Miss Peacock, Chicago
Age and Occupation: 26, PhD Student
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Internet Whiz
Engagement Date: December 5, 2006
Wedding Date: September, 2008
Blogging Since: December 13, 2007
Venue: St. Clement Church, Cafe Brauer (or a big church wedding and a fancy party at a cafe in Lincoln Park.
About Me: I am a grad student with a secret obsession for all things wedding related. I also love to read, travel, drink champagne and go for walks with our dog, Maisy, and Mr. Peacock. We are planning our very vintage wedding in the greatest city in the world, our hometown of Chicago. I am so proud to be a Bee!
Fun Things To Do in the Shower
May 14th, 2008 @ 10:24 am by Miss Peacock
Mr. Peacock’s sister/my bridesmaid kindly offered to throw us a wedding shower. She wanted it to be unique and casual, since we will still be having two typical, ladies only showers. It was decided that both boys and girls would be invited, the gifts would have a theme which lent itself to less expensive or off the registry gifts and Mexican food and margaritas would be served.
After throwing around a few great ideas, his sister settled on “entertainment.” I love it because people could bring a bottle of wine, a board game or a movie. They could also bring our blender or wine glasses if they wanted to go the more traditional route. The goal was to come up with an idea that would appeal to both guys and girls and to keep the gifts on the less expensive side. I thought that some of the other ideas we came up with might be helpful, so I am going to share.
Stock the Bar: Guests bring things to stock your bar. Bottles of wine or beer, martini shakers or a personalized pub sign would be an appropriate gift. Opening and making use of the gifts at the shower is an option. 
Garden Party: Gifts could include anything to get your patio or garden going- BBQ tools, coolers, shovels and potted plants. You could throw this shower in the couple’s yard and actually get down in the dirt.
Gearing the Garage: Tools, storage containers and other handyman goods. It wasn’t the right party for us, but it may be for the more handy bride and groom.
Holidays: Guests are assigned a holiday and asked to bring a corresponding gift. Some holidays are a little easier than others, and the more couples that you invite the further you have to reach for the holiday. Memorial Day may be more obvious than President’s Day, for example, and I worry about the guy that gets Valentine’s Day. Hilarity would ensue.
The Unwrapped Shower: Guests bring their gifts unwrapped, and hand them to the couple as they walk in. This simply cuts out the long process of opening gifts, worrying about breaking the ribbon and doing a Vanna White around the room. It still allows for surprise and a nice, personal thank you.
Have any of you done a less traditional shower? Want to share your ideas?
7 Responses to “Fun Things To Do in the Shower”
Ha! love your title
We had just a regular shower, but ended up getting mostly entertainment-type gifts! I think those are the most fun for people to purchase and give.
These are all really cute ideas- thanks!
I love these ideas. We have already set up house and have small registries so if people buy up those at the showers there will be nothing left for wedding guests.
I like the idea on an entertainment or games shower - especially co-ed. We love board games, have a Wii and a DS that both need more games. How fun!
My fiance couldn’t choose if he wanted a stock-the-bar or a garden shower … so he suggested a “drinking in the garden” theme. How I love that man ….
@loves-a-limey: LOL @ Drinking in the Garden!
I went to a Christmas Theme shower for my BF years ago… Gma through the shower the day before her rehearsal dinner as another way to feed out of town guest. I was also glad she told me about it in Dec so I could buy at the after Christmas sales, it would have been difficult to get Christmas stuff in May.
Thanks for the ideas!
My sister is planning a honeymoon-themed shower. We’ll be going to Greece, so she’ll have Greek foods and people will bring travel/vacation things (sunglasses, travel kits, gift cards for swimsuits, etc). I wanted to keep the gifts small and avoid housewares (we’re already an established household). And we really don’t have many travel items!
My sister and sister-in-law are planning a honeymoon shower as well. It’s a little different spin fromwhat Erin has described for hers - We have registered our Honeymoon with MoonRings, Inc., so guests are invite to contribute to honeymoon activities, dinners, etc. Here is a sample registry: http://www.moonrings.com/registry.asp
In addition, they found some cute black and white flower patterned paper and decorations, so they added a “black and white” theme, where black and white casual attire is requested to go along with the decoration. I’m very much looking forward to it!
[…] Peacock’s sister is throwing us a co-ed shower in June and I am so excited! The invites arrived last week and they could not be cuter I love the […]
