TresSugar

You Asked: Can I Split Their Showers?

DearSugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I have two daughters, one is getting married in September and one is having a baby in September. Would it be OK to combine their showers and have one big one as opposed to two smaller ones? - Curious Mom Melinda

Dear Curious Mom Melinda,

While it makes perfect sense to simply combine the two showers, I can almost guarantee that your daughters would have some hurt feelings if you went that route. Since each has their own exciting news to celebrate, sharing a shower could take away from their individual joy.

I know showers can be expensive, but each of your daughters deserves their own moment in the spotlight. If you keep the guest lists down to just close friends and family, and if you have the showers at your home or at a friend's home, it'll be easy to keep the costs down. At the end of the day and after all the hard work is behind you, I bet you'll be glad that you showered your girls separately. Congratulations to them and to you!

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Good Idea or Bad Idea: Coed Parties

DearSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Although I love the traditional female-only showers and bachelorette parties, I think there’s something really fun about the concept of sharing those special occasions with the man in your life. Then again, before taking the plunge, some serious girl time is definitely in order. Plus sometimes throwing guys into the mix only makes things more complicated and less fun; there's really nothing like just being with the girls! So ladies, what do you think, are co-ed prewedding parties a good idea or a bad idea?

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A Do or a Don't: Bridal Shower Games

DearSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:00:00 -0700

Wedding showers are notorious for their getting-to-know-you games, like making a wedding dress out of toilet paper or seeing how few times you can say the word "wedding." Though in theory, games should be fun, sometimes they’re just not! I love the idea of doing something at the shower that both the young and old can participate in, but I think that the typical games can be a little blah if not flat-out cheesy. But ladies, what do you think? Are shower games a do or a don’t?

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

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The How-To Lounge: Shower Etiquette

DearSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 09:30:00 -0700

After your engagement parties are a thing of the past, it's time to continue your wedding celebration with bridal showers. To read up on wedding shower etiquette read more

The maid of honor usually plans at least one bridal shower, but if she lives out of state, it is OK for another bridesmaid or family member to do the honors
Bridal showers take place at least 4-6 weeks before the wedding and are a time for the bride, and her female friends, to celebrate and give gifts before the big day. It is considered poor etiquette to invite guests to your shower that are not invited to the wedding so keep your showers small and intimate
Be sure to send individual invitations just as you would to any other event leading up to your wedding
Guests should include everyone in the bridal party, female family members, mother of the bride and groom, close friends and co-workers
Most showers have themes so the guests will know what gift to bring. Most common themes are linen showers, lingerie showers, kitchen showers, etc. Be sure to include where you are registered with your invitation
Be sure to appoint a bridesmaid or family member the role of gift recorder so you can be sure to send thank you notes to the appropriate guests
Many bridal showers start off with shower games (dress the bride, how well do you know your mate, etc) to get people acquainted with each other and to set the mood of the event
Couples showers are also a way to blend the sexes in celebration and a way to keep things less formal. Bridal showers are typically thrown during the day and couples showers at night, which tend to take on the same form as an engagement party

While there will be many parties you will be invited to, you shouldn't feel obligated to attend every one. Have fun and party on!

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The How-To Lounge: Bridal Shower Etiquette

DearSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Traditionally a bridal shower is an opportunity for women to get together to "shower" the bride in the presents that she’ll need to make a home. While certainly times have changed in terms of wedding etiquette, generally, bridal showers have remained the same. To find out some basic shower etiquette and ways to make this traditional event more contemporary, read more.

Typically the shower is thrown and planned by the maid of honor and/or a female relative - the bride’s mother may be involved in the planning, but she's not in charge of the occasion.
Women who are not invited to the wedding should not be asked to attend the bridal shower. However, of the wedding invitees, feel free to ask everyone from coworkers to great-grandmothers.
Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to have a co-ed shower, which is usually thrown at night and is more similar to a traditional engagement party. But if you're planning the occasion, be sure to check in with the bride and groom and see what works for them.
Showers usually take place four to eight weeks before the wedding day in order to ensure the bride isn’t completely overwhelmed with scheduling right before the big day. If multiple showers are being thrown, the more time that’s given the better. You want the bride’s shower to be special, not another thing she has to stress over.
Formal invitations are expected for bridal showers. If you're following a specific theme, make sure to either utilize it in the look of the invitation or mention it within. While the invites can include an insert mentioning the couple’s website and gift registry, it's best not to include that information on the invitation itself.
Though many showers incorporate games and themes, neither of these are necessary. Just make sure that whatever is chosen works for the brides and keeps in mind that women of all ages will be attending.

