Wedding Showers

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Host a Couples Shower

By Anna Sites

In our modern society, a once no-man’s-land is becoming more and more open to male involvement: the wedding shower. While the ladies-only parties still rule the shower scene, there is a rise in the number that have both the bride and the groom participating.

What can be done at one of these ‘Jack & Jill’ showers? Lots! How about making it a Honey Do shower? True, this may seem more geared toward the partner of the male persuasion, but I’m sure the bride-to-be will be plenty appreciative when her kitchen sink gets fixed or that valance gets put up straight! Have guests bring tools, hardware, etc- anything that can be used around the house for those ever-present home improvements. So the gals don’t feel left out, they can bring the pretty stuff- curtains, framed mirrors, an unassembled end table, the decorative things that the new hubby can use his new toys for.

In keeping with the general theme, make the refreshments free of frills. Mini pizzas, chips and dips, cookies in the shapes of tools. Set up a galvanized metal tub of ice with beer, sodas and wine and you’ve got the makings of a good time.

Entertainment can be simple, the guys are already at a shower for goodness sake, let’s not push it with those cutesy shower games (unless they’re into it, in which case knock yourselves out)! One easy and fun game to try is one that determines who knows the couple best. Because the finer details of relationships (especially other people’s relationships) sometimes fall through the cracks with the boys, it may be best to pair each of them up with one of the girls. Have the soonlyweds write down ten or fifteen facts about them- where they first met, how long they’ve been together, yada yada. Ask the players to write down what they think the answers are, whoever gets the most correct answers wins. The prizes can be inexpensive tools, one in a masculine color and one in a girly color (who doesn’t want a hot pink hammer?).

When trying to get the menfolk excited about a predominantly female function such as a shower, be sure to play up to the manly aspects of the party and just have fun with it. Who knows, maybe the groom will build the hostess a birdhouse.