I agree with bookworm. Placing a basket of breads or rolls is much easier on you, the hostess, than making individual sandwiches. I know I would not eat a sandwich and the bread or roll would be wasted with a chicken salad on it. I’d have to throw it away. I also agree with letting her make an orzo salad. That I would eat over the bread! I would eat the veggie & quinoa salads too. Agree on chicken salad and/or Tuna Fish. Egg Salad is iffy imo, not sure how many people would eat it. Fruit is a must, really. It would look nice cut up on platters. Don’t forget unusual fruit too: Kiwi is a yummy choice along with the usual cantalope, honeydew, pineapple, etc. Maybe a few bowls of nuts placed in different areas where people are seated…
I personally would do one buffet spread and forget about appetizers. One table for food, second table for drinks: Iced tea, lemonade, etc. I like the idea of Hummus with pita bread on the side too. Hummus is a protein, right?
As far as games, a half hour sounds like enough. When I my second son was born 19 years ago, it was a unisex shower with husbands & boyfriends invited. The men played a funny game wearing bibs and bonnets and drinking juice out of a baby bottle. I remember it being really fun to watch and the men were great sports! I think it was 4 or 5 men that participated. 40 sounds like a lot of people. I think mine was @25 people max, mostly women.
Have fun and remember to compromise and enjoy the day!
PS: I don’t want to put a crimp in your plans, but will the veranda actually hold 40 people plus chairs? It’s sturdier than a balcony, right? (worry wort over here:)
I have been to lots of showers over the years but never to a co-ed one. Most of the showers I’ve been to for relatives, close friend’s daughters and future daughter-in-laws or friends of my daughters can either be at someone’s house or in a restaurant, usually seated in small groups, can be buffet or a served meal, have involved some kind of games… celebrity trivia, bride and groom trivia, first person to show me a “Bloomingdale’s credit card”, first person to show me a Mac lipstick, etc, opening gifts, making the bridal hat. Last one for of d’s friends involved making the toilet paper wedding gown, some kind of bridal charades. I’ve never been to one where a guest was expected to bring anything for the meal although I have been to many in which asked to contribute a recipe or something for a themed wishing well in addition to the gift.
How about a few hors d’oeuvres (finger food) as part of the buffet. For meat eaters, meatballs in a crock pot, chicken drumettes. I would prefer deviled eggs instead of egg salad. Not a fan of tuna fish if they are the canned ones. Some people may not care for the smell.
I am all for segregation of bread and “sandwich insides”! I hate to throw out my sandwich bread… Plus, you can have all sorts of different, nice breads. Like rye… yum.
I do like the idea of having little bowls of nuts out, maybe a nice bowl of interesting candy-just some little things to have around in case someone is really hungry before lunch. Nice bowls. platters, flowers.
Tuna and mayo are things best not left out for prolonged periods of time. In agree that breads, rolls, mini croissants and assorted sandwich fillings would be easier and taste better than premade. Have a tray of lettuce and tomatoes, sliced cheese, meatballs, grilled veggies, whatever else you want to offer, plus salads and fruit and that would be plenty.
Chocchipcookie- don’t worry. The veranda is not raised. The drop at the edge is only about a foot to a planter. It is a covered patio that runs along the side of my house. It has been measured and I have plenty of length for 40 but the table will need to be continuous. My H built our house and if any part collapsed he would be in real hot water.
Food buffet will be inside. Okay I will rethink the sandwich idea and consider breads. Had consider egg but decided against it. I don’t “allow” tuna in my house.
Drinks- iced tea, lemonade, water. Alcohol? Wine, champagne. The other hostess wants a signature cocktail but my feeling is it’s lunch and people will be driving home after.
Coffee decaf or regular? Probably served around 3 pm. I can have a double espresso at 10 pm and sleep but I know some are caffeine sensitive.
The signature cocktail idea doesn’t sound any riskier than wine or champagne. Most people are careful. Iced tea and lemonade always sound good. I am not a coffee drinker so I always think that is not really necessary! I like tea. A nice dessert though, is great!
