Planning a bridal shower for a friend or family member can be lots of fun, but also stressful! There are so many options when it comes to theme and decor. The web offers lots of ideas, but one must take into consideration the bride’s preferences and tastes when planning the perfect shower for her. One theme that can be appropriate for any bride-to-be is an “Around the Clock” bridal shower. This theme centers around the clock, and gifts and decor coincide with certain times of day.
One important aspect of the “Around the Clock” theme is an around the clock bridal shower invitation. Each guest is given a time of day that they are to stick to when it comes to gift giving. That way, the bride receives presents that she can use in various situations and rooms of her home. This prevents her from getting multiples of the same thing or only receiving presents that she can use in the kitchen. The times are divided up between the guests and indicated on the bridal shower invitations. These times may include:
- 7, 8, or 9 a.m. (morning)
- 10 or 11 a.m. (mid-morning)
- 12 p.m. (noon or lunch)
- 5 or 6 p.m. (afternoon or dinner)
- 10 p.m. (evening)
- 12 a.m. (night)
When planning a shower, make sure that the bridal shower invitations go with the theme. A quaint invitation idea is to place a clock on the front or inside showing the time of day that was chosen for the guest’s gift.
The next thing that must be considered for a bridal shower are the decorations. An obvious choice for “Around the Clock” would be to place clocks around the space or in centerpieces. The wonderful thing about this theme is that it is very versatile; one can choose any color or style of decor. That way, it is easier to incorporate favorites of the bride and tailor the party to her. Refreshments are also very important when one is expecting guests. Popular bridal shower snacks include:
- Croissants
- Crudites
- Cookies
- Brownies
- Coffee cake
- Fruit
Those that really want to impress, while also encompassing the “Around the Clock” theme, can choose foods from different meals of the day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Since the main reason for this type of get-together is to “shower” the bride with gifts, it is important for guests to bring presents to treat her with. Thankfully, “Around the Clock” showers are pretty easy to shop for. Each guest sticks to their time of day and chooses the gift accordingly. There are various ways that one can interpret each time of day and which items coincide with it, so hosts can even assign multiple guests the same time. A few ideas for gifts and their coordinating time of day are:
- Morning: waffle iron, griddle, pots and pans, tea pot, serveware, mugs
- Mid-morning: trays, gardening gloves, seeds, books, cleaning supplies
- Lunch: quesadilla maker, knives and cutting board, picnic basket and blanket
- Afternoon: pitcher and glasses, serving bowls and plates, utensils, apron, oven mits
- Evening: desert plates, cake pans, popcorn popper, ice cream maker, movies, board games
- Late Night: lingerie, bed sheets, pillows, comforter
The best thing to remember when planning a bridal shower is to keep it simple and delegate tasks to other friends and family members who can help. The bride-to-be will feel special and loved, no matter what!