Around the World Bridal Shower - Themed Shower Makes a World of a Difference

 

 

It only seemed fitting that the perfect bridal shower to honor the soon-to-be-married JJ would take a colorful, multi-cultural approach. Therefore, an “Around the World” theme was imagined and in Spring 2011, guests were welcomed to her childhood home in Indiana.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colorful invitations to celebrate JJ’s Around the World shower were sent with unique directions. Each guest was to bring a gift inspired by a different country; Germany, China, Croatia, etc. On the day of the shower, guests arrived with packages wrapped with international flair. A French press symbolized France, a beautiful art piece hand painted by Chinese artisans represented China, a Belgian waffle maker signified…well, you guessed it, Belgium. As a special surprise, JJ’s mother-in-law-to-be who couldn’t make the party, sent a special gift from her native country - a coral sari ensemble hand-made in India for JJ to wear during the wedding festivities.

 

 

Upon arrival, guests were taken on a world tour through food, music, games, and decor. To set the tone, name tags were distributed. Instead of the traditional, however, each name badge showed the Hawaiian translation of the guests’ birth names. Carol became “Kalola”, Judith became “Lukika” and Kristin became “Kilikina”, to name just a few. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worldly accoutrements enhanced the focal table, which surrounded a bright centerpiece arranged out of traditional yellow Dutch shoes including flowers shipped directly from Holland. A grand lampshade with map graphics and peacock plume trim was set atop a four-foot gilded base placed next to the floral arrangement. Also featured were stacks of travel books arranged to present international food preparations; frames with meaningful family travel photos, and souvenirs from various vacations, such as a boomerang from Australia.  

 

 

Appetizers symbolizing different countries were carefully prepared. Spring rolls from Thailand, Bruschetta from Italy, and French brie-stuffed mushrooms completed the menu. 

 

 

Out-of-the-ordinary candy from different countries added to the table display. “Pocky” a popular sweet snack from Japan, colorful chocolate “Smarties” from Canada, Australian licorice, “Noblesse  Noir” wafers and “Ritter Sport” chocolates from Germany were some of the treats enjoyed by guests.   

 

 

Perhaps the most eye-catching was the custom-designed suitcase cake. The red suitcase featured souvenir patches from many of the countries JJ had visited, and the cake was made complete with a bride-to-be luggage tag - all designed out of frosting, of course.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a special way to honor JJ’s heritage, guests enjoyed Serbian folk music and were offered a batch of Serbian Baklava - a traditional dessert - made using JJ’s grandmother’s recipe.   

 

 

After presents were opened, a world trivia game was played including customs, landmarks, and topography facts from around the globe. “Where in the world is JJ?” was played in which guests guessed JJ’s location using photos from her childhood and overseas trips. After tallying the scores, top winners received prizes such as “Beers from Around the World” - a package of 12 international beer selections.  

 

 

As guests left the shower, hand-painted signs in the driveway delivered a special message: “While the world may be a great place to roam, always remember there’s no place like home!”