One of the more enjoyable parts of planning the wedding in the last few weeks will be addressing and sending out the bridal shower invites, followed by the shower itself. Planning can be so stressful and tedious. Endless details with catering, choosing a photographer, creating a bridal invitations list and seating chart can overwhelm even the most patient and self-composed bride. But the games at a shower provide a fun diversion and ensure a great time for the bride and all the guests. If the centerpiece used is a nice one, it could even be given away as a random prize during the night!

One thing which frequently occurs at these events are bridal shower games. Among the possibilities are "Finish this Phrase." A simple example would start with one person opening with the phrase "A fool and his money..." The guest who is first to reply "...are soon parted" would get the victory. Gather the most victories, and you win the game. The game is much more enjoyable if cliches are avoided, and replaced with comments about the host, bride or guests.

Another entertaining shower game that puts the bride on the spot is the "How Well Do You Know Your Hubby" game. Guests should brainstorm 20 to 30 questions to interrogate the bride about their future groom before the game begins. Nothing is off-limits. You can ask, "What is his favorite dinner?" or something more personal like "Boxers or briefs?" For every incorrect answer, the bride must put another piece of gum in her mouth. If she's got particularly bad luck with this game and gets a lot of wrong answers, she might end up with a wad of gum in her mouth that leaves everyone laughing!

One of the most fun traditions at bridal showers is playing games. Bridal shower games are silly, and one of the most enduring, popular games is the clothespin game. Each person is given three to five clothespins. A word is selected as the game word. If you catch another person saying this word, you can steal one of her clothespins. The person with the most clothespins at the end of the shower is the winner.

A good game for bridal showers at which people are familiar with one another and ready to have some fun is "Rate the Advice." Each guest anonymously writes down a piece of advice. It can be about the wedding, the wedding night, or life as a married woman. Then everyone ranks each piece of advice, using a 1 to 10 scales., and the totals are tallied The person whose advice receives the highest score gets a prize. For more fun, you can also give a prize to the lowest scorer.

Bridal shower games are meant to enhance the fun atmosphere of the shower. There are ice breaker games for the start of the shower so people can get to know one another. There are also closing games, such as recording advice for the future bride and groom. No matter how simple or complex, if the game makes people laugh and have fun, then it is a success.

A frequently enjoyed variety of bridal shower games involves wordplay. A popular diversion is called "Finish the Phrase." One might start with "Too many cooks" and then wait for someone to respond "spoil the broth." Give a prize to the person who wins the most rounds. The bridal shower invites should reflect the theme and tone of the party. If it will be formal, the invitation should echo this. A more casual affair will require a more casual invitation. The bridal invitations should be mailed to her, with another copy or two reserved for her scrapbook.