue and pairing it with lighter shades for balance,” said Allie. Bright flowers as accents on the guest tables look pretty and don’t overpower the tables.
Wedding shower games can make an appearance, too, like present bingo. The options have expanded beyond the traditional games, but make sure to consider what type of games, if any, the bride-to-be would enjoy playing.
Wedding showers are also the place to “shower” the bride with gifts she’s registered for. Couples can register at department stores for needed and wanted items. And not all brides register for kitchen items—a registry can include whatever the couple wishes for. Right now, the Instant Pot is a hot gift item for the new couple. “This programmable pressure cooker speeds up cooking and uses less energy,” said Allie. “It’s perfect for couples to create fast healthy meals.”
A wedding shower can be as low-key or boisterous as the bridesmaids want it for their friend, the bride. Ensuring the bride is “showered” with fun, family and friends is the key to a successful shower.
- Photos: Christine Tarlecki
