How to Throw a Home Ec Bridal Shower

1. Finding a Venue

The first step to hosting a home ec themed bridal shower is choosing the right location. Here are some ideas of where to search:

- Local Craft Groups & Centers
- Fabric Stores
- In the home

The easiest place to hold a home ec themed bridal shower that involves sewing is at a local crafting center. Almost all cities have sewing centers that have classes, and are likely to be open to extending a large group discount that's perfect for a bridal shower. If you don't know of a local craft center, begin by contacting fabric stores and local craft groups and clubs, who are likely to have the inside information.


2. Sending out Themed Invitations

Add a homemade touch to the Home Ec Bridal Shower invitations by incorporating thread and stichting into the design with our easy ideas:

- If you're not a sewing goddess quite yet, simply wrap a colorful, thick piece of thread around the outside of the invitation to serve as a unique, thin belly-band. The thread can be secured on the back with a glue dot or tape.

- For girls who can sew a button, add two or three cute buttons to the corner of the invitation by sewing them directly onto the paper. Choose buttons within the bride's color scheme to keep things cohesive.

- Sewing pros can run the invitation through their sewing machine using a zig zag seam to create a pretty custom border for the bridal shower invidations. It's the perfect touch for a Home Ec themed party invite.


3. Planning Food and Drink

Once the venue is located and the invites have been sent, coordinate with the venue to see where food and beverages can be served during the bridal shower. If the venue does not allow food and drink to be brought inside, plan a lunch at a nearby restaurant, then head over to the craft center for the fun and festivities.

If you are sticking with the retro theme for the bridal shower, serve old fashioned punches in feminine, pretty colors as well as tea. Pair the beverages with an assortment of dainty finger sandwiches or mini croissant sandwiches and a few self-serve side dishes. Keeping the food and drinks simple and unfussy will enable guests to mingle and chat while eating, and go well with the homey, casual vibe of the Home Ec bridal shower.


4. Choosing the Right Project

When planning the sewing craft with a teacher or craft leader, always consider the following:

- Different levels of sewing knowledge - some girls might be complete novices, others might sew their own clothing. Choose a project that can is easy enough for a beginner, but can still be enjoyed by someone with sewing experience. One way to do this is to have varying add-ons and options to the sewing project that allows experts to create a more complicated version.

- Crafts that make great favors - a scarf, pillowcase, bridesmaid clutch, hair piece or shrug can be used right away, are all simple to create, and make good favors for the bridal shower. Guests will love being able to take home a craft that they have sewn and can enjoy.

- Time involved - most bridal showers range from 3 - 6 hours in length. For women who don't sew regularly, working on their sewing project for more than an hour is going to seem tedious and boring. Mix up the party with traditional bridal shower games, food, beverages, dessert and mingling so guests don't leave bored to tears, vowing never to pick up a needle and thread again.