Hula dancers in Hawaii
Themed-bridal showers make this special occasion even more memorable for the bride-to-be and her guests. Instead of the traditional games and decorations, think of using a luau theme for the party, which works especially well if the bride and groom are going to Hawaii on their honeymoon. Does this Spark an idea?
Decorations
Available at specialty party stores, Hawaii-themed decorations are easy to find. If the weather permits, stage an outdoor bridal shower complete with tiki torches and tropical items such as vases of tropical flowers with sand around them for the table centerpieces. Have Hawaiian music playing in the background and Hawaiian food available for sampling. Buffet style would work well for this event and also save you money. Do not forget to serve mai tais.
Dress
On the invitations, ask guests to dress in Hawaiian-style clothing. This can include Hawaiian shirts, shorts or grass skirts. This will add to the overall mood of the shower. When guests arrive, gift them with a lei and flower to wear over their ear. Have bobby pins available so all guests can pin the flower to their hair. If a guest is married, the flower goes over her left ear; if she is single, it goes over the right (similar to a wedding ring on the left finger).
Games
Every bridal shower, whether you like them or not, has games, so make them luau-themed as well. If your area has one, hire a hula teacher. You can find them under "dance instruction" in the yellow pages or search online. The teacher can instruct the guests on simple hula techniques and teach a beginner's level dance. You can even ask the bride if she would like to learn a special dance for her wedding to dance to her groom.
Tags: bridal shower, goes over