Bridal showers may not be as exciting a bachelorette party, but they should still be fun, so don't be afraid to think outside of the box and try something totally untraditional!

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

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Do Tell: How Many Pre-Wedding Parties Are Too Many?

DearSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Being a part of someone's wedding is a huge honor, but it's also very time-consuming and expensive. It seems that everyone's free time is getting more and more limited, so when you add wedding requirements to the mix, they can feel like more of a burden than an event to look forward to. Typically brides have one engagement party, one bridal shower, and one bachelorette party, but some have many more. Now I love a good party, don't get me wrong, but I know how monotonous these kind of parties can be. So ladies, do tell, how many pre-wedding parties are too many?

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

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Five Bridal Shower Theme Ideas

TresSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Bridal showers might not have the flair of bachelorette parties, but they should be just as fun! There's a lot of etiquette to consider when planning a traditional wedding shower, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have fun with it. Here are some theme suggestions that could make the event even more exciting for the bride and the guests. Source

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Wedding Parties Week in Review

DearSugar — Sat, 17 May 2008 09:21:30 -0700

Just in case you missed any of the wedding party week coverage here on Dear, you can check out my recap below!

Coed parties are the new trend, but are they a good idea or a bad idea?
Learn all the proper etiquette when it comes to throwing a bachelorette party or bridal shower.
What do you think? How many pre-wedding parties are too many?
Managing family issues during your wedding can be a real struggle, so check out my advice for dealing with a demanding sister-in-law, estranged relatives, and a familial rift.
Would you want to know what goes on at your man's bachelor party?
Make sure to check out the newest installment in Dear's wedding timeline series for your wedding planning needs.
Bachelorette parties can range from totally wild to spa-day relaxing. What kind do you want?
When it comes to party entertainment, are bridal shower games and penis paraphernalia dos or don'ts?

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

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DearSugar Needs Your Help: Do I Have a Say in My Bridal Shower?

DearSugar — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 09:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar and Bride-to-Be Betty need your help. Should she tell her fiance's mother to travel to the bridal shower her mother is planning or should she let her future mother-in-law plan her own?

Dear Sugar--

I am getting married next August and have been diligently planning the wedding. I have to say I'm pleased that everything has been going pretty smoothly and nobody has been too opinionated.

The other day I was talking to my mom about the bridal shower she is planning in the Spring. It's going to be in New Jersey where my parents live, and she wanted to know if my fiance's family would come from Connecticut. I called my future mother-in-law to extend a verbal invitation and she told me that she's not too into traveling and was just planning on throwing her own bridal shower for her side of the family.

I was fine with it at first, but when I told my mother, she was a little turned off and hurt and then I realized that I was too. It's only about a 2 1/2 hour drive, so what's the big deal? I thought the point of bridal showers was to get all the women together before the wedding to celebrate?

Do I have a right to say something to my fiance's mother about this? Is it normal to have two different bridal showers, one from each side of the family, or do you traditionally just have one with everyone? I don't want to seem like an ungrateful or bitchy Bridezilla, so I'd appreciate any advice from former brides.

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Grab Bag! Susan Boyle Goes Glam

TresSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:00:27 -0700

Susan Boyle gets glammed for Harper's Bazaar. - FabSugarUK
Giant children! Run for your lives! - Urlesque
Want to save the rain forest? Pee in the shower. - Lemondrop
A bridezilla is headed to jail. - The Frisky
Bill Clinton's trip to North Korea gets the Stewart and Colbert treatment. - Indecision Forever
Advice for dating someone of a different religion. - YourTango
Woman to wed an amusement park ride. - Jezebel