OneWed.com Expert Tips and Advice - Showers & Parties

Dear Wedding Maven, Could you please suggest appropriate wording for rehearsal dinner invitations, to indicate that it is for adults only? There are some invitees with young kids, but the dinner is intended only for the grown ups. But saying "adults only" sounds a little odd, as does "Leave the kids at home." Do you have any suggestions that won't hurt anyone's... (more)

Dear Wedding Maven, I'm from Wichita, Kansas and I'm giving a wedding shower for my cousin and his fiancée, who live in California. The groom is from Wichita and he and his bride will be here next month for a visit and the shower. Here's the tricky part: They are registered at Macy's and Crate & Barrel. I love both stores, but their closest locations are about 2 1/2 to 3 hours away. The... (more)

Dear Wedding Maven, I'm invited to my soon-to-be sister-in-law's bridal shower. The invitation says, "Pamper the Bride Shower," and there is no information for a gift registry or anything like that. I am not sure what a "Pamper the Bride Shower" is, but I am guessing based on the invitation that she will receive a lot of spa type gifts. So here's my question. Would it be inappropriate to... (more)

Dear Wedding Maven, I am planning to host a bridal shower for my lovely sister-in-law who is 35. We are very happy for her and her man. There will be a number of single ladies there at the shower. My question is how to make each one of them feel special even if they are older and still single, and at the same time celebrate the bride to be. Signed, Sister-in-law of the Bride Dear... (more)

Dear Wedding Maven, My daughter’s friend is hosting a bridal shower for my daughter. The shower is scheduled to be at the friend’s house. Invitations have gone out. We have just learned that this friend’s mother is dying – she’s been given four weeks to live (which is right around the same day as the bridal shower). My daughter thought this was a horrible imposition on the... (more)

Dear Wedding Maven, A good friend of mine is getting married. I’ve been invited to the bachelorette party, which I’d love to attend, but I feel like things are getting out-of-hand. Included with the invitation was a note saying that each guest needed to contribute $30 to help pay for the limo to take us from place to place. It also said that the gift should be “personal” and... (more)

Ah, one of the great tragedies of being engaged: People want to throw you parties. Here are a few pointers to help make sure your shower is fun to step into. Showers are for gifts. The name comes from the fact that one was supposed to “shower” the bride with useful items for her new home, and it is the only party where it’s accepted etiquette that all guests must bring a gift.... (more)

There’s a new syndicated show out called Stag: A Test of Love. On this show, men take camera crews along on their bachelor parties, and then their fiancées watch the tapes. Do I need to tell you not to watch this show? Good. But just in case someone bangs you on the head with a ball peen hammer or something, here’s a quick reminder: Do not watch this show. It will bring every... (more)

I hate bachelorette parties. I loathe them. I have hated them as an insider and an outsider, and I can’t recall one that I actually enjoyed. No, not even my own for my first wedding. The worst one was for a woman I didn’t even know that well. A closer friend was organizing it, and she wanted me along to beef up numbers. We were supposed to dress in fishnets and bustiers and leather... (more)