Final Fling Bachelorette - Wine Party...

To learn about the printables that go with this party, please see:
http://www.teachingheart.net/bachelorette.html

Me and the bride!!!

Well, I pulled off a fun and classy Bachelorette party.  I was a little nervous about it.  I was nervous it may not be fun and people may not mingle (since the bride was having so many people from different parts of her life).  I only really knew her and one of our other college roommates really well at the party.  The rest of the girls I know as acquaintances or do not know at all.  As a result, I struggled for weeks about what to do... first I thought spa party and then realized that was way out of my budget.  Then, I thought a True Romance Party might be fun (you know the S-E-X toy type parties).  The bride thought that might work but was hesitant because her mom was attending the party.  I even brought the idea of BUNCO up.  Strippers were a definitely a NO!   The Bachelorette said no to that before I even started planning... Darn!  LOL!  Finally, I made a choice and created a wine game and a few other original games.  It was action packed and fun... best part when it was all over the Bachelorette said, "This was the best girls nights out and it was so much fun!"  Phew...

Food:  I made cookie balls, cookies, and chocolate strawberries.  The bridesmaids each brought an appetizer and we ended up with quite a feast.

I made Sangria and everyone brought a bottle of wine.  What was left, the bride took home.  Here's the loot she ended up with...  However the party people consumed over 14 bottles at the party... 

Decorations:  I went with hot pink and black as colors since everything bachelorette seems to be in those colors.  I made the banner below.  Got the balloons on Amazon.

Plates , Napkins, and beadscan all be viewed on Amazon. 

Favors and Prizes...  I loved my prizes for the games.  They were all wine related (except for one risqué one for my one silly game).  I have collected them for a year.  Here are two of my fave prizes.  Wine charms and a wine cork holder . 

 Check out the wine cork holder here .  I also had wine stoppers, wine pourers , cute wine glasses , and wine openers for prizes.

Below are the favors...

Customized bottle of wine (I used the six packs and made a label), a CD, rabbit wine cork , and a pink wine glass filled with Hershey kisses .

Now my favorite part... the games!  

First game was an icebreaker of sorts... after the bride introduced all her guests, I read statements she had written about each guest and we took turns guessing who she was talking about.  It was a fun way for people who do not really know everyone at the party to get to know everybody. 

I managed to fit 15 people in my dining room... It was tight and hot - but fun!  Note my candles in the wine bottle...  I thought they were cute.  You can purchase them here. 

Second game was sooooo fun.  I want to do it again.  I made an easy wine tasting game.  You need six bottles of wine...One really cheap and one expensive. It is helpful if you can get a few people to buy a bottle each before the event.  Buying six bottles on your own can be expensive.  The bags came from a wine tasting kit like this one.   I poured each wine one at a time into small dixie cups and we all tasted it.  The object of the game was to guess the name of the wine (there was a wine bank/ word bank), guess the most and least expensive, and try to guess which one the bride liked the best and the least.   We went around and tasted each wine...  by the time you are done tasting you probably have tasted a glass of wine total.  So it's not like you are poring everyone a glass, just a taste; otherwise you better take keys at the door. 

I had a recording sheet for the answers...

Winner had the most points out of 10.  Our winner had 6.  So it was a hard game.

We moved into the family room for another activity.  Everyone at this party was already married except two of the people.  So, everyone brought their wedding albums and we went around the room letting each person share a favorite memory about their special day with the group.  It was so much fun hearing everyone tell the bride what to look forward to.  We also passed around albums.  When everyone was done sharing, I pulled out another sheet for a game... I had been recording things that people had said.  For this game each person needed to match a statement up with the bride... 

After this we played my only game that was somewhat risqué (come on, you have to get a little crazy at a Bachelorette party)...  I had pictures of a graphic of a penis and on each one was a letter of the alphabet.  I mixed them up and would call out a letter, the first person who would shout out a sexual word that started with that letter got to keep the card.  At the end we counted up who got the most cards and they won a fun prize from True Romance.  I think the bride was surprised to see her mom getting all into the game.  We laughed a lot.  Here's our winner with the prize...  (I have to thank my friend Cheryl for the prize - It was a big hit!!!!).

Present time: Everyone brought a present that the bride and groom could use on their honeymoon...  We played a little game as she opened gifts...  I had wrapped corks with questions such as;  

What should Jenn definitely take on her honeymoon?, Tell us about a boyfriend of yours that was not the one…. Who is the guy you are happy that Jenn is not marrying?, Give us one word to describe Jenn… (After you answer this, pick another cork  - read it and answer it.), What advice would you give Jenn to make her marriage a success?,  What’s your best sex tip?  If you give her a great tip – you win a prize!!!, What’s the worst date you have had?.  How are you like your mother and how is Jenn like hers – in your oppinion? ....

Before the bride opened a given gift, the giver would take a cork and answer the questions...  Tons of laughs followed.  It was fun and everyone was involved.  Great night for my girls final fling before the ring!!!  Now time to get creative with the wedding toast...  HELP!!!

