My best friend is getting married in May 2010. She doesn’t want anything too over-the-top or big. It’s just going to be a small, laid-back, beach wedding (in St. Augustine, FL), with close family and friends. I am the Maid-of-honor and I am working on planning the wedding shower right now. I don’t know much about all of this because my husband and I just went to the court house. We decided to go all out for a vow renewal on our 5th anniversary in 2 years, so this is good practice! lol! : ) Like I said, the wedding is going to be in May, so I have a while to get everything together, but I’m a perfectionist. Not to mention, this is for my best friend, it’s extremely important to me to do everything I possibly can to make all of this wonderful for her, so I want to start planning early! : )

The bridal party is small, the bride, myself, and 3 bridesmaids. The wedding shower will also be small, it will just be the bridal party, the brides mother and possibly the grooms mother. So, 6-7 people. I have already decided to go with the obvious beach theme seeing as how it’s a beach wedding. We will either have the shower at someones home or at a public place, maybe a park or even on the beach. I have also decided, after speaking to another bridesmaid and the brides mother, that we don’t want to serve a meal at the party, but we do want to have plenty of food. Finger food, snacks, that kind of thing. And, of course, cake! : ) We were thinking we should have some kind of punch for the alcohol and then just other drinks, sodas, etc. We are going to have the party earlier in the day, so there’s no need for tons of alcohol. I have also found several bridal shower games that sound like a lot of fun, but I’m having trouble narrowing them down. Not to mention, I’m not really sure how many games I should pick… So, all that being said, I am looking for some advice. ANY advice would be greatly appreciated, but I do have some specific things that I need advice on as well. So…

1 - What kind of food (and drinks) would be good to serve at a bridal shower? Like I said, we don’t want a meal, just finger food/snacks.

2 - How many games would you suggest I pick? And do you have a favorite bridal shower game that you would suggest?

3 - Any suggestions for cute, but not crazy expensive party favors? Also, I will need to get some prizes for the people that win each of the games, any suggestions for that?… As for the favors, I found these adorable little white woven-wood type boxes that have a beautiful beach portrait on each lid. They were on sale, so I had to get them! lol! : ) I was thinking of using those as a gift basket kind of thing. I wanted to try and find maybe a couple small items to put in each one and use those for the favors. Then figure out something else for the game prizes. Or, I could do it the other way around.

4 - Also, any advice/suggestions on decorations and invitations would be very helpful. I would like to make as much of that kind of stuff as possible. I love craft type stuff, so I think it would be fun.

So yeah, I guess that’s about it. Sorry this was so long, I just wanted to make sure I got everything in there. And thanks in advance for any advice, suggestions, etc. : )
Thank you all for the answers! : ) And Ryan F, congrats, and good luck with everything!!! : )

What fun! I love planning small parties! Small intimate gatherings are the best!

1. Mini quiches, mini tomato or asparagus tarts with goat cheese (email me for recipe, its so easy but elegant!) selection of cheeses, toasted pita triangles, fruit selection would be more than enough! For drinks, I like to do a basil soda and it never fails to impress my guests. Make a simple syrup, and add fresh basil to the syrup as it cools. Once cool, remove basil. In a glass, pour club soda and a bit of the syrup. And of course, a cake with tea/coffee!

2. For a bridal shower of ANY size, I suggest no more than 3 or 4 games. And all games must be interactive! The purse game, paper towel dress, etc. NO bridal Bingo or other games that dont involve socializing!

3. At my shower, the host gave everyone a Mason jar with a spice tea mix, and the recipe on a card tied around the top. Its edible, its affordable, and its cute. Think along those lines. No one wants a trinket.

4. Martha Stewart will give you ideas. I took many ideas from her Wedding magazine and used them at my own wedding.