Step by step guide to throwing a bridal shower

Your best friend is getting married. You want to help make this a special time in her life, and one of the things you'd like to help with is planning a bridal shower. But you're a little nervous Put away your misgivings, experts say. Planning a wedding shower that will be remembered
with pleasure does not have to be difficult if you keep a few tips in mind.

When: A wedding shower can take place two months to two weeks before the wedding.

Where: Private homes, restaurants, condo or apartment clubhouses all are popular choices.

Who: Usually the maid of honor or close friends do the honors of hosting the bridal shower. Family members, such as sisters or mother-in-laws, traditionally do not host the showers since it can be viewed as self-serving.

Must haves: Designate a person to record all gifts and who gave them. This is so the bride and groom can properly thank givers by promptly sending a thank you card. It is also appropriate to give each attendee a bridal shower favor or a unique momentos such as a heart-shaped soap favor scented with rosemary or scented votive candles.

Who to invite: Close friends, family, coworkers of the bride and groom and church or congregation members can shower good wishes on the couple. Don't invite everyone on the wedding guest list to the shower -- it should be personal. A good rule of thumb is creating a list of people you'd invite to a close birthday party.

How the event unfolds: Set aside about two hours for the event. Greet guests and serve light appetizers. After most guests have arrived, go around the room and have guests introduce themselves and say how they know the bride and groom. Play three or four shower games, if desired. Break for refreshments and other incidentals. Open gifts. Host should thank departing
guests individually.

Creative wrapping tips for shower gifts

You're pressed for time, yet you still want to show you care creatively and fashionably. It's easy. Use these pointers from American Greetings to ensure your gift is received with a smile.

• Be different and wrap one half of a present in one design and the other half in a complementing solid paper. Attach a solid bow that brings everything all together.
  
  
  
• Inexpensive items and things you can find around the house can become creative package decorations. For example, ball up a piece of ice cream-colored tissue paper and nestle your scoop into an ice cream cone -- the perfect topping for a package wrapped in ice cream-patterned paper or a gift for an ice cream lover.
  
  
• Attach something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. A lovely piece of old lace, tied with a blue ribbon and topped with a shiny new penny, is certain to catch the eye of the bride-to-be.
  
  
• Mix two different complementing colors of tissue to top off gift bags. Attach a bow or a package decoration to make this very easy wrap extra special.
  
  
• Wrapping gifts in unexpected ways adds to the fun of the occasion. Roll golf balls in a cylinder of golf-themed wrapping paper, tied at each end and between each ball with curling ribbon. Curl the ribbon with a pair of scissors.
  
  
• When giving a gift for the kitchen, such as a blender or mixer, attach color-coordinating measuring cups or spoons to tie in with your gift.
  
  
• Fresh flowers make great present-toppers on any occasion. Stick with solid color wraps that complement, rather than compete with, your ensemble.
  
  
• Add a fan fold for special occasions. Cut a section of wrap and fold in half diagonally. Fold into a fan and tie or tape the fan to your gift.
  
  
• Draw out the anticipation of a gift-giving occasion by delivering the gift scavenger-hunt-style, having the recipient follow clues on a series of notes to lead him or her to the present.
  

Bridal showers everyone will love

Bridal showers have traditionally been dainty affairs celebrated by the bride-to-be and her closest female friends and relatives. And for some brides, this type of demure celebration is perfect. What bride doesn't enjoy an afternoon luncheon of salad and sweets, and gifts wrapped in silvery paper?

However, many of today's brides are also interested in something a bit more innovative and interactive. They (or their grooms) may yearn for power tools and garden hoses. They may want to include the groom in the festivities. Whatever type of shower you are craving, remember that there's not limit to the creativity.

TOOL Showers

Inform your guest that in order to show up at this fabulous party, they need to bring a tool Instead of serving a light luncheon featuring salad and petit fours, consider a menu featuring crab and beer at a tool shower. Gift ideas include screwdrivers, socket sets, wrenches, levels, a drill set, and hammers. Also popular is a Home Improvement 1-2-3, a fix-it book by Home
Depot experts.

STOCK THE BAR Showers

Invite guests to this evening celebration, and let the party begin. You may serve a variety of wines and cheeses, followed by an elegant fondue. Gift ideas include cork screws, bottles of wine, wine rack, party supplies, and chip and dish platters.

HONEYMOON Showers

Every bride and groom could benefit from a shower focused on their fabulous vacation after the wedding. The party could be in the afternoon or evening and feature food from the honeymoon destination -- Greek, Italian, Hawaiian, Caribbean, or All-American. Gift ideas include Waterproof cameras, maps and travel diaries.

KITCHEN Shower

Create a decorated recipe box. Each guest brings four favorite recipes on index cards, along with his or her gift, to the shower. The gift might be a utensil, pot or baking dish used to prepare the recipe. The recipe box will then become a joint shower gift.

TEA PARTY

Martha Stewart has some terrific ideas how to make an afternoon tea party into a memorable affair. Serve an assortment of tea sandwiches and sweets on elegant china. For place cards, she suggests removing the tags from tea bags and replacing them with small handwritten name tags, and put a tea bag into an empty cup at each guest's place. For a bride who already has everything, ask each guest to bring an interesting or antique teacup instead of a more traditional gift.

CAMPING Shower

Have an outdoor barbecue or social gathering for friends and relatives. At these events, the future bride and groom mingle to meet and introduce everyone. Gifts at this casual affair might include flash lights, camping chairs, first aid kit.

WORKPLACE Shower

Save time and convenience. These can come in the form of an extended lunch at an area restaurant. Usually the boss is invited, and co-workers treat the future bride to lunch. A collection can be taken up at the office for a cake and gift.

MULTICULTURAL Shower

The hostess assigns everyone a country and ask them to find a gift that represented that country.

AROUND THE HOUSE Shower

Assign a room of the house to each guest asking her to buy a gift for that room.

SEASONAL Shower

Guests are assigned a season and bring gifts that correspond.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT Shower

Display a Christmas tree. Each guest brings an ornament or other tree decoration as a shower gift; hang the ornaments on the tree as they are opened.

HEIRLOOM Shower

Display old wedding gowns. Have your guests dig out their old wedding gowns to put on display at the center of your party decor.

AROUND-THE-CLOCK Shower

Each gift should match the aligned time of day. "Morning gifts" can include a coffee maker or alarm clock, for example.