To learn about the printables that go with this party, please see:
http://www.teachingheart.net/bachelorette.html

 Of course we had to decorate the bride with a veil...  My crafty girlfriend made this!  She also made the jewelry for the wedding (that's another post)!!!  Below is the bride with her momma!

Balls, Wine, and Random Stuff...

What's up?   Some balls, some wine, some crazy busy times is up here. 

School is out for summer in four days.  Waaaahhhhhooooo.....  I am looking forward to the lazy days of summer.  Yeah, I still have to work and it is my busiest time of the year; but, I love that my kids will be off and we can do fun stuff together and with friends...  Work will happen after 8 and run till 2am...  That's how I roll in the summer...  and if I get the kids real tired out, I can usually have some quiet time from 3-5 to get a few work related things done.  Click here and give me some work!  LOL!

So, balls...  I am having one of my bestest girls (Jenn's) bachelorette parties here this weekend (here's the shower).  This is a classy bachlorette party and when I say balls, I mean ones like these:

You can get the recipe for these cookie dough balls here.  Mmmmmm!!!!  And no, I could never steal the title of ball queen from Ms. Nancy!

If you know me, I love planning a party for people I love!  And I love my girlfriend!  We went to high school together but we were only acquaintances then and we had separate peer groups.  My sophomore year in college she roomed with me and three of my other friends after she transferred from Clarion to Cal U!  Thus our real friendship began... funny, but when she first moved in with us, I thought we may clash - after all we hung out with different peer groups in high school and she was voted the Girl Next Store and I was voted Cheesiest by our High School classmates.  I remember the first time I knew we would be real friends was when I was nailing a phone line from the downstairs of our apartment, up the steps, and into my room so that I could talk to my long distance boyfriend in private (yes, that was before the cordless phone was cheap).   No one in my apartment (I lived with four others) liked the idea of an ugly line running from the kitchen up two flights of steps and through the hallway to my room...  but to my surprise Jenn picked up some nails and helped me set-up the line.  We talked and laughed as we worked on the line.  That was the first time I knew she would become a real friend.  Any-who, 12 years later...  I know she will be one of those few people in my life that will always just stick!  You know how friendships go, you keep one or two from the stages of your life... some you have for a short time and there are a few that you love no matter what.  You just know God meant them to be part of your life.  You can be your real self around them and they love you.  They give and you take... You give and they take... and you equally share the love!  Jenn is definitely one of those people and we only get a few of those friends in our lifetime..  I don't want to get into too many details and steal some material from my Matron of Honor Toast...  lol!

So wine...  I made this wine game for the party.  I think it is so cool...  I can't wait to share that and the favor for the party once it is all done and over.  Here's a sneak peak of part of the favor...

I hope you are enjoying life and loving the people who make yours bright.  Facebook, text, email, or call the people who brighten your life!!!  Thank God for the blessing of your friends.  Eat some balls and drink some wine with them  (sorry, just had to say it)!

A Perfect Blend Bridal Shower (Coffee Themed)

What a fun weekend!  Making a best friend smile from ear to ear on her bridal shower day is priceless!

 

 My girlfriends bridesmaids and I have been working for months on putting this together.  From the favors...

The Oreo Balls

The Coffee Themed Centerpieces

to the cake...

The shower was a Perfect Blend... 

To see more follow this link for all the details...

http://www.teachingheart.net/bridalshower.html

So Siked...

One more sleep to one of my best friends Bridal Shower...  I am so siked to help give her a day she will remember for-eva!  The bride and I went to highschool together but did not become good friends until college.  Since then, she has been a constant in my life.  A friend I thank God for!  She was in my wedding back in 1997.  And 14 years later I get to be her Matron of Honor.  The shower is going to be great and I can't wait for her to see it all and just relax and enjoy!  I can't share any details of the shower, I and her bridesmaids have been planning for nine months, till next week when it is all over.  Everything is top secret to the bride except the time and location...  I am giving her one hint today and will share one with you...  A Perfect Blend we will be celebrating.  So warm and fun...  Just like my friend.  Go thank God for the girls in your life that make you happy!   

Party Necklace Idea

This necklace idea was shared by my friend Nancy!!! It is a quick, easy, and fun idea for a special party!

I thought it would be a great treat for all party people to wear at a bridal shower, birthday party, or bachlorette party.

On a circular piece of cardstock place pictures of the person you are celebrating. Also include a celebration title. "Happy Birthday Jennifer!" Laminate the circle and punch a hole in the top of the circle. String the circle to a mardi gras type necklace. You can purchase the necklaces in bulk through oriental trading. Now all the party goers will have a special treat to wear as they celebrate the occasion.

I was even thinking that teachers could even create these at the end of the year with pictures from the school year. I bet the kids would get a kick out of taking home these necklaces. What a fun and different end of the year treat!

Thanks for sharing Nancy... and yes, I still have your necklaces... I will give them back this week.