Throwing Bridal Showers and Engagement Parties

At the risk of being labeled substandard, we present a cornucopia of advice germane to bridal showers and engagement parties. In the First World we celebrate such events with food and friends. Other civilizations use their time to plant crops or hunt for game, but our free time is a little more abundant. Anyway, this high-quality article encompasses relevant data points intended to make your party life a little easier.

I am uniquely qualified to write on this topic because I have been to parties and I have an eBay account. Also have I planned parties. The ubiquitous online auction site turns out to be a veritable plethora of goods and services relevant to parties. Bidding never ends. Each day new items appear.

Whether for competitive stacking or traditional drinking, a set of matching cups are crucial to any Bridal Shower or Engagement party. Each person attending the party should receive a cup when they arrive. We prefer that the host of hostess physically present it.

Hot tip: use a permanent marker to personalize each cup as it is distributed. When a guest puts down her cup to join the Limbo contest, she can be confident that no one else will accidentally drink from it. Use your humor skills and calligraphy talents to create a special title on each cup. You may use the familial relation of the cup-owner or you can make up a nickname (not too embarrassing.)

Don't stress out: after the party each guest can leave with their personalized cup. It's OK and it's a great parting gift that still has functionality.

No longer do you need massive stereo speakers to facilitate party music broadcasting. Simply plug your precious iPod into inexpensive portable speakers. Guests will appreciate and enjoy your engagement party mix as they sip from their personalized plastic cups.

Hot tip: encourage guests to bring their iPod devices. Put all the units into a hat: connect a randomly chosen player to your speakers every 1/2 hour. Your party will enjoy a wide variety of Justin Beiber throughout the evening.

Many portable speakers also support lesser devices such as generic MP3 players. Should you be sufficiently unfortunate to invite guests not indoctrinated into the Apple family, your audio equipment can handle it.

Salty saddle-shaped snacks pervade any well-designed party. As guests mingle, sipping ginger ale from personalized cups and listening to Justin Bieber, they will need handfuls of Pringles to keep their hands occupied.

Most important in the Pringles pantheon would be the original flavor. Everyone loves salt and potatoes. Be sure to stock up on copious quantities. Look for more exotic varieties to please the palates of persnickety party-goers. We adore any Pringle made with bacon extract and so will your guests.

Pringles and personalized cups will only take a party so far: you need games. Even the most exciting Justin Bieber tuneage will get old after about 6 hours. Always be prepared with engaging and challenging party games to keep your guests from throwing each other into the pool before it's time to go home.

Newly engaged math teachers love to play math games at engagement parties. You can find oodles of fun via eBay auctions. Someone is always selling their unused games.

Peer-reviewed research indicates a potentially positive correlation between issuance of invitations and party attendance. To summarize: if you invite them, they will come.

A matching envelope color-coordinated with RSVP response cards can't be a bad thing, either. Anticipate high levels of positive responses. Although postage-paid mailers aren't a deal breaker, value of gifts more than offsets such expenses. Always be willing to invest in yourself and your party. Alternate methods of attendance intention include email and telephone.