As the maid of honor in my best friend’s wedding, I offered to throw her a bridal shower. I told her it could be any type of shower she wants…in my house, at a restaurant, with or without games, etc. But I have to admit, she really threw me for a loop when she told me she and her groom-to-be wanted a couples shower.
I immediately asked around for ideas about throwing a couples shower, and was pleased that several people I knew had been in the same situation as me: slightly overwhelmed and confused. For those of you who are also pondering what to do, here’s a guide on how to plan a successful couples shower:
First off, get the bride and groom to give you a guest list for the shower. In order to provide enough food, entertainment, etc., you have to know about how many people to expect. As the name suggests, many invites will go to couples the engaged pair is friends with. For their single friends, imply that they are welcome to bring a guest. This lessens the likelyhood of people feeling as if they’re the “third wheel.”
Once you’ve got a guest list, start brainstorming about the theme of the shower. The invitations and decorations can all be centered around the theme for a festive and memorable experience. Some examples are:
The Great Outdoors: Does the engaged couple love camping, fishing or hiking? This theme is perfect for the nature-loving pair. Invitations could have a tree or leaf pattern, and for decorations, string lights from trees, have picnic tables with old-fashioned checkered table cloths, and even include a campfire for marshmallow toasting. For a great outdoorsy setting, check into reserving a picnic shelter or similar venue at a local park.
Viva Las Vegas: This idea is great for a couple who loves to gamble or play poker. Party supplies stores carry all sorts of decorations for a Vegas-themed party. Serve beverages in fancy (but inexpensive) plastic cocktail glasses, offer guests card tables for impromptu games of poker or blackjack, and add poker chips to the centerpieces for tables. Favors could be a deck of cards for each guest.
Tropical BBQ: This is a simple, yet impressive-looking way to decorate. Think all things luau–palm trees, flowers, brightly colored table cloths, and flower leis for the bride and groom. Fruity cocktails with little umbrellas in glasses add an extra touch.
The theme I decided to go with was a South of the Border Fiesta, since the couple was honeymooning in Mexico. I used bright tablecloths and miniature cacti as centerpieces, which also doubled as prizes for some of the games. A festive pinata hung from a tree, and chili pepper lights adorned my deck. I served guests taco salad, 7-layer dip and salsa and chips, along with hamburgers and hot dogs. For beverages, I mixed up a giant batch of margaritas and served Corona for the beer-lovers.
After deciding on a theme, send the invitations. Be sure to write on the invitation that it’s a coed shower. For single guests, it’s helpful to write “Bring a guest, if you’d like,” or something along those lines, to make sure they know they’re allowed to bring someone. Include RSVP information, since you’ll need an exact headcount for food and favors. It’s also helpful to state the dress code, which is usually casual for a couples shower.
Next, get decorations and secure a venue. A local park, restaurant or even your own home is perfect. Consult with the bride and groom to see what they had in mind. Plan the menu. WIll it be just appetizers, cake and champaign, or a full meal? Be sure to select foods that most people like, as well as things that are easy to prepare for a large batch of guests.
One thing common to all showers is games. Obviously, the traditional female-friendly games like making a wedding dress from toilet paper are out. Search the internet for many ideas for couples-friendly games. Here are the ones I chose for my friend’s shower:
Balloon pop: Blow up a bunch of balloons, and slip a small piece of paper inside them. The majority of the papers should say something like “keep looking,” “try again,” or “no prize this time.” But put paper with the bride and groom’s name on it in 2 or 3 of the balloons. Guests must pop the balloons any way they can, and the people who find the slip with the names on it win a prize.
How well do you know the couple?: Make a brief quiz centered on the couple: where they met, how many pets they have, where they will honeymoon, what their jobs are, etc. Give each guest the quiz on a sheet of paper, and allow them a few minutes to answer all the questions. When they’re finished, read the answers aloud. The guest(s) with the most correct answers will get a prize.
Bridal Bingo: For this game, make a 5-by-5 square grid on a sheet of paper. It’s basically a bingo board. Mark “Free space” in the center square, and instruct guests to fill the remaining 24 squares with gifts they think the couple will receive at the shower. As the couple opens their gifts, guests cross off each correct square. (for example, if they open a toaster, guests with a square that reads “toaster” will cross off that square) The first guests to mark a straight or diagonal line win a prize.
The key is to not overload the men with too many games, since they’re new to wedding showers. Especially if it’s a large group (20+), keep the games to no more than 3, so the shower doesn’t drag on. After the games are played and presents opened, allow guests time to eat and socialize before they leave. Favors today are optional, but if you’d like, you can send each person home with a small gift.
