Bridal Party Agenda

What to do When the Guests Arrive at the Party

The special party day has finally arrived. Everything is ready. Your helpers each know what they have to do, the food is ready, the decorations in place. The doorbell rings and panic sets it. Keep calm, take a few deep breaths and read on.

Greet the guests when they arrive at the party. Hand out nametags if many of your guests don’t know each other. Not everyone remembers names when they are introduced, so having a nametag will certainly facilitate interaction. If your guests have brought food, point them in the direction of the kitchen.

If you have requested recipes, then have a helper collect and assemble them in a recipe album, to be given to the bride-to-be during the party. Have your helper take each guest over to the table where the Guess the Number jar is displayed. Once they have filled out the piece of paper with their name and their guess, and placed it in a designated container, guide them over to the seating area where other helpers will be circulating with drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

Make sure you have someone taking pictures throughout the event. If you have a digital camera and a computer, photos of the guests taken with the bride-to-be can be handed out near the end, while a complete set can be assembled for the bride-to-be s a memento.

When most of the guests have arrived, invite each one to introduce herself and mention her relationship to the wedding couple. Encourage a short anecdote. This is a pleasant way for the guests to get to know each other.

A party game at this point will serve as a great icebreaker and facilitate further interaction amongst the guests. As you have probably scheduled the shower to last two to three hours, you might want to guide everyone into the eating area after the game. With the help of your assistants, everyone is soon tucking in, and the hum of conversation is a sure sign of success.

After the meal, it’s time for the bride-to-be or the couple to open presents. To prevent a muddle, prepare recipe cards with the name and address of the giver, then tuck it into the gift box as the gift is passed around for everyone to admire. Better yet, you might ask the guests to provide that information on an envelope when they are wrapping the present. This will be an enormous help to the bride when she must do her thank-you notes.

Another game or entertainment would be appropriate now, followed by the piéce de résistance: the cake (or whatever wonderfully decadent dessert you have chosen). While the guests are eating, you might want to show a video or slide show of the couple when they were growing up. It’s easy to spot the mums amongst the guests: they’ll be the ones with tears in their eyes as they watch the film.

At the end of the shower, the bride-to-be will probably wish to say a few words. As each guest leaves, thank her for coming and give her a party favor. Guests may linger beyond the allotted time, but who cares? Moments like these are to be cherished, not rushed.

Besides, guests who hang around are perfect candidates for clean-up duty. Alternatively, think of hiring a student or two to do the clean up. By this time, your helpers probably deserve a break, and so do you!

Next » Party Tips