Tips for Planning a Jack and Jill Bridal Shower
From Giftypedia
Celebrations for upcoming nuptials is an age-old tradition, typically involving an all-girls bridal shower. As men have become more involved with the events surrounding the wedding, it is now common to include the men and throw a couples showers.
[edit] Invitations for a Couples Bridal Shower
When deciding on the perfect invitations for a co-ed bridal shower remember this is a casual event, the invites do not have to be elaborate, make them fun and creative. If there is a theme to the party remember to include it within the invite, or let the invite reflect the theme. If the shower is beach themed you could send a message in the bottle invite, or an inflatable beach ball with the information written on the ball.
[edit] Jack and Jill Bridal Shower Themes
- Stock The Bar
- Gives guests the opportunity to bring liquor and wine to stock the bar, or bar accessories for the couple who like to entertain.
- Bon Voyage
- Lets guests bring gifts that are associated with travel or relate to the destination the couple will be traveling to on their honeymoon.
- Beach/Pool Party
- Great for couples who have a pool or a beach house, or that just love the water, guests can bring gifts associated with the beach, pool, or boating.
- Electronics & Gadgets
- Lets guests help the new couple give modern touches to their home entertainment systems.
- Garden & Tool
- This will let guests bring gifts associated with home improvement and the garden so the bride can add to her "honey-do list".
- Sports and Fitness
- Guests can bring gifts for the home gym, or sporting equipment, this is great for health-conscience couples.
- Naughty & Nice Lingerie Shower
- Great for couples that do not embarrass easily, guests can bring a "naughty" gifts like sexy lingerie, intimate products or books, or a "nice" gift such as robes, massage oil, or pajamas.
- Library/Book shower
- Great for the bookworm couple, guests can bring gifts that are for a home library, or with reading like unique bookmarks, desk lamps, or books by favorite authors or marriage related books.
[edit] Food and Drinks
As with any party keep the guests list in mind, when planning a co-ed bridal shower you want to plan food and beverages that will appeal to both sexes. The backyard barbecue menu is always a good choice for all, or for a lighter menu finger-foods and cocktails/beer. For the host/hostess with a busy schedule, throwing the party at the couples favorite restaurant will eliminate having to worry about planning a menu.
[edit] Co-Ed Shower Games and Activities
Planning a few shower games is a great way to start conversations, the games are meant to be fun, and a way share memories about the bride and groom-to-be.
[edit] Opening the Gifts
When the time comes to open gifts at the co-ed bridal shower make sure that the couple does this together, and make it fun. If there is a large number of guests at the shower, that typically means there is a large number of gifts to open, which can take a long time. Make the gift opening session fun break the opening session up, open a few before you have dinner or snacks, then open a few before you have cake. Have even more fun and make a game out of the gift opening session. Grab a kitchen timer and set it for 10 minutes then the couple begins opening their gifts. When the timer rings, the guest whose gift the couple is holding gets a prize.
