Have you had it with that bridal-shower game where you make a wedding gown out of toilet paper? Do you cringe at the thought of one more crystal glass of carbonated green punch?

The bridal shower season is nearly upon us, and maids of honor hoping to avoid clichés when planning fêtes for best friends may find inspiration in New York City-based party designer and planner Karen Bussen’s new book Simple Stunning Wedding Showers: Festive Ideas and Inspiration for Perfect Pre-Wedding Parties (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $22.50).

Bussen says bridal showers differ from other wedding celebrations in that they almost always are produced by a friend or group of friends “in a very handcrafted, personal way.”

“That’s the beauty of this special event, but it also can be daunting,” she writes. “Picking the right theme, organizing a guest list and invitations, creating a menu and decorating with fitting details all require planning and imagination.”

Her advice? Anything goes. Be creative and have fun.

And if your creativity needs a little coaching, consider a few of her ideas:

* The bed, bath and brunch shower: Wrap the bride in a fluffy robe and serve her a Bubbly Bride cocktail and brunch (see recipes at right). Give gifts such as bed linens, monogrammed bath towels, breakfast trays, bubble bath, books and magazine subscriptions.

* Hours of flowers shower: This is a “workshop shower” during which a florist is invited to teach guests floral care and design. Guests make arrangements in simple vases they take home as party favors. Serve light lunch or brunch with edible floral accents. Give gifts such as garden tools, flower books, herbal hand lotions, floral-scented candles, seed packets and vases.
* Pampered princess shower: Crown the bride with a festive tiara and treat her to spa services and gifts such as skin-care products, bath beads, slippers, pajamas and spa gift certificates. Serve spa fare, such as veggies and dips, salads and light sandwiches.

Bubbly bride cocktail
4 ounces vodka
4 ounces white cranberry juice, plus 1 ounce for coating rims
Pinch of blue decorating sugar for rims
4 tablespoons club soda
4 dashes of blue curaçao
In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka and cranberry juice.
Brush the rims of four coupe champagne glasses or martini glasses with white cranberry juice and dip in the blue sugar to coat.
Pour the vodka and cranberry mixture into glasses and top off with the club soda. Then add a dash of the blue curaçao and stir gently.
Makes 4 drinks.

Nectar of the goddess yogurt salad
16 ounces Greek yogurt
1 jar honey
1 cup of fresh strawberries, cleaned and chopped
1 cup of fresh blueberries
1 cup of fresh raspberries
1 cup of fresh or canned pineapple
2 cups of granola
Juice of 1 lemon
Place each ingredient in its own bowl.
Squeeze lemon juice over all fruits except pineapple.
Keep fruits and yogurt refrigerated until serving time.
Arrange bowls with serving spoons on a buffet and invite guests to combine their favorite ingredients.
Serves 6-8.

source : www.sltrib.com