Back at #27 OP asked about the tissue paper bridal gown game. This wouldn’t work for a really formal party, but if you have a fun-loving group, they might enjoy this. First figure out who will be the judge (the bride, the hosts, host’s husband, 1 person or several people?) The group is divided into several roughly equal teams by counting off (say you have 40 people and you want 4-5 teams) or drawing numbers. Each team chooses one member to be the “model” bride (it helps to pick the model in some arbitrary way–like the team member whose birthday is closest to the wedding day is the model. This saves time/avoids conflict. If the bride is playing, let her be the model for her team). Teams move to different areas of the house/yard where they can’t see each other. Each team gets a pack of white tissue paper, rolls of scotch tape, scissors and 10-15 minutes to dress their “bride”. (Usually start with 10 min. and see if everyone is finished–if not, give 2-3 more minutes at a time as needed). Since you have a lot of people/big teams, you could also give each team a pack of colored tissue paper (or separate the colors and give each team a different color for their bridesmaid) and have them making a bride and bridesmaid at the same time . The person timing the game walks around/checks progress, gives a 2-minute warning, etc. Teams may have to be told that the dress should be assembled (folded, taped, etc.) directly onto the model (sometimes people will try to cut out/assemble a dress and then put it on the model–that takes too long and doesn’t work well). Before starting, remind guests to “include accessories” (–some people are very creative and come up with flowers, veils, shoes, jewelry, etc., but some need a little hint). The main thing is that they have to work fast! Once time is up, the models display their dresses, and the judge(s) picks her/his/their favorite. Don’t forget to take photos. (I’ve always been impressed by the creative designs people come up with in a few minutes–the rush/strict time limit is what makes it fun/funny.)
Signature cocktail sounds like a lot of work for the hosts - what if everyone wants one? Someone will have to make 40 of them! Oy. I would stick with mimosas, maybe some wine for simplicity.
It seems so corny but I enjoy the wedding dress game too. You can also allow the use of white trash bags. But honestly, i don’t think it will work with 40 people. That’s too big a crowd to try and corral.
I like bride and groom trivia games because I always end up learning new stuff about the couple.
But with that big of a crowd I don’t think you need much structure.
I think you have to know your crowd. I would participate cheerfully in a dress-the-bride thing but inside be thinking “oh, God, when will this be over.” You’d never know it from the outside.
If you’re unsure, trivia games about the bride / groom are a little “safer”.
In the past year I have been to and or hosted 8 (it) showers. You don’t say what your budget is or the type of venue you are going to want to do…but this is what I have seen: My home was used for one shower: I suggested a make your own salad bar. Perfect for kosher/vegetarian/vegans. Dessert bar of cookies, cake, cupcakes. Iced tea or wine.
No games
We went (my daughters and I) went to one very lavish shower where the women present weren’t poor. The girlfriends/cousins didn’t have a lot of money. The bride made the announcement that she was opening the presents later. (She didn’t want anyone to be embarressed if their figts didn’t measure up to what the parental generation. Sweet and sensitive.
We are having 50 guest at bridal shower brunch.Many are coming from out of town.Should we use escort cards so table would be assigned so if people come late they don’t have to split up if not enough room at table? Is it acceptable to not open presents.Will guest be upset?
50 is a lot for a bridal shower IMO but some cultures have different customs.
No, I would not use table cards. Let people mix and mingle. If a group arrives late, then too darn bad for them if they have to split up. Maybe they’ll get their act together next time if it’s important that they sit together. Anyway the point of something like this is mingling and meeting new people; you’ll live if you don’t sit with your bestie.
I think the whole “entertainment” of a shower is having the person open the gifts, but I wouldn’t be upset if they didn’t.
“The girlfriends/cousins didn’t have a lot of money. The bride made the announcement that she was opening the presents later. (She didn’t want anyone to be embarressed if their figts didn’t measure up to what the parental generation. Sweet and sensitive.”
Yeah on one hand it’s sweet and sensitive. OTOH it doesn’t speak well of the atmosphere if someone who just gave modest dish towels or some such were to be made to feel inferior. A gracious group of people is going to exclaim equally over the dish towels wrapped with a pretty bow as they would over the Baccarat wine decanter or whatever.
I agree fifty is a lot but his side was not having one.Of course,they were’t opposed to attending ours so what can you do.Fortunately,my budget can handle this.Having it out due to amount of people. Just worried about seating and time to open that many gifts. Let’s say mother and two daughters come but may have to split up it not enough room at table.Don’t think they will be happy.Trying to figure a way to avoid this.
