| Bridal showers are an essential part of the | | | | With the renewed interest in things like |
| wedding process. In simpler times, they helped | | | | scrapbooking, though, this shouldn't be a difficult |
| the bride get the gifts she would need to start | | | | process. Because so many people are interested |
| her new life as a wife. They were essentially gifts | | | | in creative paper goods, many hobby stores |
| she would need around the house. Our society | | | | carry a large selection of creative papers, |
| tends to be much less traditional these days. Now | | | | scissors, stamps, and stickers to help you create |
| bridal showers are typically structured around a | | | | the invitation of your dreams. Most even have a |
| theme. They are, essentially, parties with a | | | | section of paper that can be fed into your home |
| mission. Sometimes the mission is the more | | | | printer if you wish to computerize your text. For |
| traditional getting the bride ready to run a house | | | | example, if you want to create a beach party |
| of her own, and other times the mission is | | | | wedding shower, you might go to the hobby |
| equipping her kitchen or preparing her for a life of | | | | store and choose a paper with a sea shell |
| camping trips with her husband-to-be. Whatever | | | | background. Print out the invitation wording, cut |
| the overall goal of the shower, the invitation is the | | | | the edges with a clam shell shaped scissor, and |
| most important part, as it is what guests will | | | | decorate with some beach chair stickers. You |
| respond to. | | | | suddenly have a much better invitation than you |
| When you get ready to send out invitations, the | | | | could ever have ordered or purchased in a store. |
| first thing you must consider is design. You have | | | | The invitation design is important, but the |
| a few options in this arena. First, you could look at | | | | invitation wording is equally as important. One of |
| the wedding invitations the bride and groom are | | | | the most important things on the invitation is the |
| going to send out. This would give you the chance | | | | name of the bride. You will also need to list the |
| to send out similar invitations and stick with the | | | | date and time of your wedding shower. |
| overall theme of the wedding. If, however, your | | | | Moreover, do not forget to list the location. You |
| wedding shower has a theme of its own, you will | | | | will need to list the person who will be handling the |
| probably want to choose an invitation that | | | | RSVPs and their phone number. Listing a deadline |
| reflects that theme. You can be as creative as | | | | to reply to an RSVP is common. Two weeks |
| you like in this arena. For example, if you are | | | | prior to the shower should give you enough time. |
| having a kitchen shower, you could create an | | | | You should also consider listing who will be hosting |
| invitation that mimics a recipe card. If you are | | | | the shower. If you wish, just list the names of |
| having a beach party shower, you could create | | | | the hostesses. You could, though, list the hostess' |
| invitations that look like little beach towels. You | | | | titles instead of the names. For example, if the |
| can either create your themed wedding shower | | | | hostess' are the bridesmaids, you could just say |
| invitation yourself or you might look into having | | | | something like "The bridesmaids of Jane Doe |
| someone create it for you. Some places, party | | | | invite you . . ." Additionally, it is essential to list |
| stores and such, have bridal shower invitations | | | | where the bride-to-be has registered for gifts so |
| that are preprinted. You simply fill in the | | | | your guests can get her something she really |
| necessary information. If you'd like to have | | | | desires. A typical wedding shower invitation |
| something a bit classier, you can look into having | | | | wording would read something like "Please join us |
| the bridal shower invitations specially printed for | | | | for a bridal shower in honor of Jane Doe on |
| your party. | | | | Sunday, January 31 at 2 p.m. at the Franklin Mobile |
| Most printers have a portfolio of invitations they | | | | Home Park Clubhouse, 123 America Street, |
| would be willing to create for your party. This | | | | Anywhere, Arkansas." |
| tends to look a bit classier and more sophisticated. | | | | Send your invitations out about one month before |
| If neither of these options meets your needs, | | | | the shower, and you will give the bride the best |
| you will have to create the invitation yourself. | | | | party she could hope for. |