Bored of playing Bridal Bingo? Tired of making wedding dresses out of toilet paper? Fed up with wearisome wedding showers? We've got some great ideas that will add some pep to your party!



At first glance, most gift registries look a lot alike. Every couple seems to be in need of the same items. But you can make the average present stand out by adding pizzazz! If the bride and groom have registered for bath towels, why not include bath gel, bath bubbles, a loofah, or even a cool new showerhead (one designed for couples would be a romantic touch)? If Mr. Coffee is on the list, make more out of the 'maker by adding the couples' favorite flavor of coffee, a pair of pretty mugs, and perhaps a bit of delicious biscotti. Think a vase is too plain? Fill it with a beautiful bouquet of the bride's favorite flowers. And if wine glasses seem too simple, purchase a wine of the month membership for the new Mr. and Mrs.

Toss those tired shower games to the curb! Try playing Name That Tune. Each guest must write down a song lyric that reminds them of the bride and an adventure they shared. For example, the maid of honor might recall "searching for my long lost shaker of salt" as a tribute to the many nights she and the bride spent making margaritas. Have fun with Fill-In-The-Blank Vows. Pass around two separate sheets of paper. One sheet should begin with "I (bride's name) promise to" and the other sheet should start "I (groom's name) promise to". Each guest should then add one vow to both the bride and groom's lists (I, Gary, promise to take two minutes in the shower so that I can conserve more water for my wife's thirty minute session). How about a game of WWBD- What Would the Bride Do? Give each guest a card with a silly scenario written down, such as "What if the best man begins running through the reception without a shirt?" The guest must then think of an appropriate response. "Make a toga out of a tablecloth and put him at the front of the conga line!"

Bridal showers don't have to be all about punch, cake, and cards. Add some flair by creating a theme. Are the bride and groom a "green" couple? Make the festivities environmentally friendly. Surround the guests with nature by hosting the party at a botanical garden or local park. Shower the couple with gifts that give back to the earth like cotton linens, wooden utensils, and energy-saving electric bulbs. Print shower invitations on recycled paper. Will the bride and groom be honeymooning in a special location? Try a travel theme. Invite guests to bring gifts that the couple will use while on their trip. For example, if they plan to tan in the tropics, guests should give items like beach towels, bathing suits, set up a spa day at a local salon, or purchase gift certificates to area restaurants. If the bride and groom would prefer a couples' shower where they can both attend, consider a bar theme. Suggest that guests bring a bottle of wine, a cool microbrew, or a set of funky martini glasses to help the bride and groom stock their personal saloon. And for the couple who already has everything and would rather not register, make it a charity shower. Ask guests to bring an item that the bride and groom can donate to their favorite charity. Food, clothing, and cash all make for generous gifts that the couple will appreciate and the community will benefit from.