These days, future brides, and even couples, are looking for something a little different to celebrate the upcoming union. Finding a special way to honor the happy couple can be a challenge; hopefully these ideas will strike a chord or at least inspire some new ideas when hosting a bridal shower.
Bridal showers traditionally are composed of a group of women who gather to honor a bride-to-be. There is usually some sort of food spread, from a full meal to simply cake and punch, gifts to be given and a game or two to be played. Sometimes, though, it is fun to shake it up a bit and throw a thematic shower. Check out a few of our favorites!
Bridal showers are a great way to honor a young couple before they venture down the road of commitment together. Careful planning will ensure that everyone has a wonderful time making some great memories for the future bride.
The ring has been given, the girl said, “Yes!” With that one word, the fun begins as a season of celebrations opens, leading up to the moment where two lives officially become one. Read the rest of this entry »
I came across an easy-to-make fruit dip, perfect for any gathering or catering event. Make ahead of time and chill to save on the preparation prior to serving!
FRUIT DIP:
Ingredients:
1 small jar marshmallow cream
8 oz softened cream cheese
1/8 c. chopped Maraschino cherries
Crushed or finely chopped pineapple to taste
Mix all ingredients together. Add a bit of cherry juice for color and a bit of pineapple juice for flavor. Serve with chunks of canteloupe, grapes, orange wedges and strawberries. Apples are also good; cut up the day of the event and use a fruit preservative or a bit of lemon juice on them to keep them from browning. This is also good to serve with pretzels and chunks of cake (like pound cake) on toothpicks for dipping.
Want an easy-to-prepare appetizer recipe that will taste like you slaved for hours? Try these simple cream cheese skewers!
This time of year, many are celebrating relationships, graduations, the summer, and family. Our family alone has four separate events planned for this summer: my parents’ anniversary, two monumental birthdays (40 and 60!), and a family reunion. Amazingly, all of these gatherings will be centered around water activities. One will be at a local waterpark, and the rest will all take place at a private pool. When mixing water with entertainment, it is important to implement some adjustments for the safety of everyone.
Summer is here, or nearly here, for many in the United States. With summer, comes heat. And with heat, comes ICE CREAM! Make any gathering a bit more flavorful with these great cold-treat ideas:
Here’s a quick idea for using plastic tablecovers for something other than, well, tables! We take a brightly colored one with us to the water park each time we go. We use it to “claim” our space at the park (it has quite a few picnic tables), and we keep it on the table the entire time we are there. At the end of the day, we simply pile all our wet things (toys, towels, shirts, etc) into the middle of the plastic tablecover, draw up the corners and carry all our wet stuff out of the park without getting any of the rest of our belongings wet! Once we get to the car, the entire package is deposited in the trunk of our car, leaving the rest of the car dry.
This idea works great at the pool, the park, and even the beach! Keep a few plastic tablecovers around…they are not just for covering tables!
Every birthday is a special milestone, a way to mark the end of one year and the promise of another. Turning sixteen for a girl, though, seems to be a rite of passage.
Sixteenth birthdays are celebrated in a variety of ways, from simple get-togethers of close family and friends to elaborate gala events, complete with valet parking and live music. If fronted with the task of preparing for a special sixteenth celebration, keep several points in mind:
1. MAKE A BUDGET! The amount of money available to spend will determine most of the climate of the event. Renting a location and providing a full meal along with music and dancing probably is not going to happen on a $200 budget. The honoree is old enough to be involved in this part of the process, so sit down with her and discuss options based on the budget. Allocate a portion for food, decorating, and perhaps location, music and attire if necessary.
2. COMMUNICATION Make sure the honoree is an active part of all decisions made. She will know if one weekend is better over another, or if a day party on a Sunday would be better than a Friday night celebration. Closely work on a guest list (keeping in mind that budget) and a menu.
3. PICK AN APPROPRIATE THEME. A pink pony theme might not be the best choice for a special sixteenth birthday party, but nor is a poker night party. Choose a theme based on the honoree’s likes and preferences. Go with a favorite color, a favorite flower, or something in line with the honoree’s hobbies.
4. FOOD TO FEED THE MASSES. However much food you think you’ll need, make plans for at least 25% more. Kids LOVE to eat, and at a party, there will be plenty of it! Make sure it is easy to prepare and easy to handle. While hand-piped petit-fours would be lovely, a gaggle of teenagers would probably be just as happy with some chocolate chip cookies and some chips and dip.
5. MAKE THE MOMENT LAST FOREVER. As part of the party, give each guest a disposable camera. The host is then free of any photography duties, and the kids will have a blast shooting pictures of their friends having fun. And, the honoree will have plenty of reminders of the fantastic party.
