wedding shower

Planning parties has become infinitely easier with the advent of the Internet, and if you're already familiar with the tools at your disposal, then planning your wedding shower or engagement party will be that much simpler.

Whether you're the one getting married or a friend of the bride and groom throwing the event, trust me — online planning is where it's at. Check out some of these online tools that will help you design an awesome fête.

• Online party planning site PunchBowl can help you plan your party, with ideas and advice for every step of the way.
• Since the wedding shower is not quite the big, formal event a wedding is, email invitations are perfectly acceptable (not to mention eco and ultra-convenient). One of my favorites, of course, is eVite. They have a few pages of wedding-themed invitations that would be great for a shower, and you can always design your own.

See the rest of my tips after the break.

Dear Sugar,

I have two daughters, one is getting married in September and one is having a baby in September. Would it be OK to combine their showers and have one big one as opposed to two smaller ones? — Curious Mom Melinda

Dear Curious Mom Melinda,

While it makes perfect sense to simply combine the two showers, I can almost guarantee that your daughters would have some hurt feelings if you went that route. Since each has their own exciting news to celebrate, sharing a shower could take away from their individual joy.

I know showers can be expensive, but each of your daughters deserves their own moment in the spotlight. If you keep the guest lists down to just close friends and family, and if you have the showers at your home or at a friend's home, it'll be easy to keep the costs down. At the end of the day and after all the hard work is behind you, I bet you'll be glad that you showered your girls separately. Congratulations to them and to you!

Source

If you're planning a wedding-related party, anything from an engagement party to a bachelorette bash, why not do something a little different? Since weddings are pretty stressful, everyone will appreciate a party that'll help release some of the tension and anxiety. I'm talking about a Yoga Party, and it's sure to encourage some calmness, self-reflection, and emotional renewal, which every bride and bridesmaid need.

If you don't know of any Yoga instructors in your area, or if you happen to be traveling elsewhere for the party, why not hire someone from Yoga For Weddings? They offer special event packages so you can customize a bridal shower or bachelorette party. Currently, they have teachers in California, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Oregon. It may be just the thing if you're not into a night of strippers and barhopping.

If you're looking for more Yoga in your life, you don't have to stop at just one session. Yoga For Weddings also offers packages of six or 12 classes, or six months of classes — for yourself, you and the groom, or for you and your entire bridal party. It's a great way to stay fit, healthy, and centered in the time leading up to your special day.

Head to IDoSugar for more wedding coverage.

This week PartySugar's busy planning a spectacular Bridal Shower. There's a fantastic menu and beautifully-made printable invites. However if you're the one headed to the shower, not planning it, I found this adorable kitchen "cake" for you to bring.

This adorable Kitchen Cake ($59) from Etsy seller Hold the Flour, comes with an assortment of kitchen gadgets, such as heart-shaped measuring spoons, bell-shaped cookie cutters, and whisks, all wrapped up in a plush towel. Inside you'll find a bottle of Lemongrass Zen soap.

I think it's so cute, and would definitely make a nice centerpiece at a party. While this one looks extremely well put together, you could always experiment by creating your own. If you do, what sort of things would you put into it? Tell us in the comments below.

And for more wedding coverage, be sure to head over to IDoSugar.

If bridal showers just aren't your style, consider hosting a couples shower. Coed, or "Jack and Jill" showers — in which the groom invites his male friends and family — are becoming more and more common. Think of a couples shower more like an engagement party. Host the party on the weekend and choose a menu that will please both men and women. For more tips on hosting a couples shower, read more

A bridal shower is normally a female only event so plan a menu that is light with plenty of vegetarian options. Instead of serving a full meal or sit down salad at Elena's bridal shower, we'll offer guests an assortment of delectable crostini. Crostini — which means little toasts in Italian — can be topped with an endless amount of toppings. For Elena's shower guests will choose from mushroom ragu on chevre crostini, artichoke-parmesan crostini, eggplant caponata crostini, and roman style crostini. The crostini toppings and toasts can be made in advance and assembled the day of. To take a look at these amazing crostini recipes, read more