Out of Bridal Shower Ideas? How About Henna?

Not just for Indian women, Henna tattoos are fast becoming one of the hottest fashion statements and forms of personal expression. If you don’t already know; Henna hand, foot and body tattoos have been around for centuries. Now, the people of India and that region of the world have brought their unique Henna tattoo art into the 21st century by combining it with mani/pedi spa parties for brides-to-be to create one of the most innovative ideas for a bridal shower!

Before you ask, it is not of any religious significance whatsoever, it is a cultural practice. There’s nothing strictly sacred or spiritual about it, but the Henna tattoos are considered beneficial and lucky, and always regarded as beautiful and blessed. The Henna tattoos are widely regarded as the most auspicious ornamentation a woman can wear.

 Today as an alternative to permanent tattoos, Henna tattoos are as hot as many of the celebrities seen sporting this painless art of body painting. Actress Demi Moore, and ‘No Doubt’ crooner Gwen Stefani were among the first to sport this look.

Conside these tips:

If you are going to have  Henna Party – book it far enough in advance that the tattoos will fade before your wedding day (if you don’t want them visible on your wedding day).

If you do want them to be visible, less than one week before your wedding is advised. 

They can be as little or as much as you like.

Try to avoid the black henna – according to research  it can be toxic and cause skin problems.

The best colors are the deep rich RED hues.

If you have  very dark skin, henna tattoos are going to be barely visible.

Henna Parties are popping up all over, especially during the summer months when your feet and ankles are visible in sandals. They are painless, harmless, one step up from a mani/pedi and the perfect time to have some good luck bestowed upon you and the members of your wedding party.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

New & Improved- Bridal Showers that are actually fun!

I always thought bridal showers were a tad boring. Sorry, ladies but towels folded to look like cakes and ribbons tied to paper plates are kind of mind-numbing to me. Understandably some brides have large showers, sometimes co-ed with hundreds of guests. However, if your lifestyle does not dictate that kind of event or if you are just uncomfortable sitting in a big chair opening gifts – you are not alone.

Since many brides today are having multiple showers, having one smaller, intimate affair for your and just a dozen or so of your closest friends can be a fun, activity-based theme party. The focus is less on the gifts and the time is spent bonding with your (already best) besties.  I have found  these creative, unique and exciting bridal shower ideas that I am dying to share! Keep in mind that these are probably geared toward a smaller guest list and more intimate bridesmaid shower,  if the number of your bridal shower invitees  has three digits, a nice luncheon will do just fine.

Mani/Pedi parties can be held in your home or at the salon/spa. This kind of pampering becomes a  relaxing gabfest where gals let their hair down and just enjoy one another’s company. There are dozens of companies who promote these parties along with tips for food, decor, advice, invites, etc. Find the company that best suits your  needs, is within your price point and work with them to finalize all of the details. This can be as simple as taking half a dozen girls to the spa or having a catered affair in your home for twenty.  Don’t forget to  make sure all health and cleanliness standards are adhered to no matter the location!    Bonus; the favors can be a pair of bedazzled flip flops for the journey home or a sassy spa product!

Scrapbooking Shower – Guests are asked to bring a handful of pictures  to be included into a scrapbook that will be presented to the bride at the end of the shower. Each guests is given variety of items to adorn their page and all of the necessary tools to complete their page within the time frame.  A catered lunch of your choice is served  and guests can enjoy the  afternoon sharing memories, laughing and remembering when.  At the end of the day when the bride is presented with her scrapbook she will not only have memories of the photos in the book, but the memory of making the book itself. You will not believe how crafty and creative you and your friends can be with all of the right papers and accessories.  According to Jocelyn Tobias of Defining Moments,  the scrapbooking theme takes the bridal shower back to its origins of closeness, bonding and conversation. The ladies will leave the  shower feeling warm and fuzzy and the scrapbooks? They are a magnificent must-have for any bride. Although this is best done in-house, there are ways t o put together ‘kits’ for each page featuring fun decor items and interesting papers However, it is essential to have someone on hand who knows what they are doing and can put the finished product together at the end of the day.

Basically, You can have whatever kind of party you want, especially if it is something the bride really loves. However, there are some rules that you cannot avoid: 

Do not invite anyone who will not be invited to the wedding.

Bridal Showers should be 6-8 weeks before the wedding.

The Bridal Shower is generally hosted by the maid of honor or the bridesmaids as a group.

Invitations should be sent 4 weeks in advance.

For more information and the latest trends in wedding planning, log on to www.bridalshowexpo.com to get tickets to a show in your area. You can find everything you need for a successful event in one location… at Bridal Expo.

Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago