Six Ways to Save on Your Bridal Shower
Get ready, maid of honor — it's shower time. But not to fret, a great party doesn't have to drain your bank account. Check out my six favorite ideas on how to plan a creative, fun shower on the cheap.
Host the shower at home
Restaurants can run up a hefty bill (unless you ask each guest to pay their own way), and a caterer can also run you into a small fortune. Hosting the shower at your home (or the bride's mother, or a close friend) can cut the cost dramatically, and provide a casual yet festive atmosphere for the party.
Plan the shower for a public place
If your city is known for its gorgeous parks, you could call your local parks department and reserve a shelter to hold your festive occasion.
Choose an earlier time of day
On the average, evening parties tend to be more expensive - dinner food and alcohol can run into a lot of cash fast. Instead, have a Sunday brunch with a delicious egg dish and punch, or an afternoon tea with finger sandwiches and lots of cake. Better still, if you want to avoid a meal altogether, choose a time when you know everyone has eaten (say, 2:00, which is usually past lunch), and then you can offer some snacks and a slice of cake instead.
Get creative with the decorations
Move over, Martha — you don't need a mint to make the shower fabulous. After choosing your theme, use your computer to create invitations, use beautifully colored balloons for centerpieces (they're more affordable than flowers), and design your own placecards out of pretty printed paper.
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Ask the bridesmaids to chip in with the food
You can spread some of the preparations around without having to shoulder all the shopping, chopping, and cooking yourself. Gather together the bridesmaids before the shower, and delegate a few dishes or drinks for them to bring on shower day - a talented baker takes care of the cake; the bride's cousin makes her famous sweet pea salad.
Create your own bridal shower favors
Don't worry, I'm talking semi homemade. A memorable favor can be as easy as this: purchase some pre-made treats like chocolates in fun shapes or pastel colored candies, then slip them in a little box or cello bag. All that's left is to tie a beautiful bow on your favor. For a brunch or lunch, put one at each placesetting to double as a decoration, or fill up a pretty basket with your favors and let guests help themselves.With all this help, how can you go wrong? So, go get started on your stellar bridal shower!
