As all of the upcoming spring and summer brides are preparing for their outdoor weddings, why not create a program that is not only informative but functional and fun!  I love these fan programs for outdoor weddings, they are a great DIY project that your guests will appreciate!

They are a bit time consuming but worth every minute! Make sure you order heavy card stock for your paper so that your fans aren’t flimsy.  Cut the ribbons to the length and thickness that you desire and then gather a group of your bridesmaids and start an assembly line!

*Find the perfect wording/font and print them at a local copy shop

* Cut out each fan section very carefully!

* Punch a hole in the lower portion of the fan section

*Loop the ribbon through all of the fan sections

* Admire your great work!!

**UPDATE: If you are interested in creating your own DIY fan download it below!

Wedding Fan Template

Your Bridal Shower would not be the same without the cheesy games centered around L.O.V.E.

I am always looking for new and exciting games that will help entertain your guests!

My newest favorite I call “Scrapbooked Life“…(Please let me know if there is already a name for this game!)

Supplies Needed:

- As many magazines as you can find…the more variety the better!
- Scissors, sheets of computer paper & glue
- Creative imaginations

How you play the game:

Split up the guests into smaller groups of 3-4 people. Give them ten minutes to flip though the magazines as quick as possible and tell them to cut out pictures or words that they think the future couple’s life will look like in 5 – 10 years.  Suggestions are pictures of cars they will drive, how many kids they will have and even how their house will be decorated.

Once the time is up, each group has to present their completed collage and explain why they felt each picture belonged in the bride’s future!

The more creative ideas the more laughs your group will get!

What are creative games that you have stood out to you at bridal showers?

Bubbly hems bring out the fun side of every bride!  Each bride’s unique flavor and “bubbly” personality complements these dresses perfectly!  I think you are going to be seeing many more of these hemlines in 2009, on both brides and bridesmaids alike!

I especially adore this final short bubble dress from Charles Nolan—the bridal look is so classy and still so fun and outgoing!  Don’t hesitate to show off this hemline at your upcoming wedding.

Is this hemline too trendy for a wedding? … Let me know what you think!

Source: Scarpe, Dessy, Caroline Calvery Couture, Ulla-Maija, Maggie Sottero, Charles Nolan

How often have you gone to a bridal shower and dreaded the age-old games that we repeatedly play every year?  For all of you maid-of-honors who are trying to think of new fun ideas to keep everyone entertained during a bridesmaid’s luncheon or shower, here is a great game to try!  I call it the “Panty Tree” (I am sure someone out there has a more sophisticated name for it).

When you send the invitations, let all of the guests know to bring one panty for the bride that reflects their personality and style.  It could be a sexy piece or a funny pair, anything that catches their eye! Make sure to let everyone know what size to purchase for the bride!

As each guest arrives, have them hang their undies somewhere on the panty tree.  You can be creative with making the actual tree used in this activity.  The picture below shows a wire tree that works out perfectly for this, but you can find a lot of things around the house to help you create this tree.

Once the bride arrives at the shower, explain to her the simple rules of the game.  She needs to pull off one item at a time and try to guess which of her friends or family members brought it for her.  It will add plenty of laughs as she misguesses each and every one.  If you have the time, you can insist on an explanation as to why she thinks someone brought a particular panty for her!  It is fun to see how well she knows the different styles of her guests.

In the end, the bride is left with a handful of adorable undies to add to her collection, and everyone was entertained for the afternoon!

What other games have you found to be fun at Bridal Showers?

*Photographs by Beautiful Spirit Photography  (the website is still under construction but she is up and coming and fabulous!)

“When I’m drinking champagne…I’m drinking stars”  – Dom Perignon

Within the Chicago area, I love trying out new places to eat!  A few blocks from my downtown apartment is a fabulous champagne bar: Pops for Champagne.  I imagine this hot spot to be a great place for a bachelorette party to start out with a few drinks, before anything gets too crazy!  The atmosphere is sophisticated- it screams celebration!

Serving Chicago since 1982, Pops for Champagne is the perfect mix between a bubbly champagne bar and an intimate live music club. It offers freshly prepared shared plates, a raw bar, and a dessert menu in the upstairs main bar and lower level jazz club.   With 100 options of “bubbly” and small plates to compliment the drinks, Pops for Champagne is a prime location when visiting the city.  Its River North location on State and Ohio streets places it at an easy walk from most downtown hotels and a quick trip to continue the night’s fun on the town!

Check out menus at their website:     http://www.popsforchampagne.com/