The Kitchen Tea VS the Bridal Shower

A Blog Contribution from Prancing Horse Ferrari Hire, Melbourne.

The Wedding is drawing closer, festivities are approaching. First on the Agenda: a Kitchen Tea or a Bridal Shower? Which pre-wedding event should a Bride choose? What’s the difference?

Traditionally, a Bridal Kitchen Tea is just that – an afternoon tea in which guests bring a gift for the Bride suitable for the kitchen only. A Bridal Shower on the other hand sees guests bring a gift of any description to “shower” the Bride with. At either event, it’s usually only close female family and friends invited who are there to help support the Bride to Be and prepare the marital home before the wedding. It also allows guests from both sides of the family to get to know each other before the big day, and to do so in a more relaxed environment. The Kitchen Tea or Bridal Shower is traditionally held 2-3 weeks before the Wedding.

Now we can get on to the exciting part. Today’s post aims to introduce you lovely readers to a couple of activities that can help spice up which ever event you choose:

• Add a theme

Often such parties can be themed, making way for added enthusiasm and “breaking the ice” between the two families. How about a baking party? Garden, bedroom or entertaining theme? With the entertaining theme guests then bring gifts to help the newly married couple entertain such as coffee beans, wine, cheese platters, glasses etc.

• Location location!

Either the Kitchen Tea or Bridal Party usually takes place at the home of the Mother of the Bride, the Maid of Honour or the Bridesmaids. How about instead you opt for a trendy café or restaurant, day spa or beauty salon? Try something new!

• I’ve got a hunch she wants a brunch

Afternoon tea is becoming a thing of the past with yummy delicious brunch overtaking it in the popularity race. This new trend sees the Bridal Party organise a Brunch at a hotel where the guests can spoil themselves on a feast of a brunch style buffet in honour of the Bride to Be. The cost is usually covered by the Bridal Party and/or Mother of the Bride.

• Make her a recipe book

On each invitation, ask each of the guests to bring along their favourite recipe, which they can type, write or decorate on an A5 piece of paper. This is kept hush from the Bride. As the guests arrive the recipes are collected by one of the Bridesmaids who have pre-prepared a beautiful blank book to display the recipes from all guests, such as Grandparents, Mothers, Aunts, Sisters, Cousins and friends. Whilst the guests are enjoying their afternoon tea, the Bridesmaids paste all the recipes in the Book. The book is then presented to the Bride at speech time, as a token from all the females that are present at the Kitchen Tea. Something that cannot be bought and a gift that is truly unique!

• Pass the parcel

Embrace your inner child and include a Pass the Parcel – but not just any old Pass the Parcel…. This one is strictly for Kitchen Teas! This is how it goes. On each wrapped layer is written a question and everyone has to decide who it suits. The winner gets the prize from the next layer. The questions might be: who has the best painted toenails? Who is the tallest? Who has the longest hair? Who is wearing the most jewellery? Who has the highest heels? And the list goes on… with many more questions that Bridesmaids will have fun writing. The game brings out competitiveness in a fun way, and some of the comments from the older guests especially are usually priceless!

At the end of the day whichever you choose out of a Kitchen Tea or Bridal Shower, the overall aim is for the two families to enjoy some relaxing time away from the stress of organising a wedding. They share some stories and food together, along with a few memorable activities, leaving everyone talking about the event for a long time, including at the Wedding!

Will you have a Kitchen Tea or Bridal Shower? Tell us in the comments below!