Assisting Brides, One Special Day at a Time
Hello to all of my wonderful brides & brides to-be!
Believe it or not I finally got up the guts to run my very first half marathon this past October in Atlantic City! Time: 2 Hours & 46 Seconds . . . not bad for a first timer!
I wanted to just take the time to share this very proud moment with all of you 
My Very Supportive Big Sister & Brother In-Law !
Sex and the City
Sarah Jessica Parker
Charlotte
Let’s Play A Game!!!
OK ladies we are in 2010 and as much fun as traditional games such as The Wedding Dress Game, Wedding Words, and Who Is Next? are, many brides prefer to steer clear of such games. Well steer on brides-to-be and come on over to my new and improved, modern Bridal Shower Game!
Now I must first state that I give full credit of this game idea to my sister’s best friend and one of her bridesmaids at her wedding, Mary!
Mary
Are you ready? . . . “How Well Do You Know Your Husband to-be?” Now I already know what you’re all thinking – Huh?! This doesn’t sound new and exciting! BUT there is a twist . . . it’s a Video Game! OK let me explain . . .
What you will need is a video camera or a digital camera that has video taping capabilities, a paper, pen or pencil, laptop and laptop speakers ( the speakers are for the day of the Shower so that everyone has access to the audio )
Another important factor is that this has to be a total surprise to the Bride! So, at least two of the bridesmaids have to get together with the Groom ahead of time. Brainstorm together 20 – 25 questions that the Groom can answer and that the Bride will have to answer of her Groom at the shower!
Her is where the video comes into play – One bridesmaid will have control over the video taping and one bridesmaid will ask the question; video tape the Groom answering each question. Upload this onto your laptop and put it together so that you can have a whole video of these clips of the Groom answering the questions; if you end up with several small clips instead of one clipped video that is fine, just be sure it is workable.
Bring the laptop, questions and laptop speakers to the shower. Once it is the right moment, usually during lunch or dinner ( depending on what time frame the shower is being held ) you can set everything up and sit the bride down and then begin the show!
Have a bridesmaid read each question aloud to the bride and have another bridesmaid play back the Groom’s answer after the Bride answers each. It’s really cute and funny and definitely interesting to see just how much the Bride knows about her Hubbie to-be!
Another fun game, as stated in ‘Bridal Shower! – Part V Gift Giving’, is Bridal Bingo! In addition, that is not so much a game as it is a really cute idea, are Recipe Cards! Insert blank recipe cards into each invitation and write a little saying, for example ” Please write down a home-made recipe for the Bride and Groom to-be.” As guests arrive at the shower they will place their recipe cards into the recipe box ( that the bridesmaids have purchased ) This is such a a sentimental gift that both the Bride and Groom can enjoy together!
If anybody has any great Game ideas that they would like to share with me PLEASE do! Please feel free to leave a comment below! Thank you everyone for your support!
OK I am back and ready to discuss Bridal Shower Themes!
When choosing a theme PLEASE be sure to stick to ideas and special traditions that relate to the BRIDE! I know you all already know that BUT I must mention it because some bridal parties get carried away with the planning and forget to just focus on the Bride.
I know that in today’s world many brides like to steer clear of “Traditional” and anything else that their mother may have been doing during her own shower. I am one that loves tradition and so for me it is easier to plan that way. However, by taking the Bride’s favorite color and flower and incorporating them into every aspect of the shower you can just as easily set your theme; it’s as simple as that!
Gardenia Flower
Gardenias bloom in the mid-spring and summer so they will be inexpensive in comparison to those flowers that are out of season. Now, your Bride’s favorite color is pale pink or even bright neon green! You can take the beauty of the white gardenias and the boldness of the color to create an amazing backdrop for your perfect Bridal Shower setting!
You can even take something so simple such as any of the Disney Princesses to create your theme. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Ariel, Snow White, etc. Even if you’re a Bride that doesn’t love theDisney Princesses; think of the colors that each relate to and you can use that to create your theme while leaving out the princess if that just isn’t style.
Baby Blues, Soft Yellow Tones, Pale Pink, White Slipper
Perky Periwinkle, Shimmering Gold, Princess Pink, Ivory Silk
Chocolate Brown, Twinkling Rose, Shades of Canary Yellow, Wedding White
Ruby Red, Ocean Blue, Pearl White, Rich Turquoise
Jet Black, Royal Blue, Lemon Yellow, Snow White
* These colors can either be mixed or you can just pick one and go with it, the choice is up to the Bride *
* Research flowers that are in-season along with your color choice and you will have a successful and affordable shower *
* Have fun with it and pick a Disney Princess and base the shower around the Bride’s favorite; anything Disney is always bound for a lot of smiles and a Fairytale ending to come *
Bridal Party at My Sister's Shower
OK Bridal Party – this is ALL you! Though the theme and ideas for the shower are from the Bride – YOU ladies will be the ones organizing and planning. Well, I am going to be so nice as to assist you in such an event 
My sister just got married last Fall and I was going absolutely crazy to be sure everything was done perfectly for her shower!
There were so many details and traditions and NEW ideas that I hadn’t even known about. Needless to say it went exceptionally well and she was very much surprised and happy!
To begin . . . one of the most important details of any event is the Guest List & sending out Invitations:
The rule of thumb is that Bridal Shower invitations should be sent out 6 weeks to one month in advance. Many of your guests lead busy work and social lives, in addition to your out of state guests, so this is a good time frame in which people need to take the time off for that special day.
For those of you whom are guests PLEASE RSVP! It is SO important that the Bridal Party knows WHO is coming so that they can provide an accurate head count to the restaurant or venue. Even if it is a backyard springtime or summer Bridal Shower, the hostess’ still need to know in order to provide the appropriate seating arrangements as well as amount of food necessary.
Another important piece of the invitation puzzle is be sure to insert ALL registry information so that your guests know how and were to purchase gifts. Some of your guests may choose to not use the registry, which is fine, but it still MUST be included in the invite.
Also, BE SURE to get an accurate Guest List from both the Bride AND the Groom. This is not just for the Bride’s family; it is ALL of the women on both the Bride and Groom’s side. There is also the option to host a Co-ed Bridal Shower where both men & women are invited from both sides.
Let’s Get Organized!
Now I know most brides like their Bridal Shower to be fun and carefree, what bride doesn’t? So, even if you are not having a formal bridal shower I feel seating placement is may become necessary.
For those of you planning a shower of 50 or more it is important to assign seats with the use of place cards to your guests. Many guests may be meeting for the first time and you may also have people that become nervous around large groups. To avoid any possible issues or concerns from your guests or Bride-to-be, you can have arranged seating so that everybody knows exactly where to sit and there is no confusion and smooth ease of movement throughout.
You want your guests to feel comfortable and your Bride stress-free and worry-free. Organization is KEY to any successful event!
I also suggest you delegate responsibilities in regards to activities throughout, gift opening, etc.
* Be sure to view my blog throughout the following week. I’m going to use this week to educate everyone on Bridal Showers and what you should know. This was just the beginning!*
Were you able to guess right? Well let’s see . . . BOTH cakes are fake! Did I get you?!
Not only is this an excellent money saving tip it is also a lot less work & stress. What many Brides – on – a – Budget are doing these days are purchasing these wedding cakes that are more fake than real. By fake, I mean most of the tiers are made out of styrofoam with fondant over laying, topped with decorative flair.
The cake on the left is one of the most beautiful cakes I’d ever seen at one of my weddings. The maitre’d informed me that it was fake. I was shocked! I could not believe it! Well ladies, believe it! And this money saver can knock off hundreds from your wedding budget & the best part is that your guests will never know!
OK, so you’re probably wondering . . . If the cake is fake & made of styrofoam, what will I serve to my guests? Well, it’s simple. During each wedding, as desired, there is a cake cutting ceremony in which the bride & groom cut the cake, put it on each other’s faces, feed it to one another, etc., etc. During that time your guests will be taking photos, cheering, laughing and enjoying watching the new happy couple.
Afterwards, guests are directed to arrive back at their seats while the staff brings the cake to the kitchen. More inexpensive sheet cakes are then sliced in the back (behind the scenes) and served without your guests ever knowing; mind you the sheet cakes have the same color icing and texture so that your guests will be easily fooled, trust me on this.
Now, after looking at those gorgeous cakes in addition to the money saving tip I just provided, I think you might second guess when you’re visiting your cake designer. I promise you a million wonderful memories, a lot of fun, great tasting cake that did not cost a fortune, happy guests and more money in your pocket for that dream house you’re going to purchase post wedding day!
Nobody can give you as much LOVE & SUPPORT as your Big sister. I want to just give a special Thank You to her for literally ALWAYS being there for me! <3
P.S. She was the BEST bride ever!
Hello Brides to – be !
1.) Set a date
2.) Contact all of your BEST friends ONLY!
3.) Throw an Old School Slumber Party
4.) Have each person bring ice-cream or even frozen yogurt & chopped fruit to make healthy sundaes, create your own home-made Pink Berry! ESPECIALLY with your Wedding Planning coming along you want to stay healthy. * But Ladies, be sure to have a few cocktails anyway – healthy or not a cocktail never hurts
5.) Rent Fun Movies - Some of my fav’s . . . like ‘Bride Wars’ or ‘The Wedding Planner’!
6.) Mani/Pedis are a MUST!!!
7.) Give each other different make – up styles & turn it into a fun trial session for the Bride & even the Bridesmaids to -be!
8.) Take the time to reminisce about the past . . . this will bring you all SO close, you’ll feel like you are back in High-School again whispering about how cute the new boy is or who wore what to class, like those awful stirrup leggings or tie dye shirts! What was she thinking?!
9.) Play FUN board and/or card games!
10.) Most Importantly . . .ENJOY! Enjoy the girl talk, being in great company & really bringing out your inner girl . . . *Moral is Ladies, enjoy the activities you did with your friends when you were young even if you’re not 15 anymore it will still be the BEST time & create even MORE wonderful MEMORIES for a Lifetime
Next Stop . . .VEGAS!!! For the REAL BACHELORETTE PARTY!!! 
