Girls just wanna have fun. Especially when their wedding is right around the corner and there are still a million errands to run, things to coordinate and details to finish before THE DAY arrives. And if you’re a DIY bride, your stress level is probably a bit on the high side. What, you say? You need to let loose for a night of fun and games with your best girlfriends?! Well, we’re all for that.

Now, what to wear, where to go? There are tons of ideas (To read about ideas for a bridal shower, check out our post from last week).

Fun Bachelorette Gift Ideas

Start with some cute gifts that will help throughout the night for you and friends –tank tops and buttons with funny sayings on them, a water bottle to stay hydrated in between all of those other drinks you may be having, and matching tote bags to carry all the gear you may accumulate throughout the night.

Theme party? Yes, please! Celebrate the 80s again, full of neon jewelry, side ponytails, funky leggings, electric colored eyeshadow and a healthy dose of Madonna. Get out those feather boas, strings of pearls and maybe a pair of unmentionables or four. Those come in handy for later.

If you want to keep the bachelorette less about a theme party, think about location. A place that has fun indoor and outdoor activities for day and night. Go get high tea at noon and dress up in girly Kentucky Derby-style hats, elegant gloves and romantic dresses. Other creative bachelorette ideas that work for the day – horseback riding, hitting a spa for massages and facials, having a beach barbecue and kayaking, and going for a picnic in the mountains. Nighttime is easy – go out for a delectable dinner (with lots of desserts, of course) to splurge on before going to town on the town.

Its all about the last hoorah before taking the big plunge into marriage, so enjoy every second (and cute guy you see…but remember, don’t touch)!

Now these are what I call friends.

How the tradition of the bridal shower started, via Wikipedia:

“…When a poor woman’s family might not have the money to provide a dowry for her, or when a father refused to give his daughter her dowry because he did not approve of the marriage. In such situations, friends of the woman would gather together and bring gifts that would compensate for the dowry and allow her to marry the man of her choice.”

Although arranged marriages were a tradition for centuries, it’s comforting to think that even back in the late 1800s, the idea of marrying for love was still an option (albeit a challenging and obstacle-strewn path). Sounds like gypsies had the right idea.

Bridal showers are all about new beginnings.  Celebrating the start of a new life with a life mate. Usually an all-girls affair (with a few male exceptions if they’re on the VIP list!), with bubbly, sweet treats, laughter, fun and tears (the good kind).  Do you need some ideas for unique bridal shower gifts off the beaten path from the registry? Read on, dear ladies and gents!

Creative Bridal Shower Ideas

See if there’s a theme to the shower, and play off of that. Scenario: your friend loves the ocean, the beach and sailing. When shopping, get your mind in the zone – think deep blue, light aqua, seafoam and emerald green, and fluffy white; sailor stripes, nautical anchors and boats, sand in between your toes, and bronzed, sun-kissed skin. Make her a creative personalized beach tote of fun, yet useful goodies she gets to go through one at a time – coconut suntan lotion, citrus candles, striped towels, and bamboo dishware for a romantic beach picnic for her and the hubby-to-be.

Funny Bridal Shower Ideas

Every new bride needs some new unmentionables, no? And yes, those Victoria’s Secret panties and silky numbers are probably going to be a huge hit with the hubs, but why not give both of them a laugh in the bedroom too?

My good friends Erin and Chris* got married this summer, and Erin has a nice butt. I admit it. And what is more hilarious than a funny saying on a pair of undies? Here’s what I did:

All I have to say about that is you stay classy, San Diego.

In conclusion, have fun showering your bride-to-be with gifts from the heart (or butt in some cases), and keep us in the loop of any great gifts you come across…we’re always on the lookout.

John and Sally, sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S – you know how the rest of the song goes.

Years after this song was created, and a social shift of things here and there, getting married is just as exciting as it was when you were a little girl singing that song.  (Guys, I would include you in this sentiment, but I have a feeling that a majority of you started thinking about your wedding when it was time to start planning your wedding.)  OR IS IT?

Just kidding, it probably is.  But from my understanding, it’s an understatement to say it’s easy to plan, and a DIY bride-to-be who undertakes the task is similar to a wonder of the modern world.

Juggling a fiancée, a career, friends, family and hobbies, planning creative wedding ideas, warding off kidney kidnappers on the black market and rescuing baby dolphins from underwater sea traps…the list goes on.

While the latter two are dramatic dramatizations of my imagination (I wish rescuing baby dolphins or penguins were part of my job), there are some necessary skills friends have told me it boils down to in order to plan and execute a fabulous wedding: researching and wrangling.  (And perhaps bow-hunting if you need to negotiate with a rigidly priced vendor.).  Countless hours researching everything, and countless hours leading up to the big day (and during) wrangling everyone and everything together into one harmonious event.

Research your options.  Search reviews, and talk to friends and family for referrals.  If your cousin wore a gorgeous gown at her wedding, ask the obvious as a starting off point.  If your friend’s mom is a florist, ask her for suggestions on flowers that are in season, if you can grow any of your own, and what local shops will offer you the best deals.  You know your style, and that is what you want to come across in all aspects of your big day: personal touches.

Between wedding blogs, social media and personal referrals, you’ll be able to find tons of creative inspiration from all kinds of places; brides who’ve survived and conquered their own wedding day will be more than happy to offer any help and suggestions.

This month, to celebrate summer, love and summer love wedding season, we’ll be featuring creative ideas for invitations, unique gifts and more.  Let’s clink our glasses to the beautiful, romantic, the vintage, classic, modern and cheeky to inspire your style!  Now let’s have a bellini and tell us your engagement story.