If you are looking for a more meaningful way to celebrate with your female friends and family, then elegala has some great ideas for you!
Showers for a Cause
Who said the bride needs to get all the gifts? Instead, direct that spending power toward a greater cause, and dedicate the day to a charitable organization that holds special meaning for the bride and groom.
Some ideas: Help the fight against breast cancer with a Pink Envelope Bridal Shower. Or have a green bridal shower where you plant trees and serve locally grown vegetarian cuisine. Pack care baskets for the homeless or gather warm clothes for the neighborhood’s underprivileged children.
Thought Exchange
Instead of (or in addition to) exchanging household gifts, focus on the exchange of heartfelt gifts like advice, emotions and feelings. This listening and sharing will help the bride connect with her friends and explore her own feelings about the wedding and marriage.
Some ideas: Each guest can come with their thought to read aloud, or the maid-of-honor can gather submissions ahead of time, and compile them into a scrap book that’s presented to the bride at the shower. Another idea is a recipe exchange with a twist. Each guest brings a recipe card, with a favorite recipe on one side, and on the other side, the recipe for a good marriage.
Memory Lane Shower
Have a shower focused on reminiscing shared memories and friendships. This is not just fun and entertaining, but it will help the bride reconnect with her old self as she prepares to take on a new identity.
Some ideas: Create a memory book where every attendee to write a page or two detailing their fondest memory with the bride. Gather these stories along with photos into a memory scrapbook. Or have each attendee bring a gift that represents a memory – a cd of favorite songs, a photo album, that old cheerleading uniform. A slide show of photos set to music, where everyone contribute some of their favorites, is another great idea (my sister did this for me at my shower and it was great!). The evening is sure to provoke a lot of heartfelt reminiscing, laughter, and maybe even some tears.
Slumber Party
Break out the PJs, sleeping bags, and tubs of ice cream – it’s time for some serious female bonding. A slumber party is a great way to revel in that special connection you have with the women in your life, and it affords her an encouraging setting to share feelings openly. Consider incorporating some of the above ideas into the slumber party – such as exchanging advice or creating a scrapbook.
Literary Shower
Treat a bride with a passion for literature or poetry with a feast of beautiful quotes. Have all attendees bring an excerpt or poem containing wisdom or sentiment about love or marriage, and take turns reading. The evening will be intellectually enriching and inspiring.
Adventure Shower
Some brides-to-be may cringe at the thought of an emotionally vulnerable shower of intimate bonding. Instead, taking to the outdoors can be a powerful alternative for an emotional and physical release. Enjoy a day of hiking, white water rafting, rock climbing, biking, ropes course – you name it. Successfully accomplishing these challenging outdoor activities can act as a symbolic metaphor for entering into marriage – which also requires strength to overcome its own set of challenges.
Get even more ideas for Bridal Shower Games.