Amazing Bridal Showers

The Stock The Bar theme works especially well for a couple’s shower. Just having the word “Bar” in the invitation often wins over the men on the guest list! The general idea behind this kind of shower is that friends are helping the newlyweds begin their married life in a ‘spirited’ way, with a fully stocked bar!

Invitations

There are several ways you can send invitations, depending on the formality of the event and the budget. Custom printed invitations from a specialty store, like InvitationBox.com, are printed with designs that complement the “Stock The Bar” theme. You can see their full collection here, and some of our favorite designs below. You can order these invitations with the words custom printed, or blank for about ½ price of custom printed invitations, so you can print them yourself.

Another option is using an online invitation company, like Evite, to create a free or low cost online invitation. Not only is this option instant, with no need to address envelopes, use stamps or drop them off at the post office, but you can also easily manage the attendee list as RSVPs begin coming in. It’s easy to attach driving directions using MapQuest or Google Maps, and for this shower theme, even the couple’s favorite list of drinks or preferred liquor.

You can also make your own invitations, for a fraction of the cost of printed invitations. Some great invitation wordings for the Stock The Bar bridal shower:

A spirited chorus line
We will make
For our (soon to be married) dear friends
Susan and Jake
Bring your favorite brew, glasses or useful device
So their bar will be stocked really quite nice

The wedding date is not to far
So let’s “toast” the couple and stock the bar

Before they share the same last name
Let’s stock them up to entertain

Before Danielle and Jim
Tie the knot
Let’s make sure their bar is stocked

Soon Cherie & David
Will no longer be single
So let’s get together
To mix & mingle
Join us for a Stock the Bar Shower

You’ll want to ask the guests to bring their favorite bar accessories, alcoholic beverages, mixers and drink recipes to help the couple stock their bar. This includes stemware, decanters, ice buckets, cocktail napkins, martini shakers, stirrers, mixers and of course, the alcohol.

Setting The Mood

After you’ve decided on your invitations, think about how you will decorate and set the mood for the party. For the Stock The Bar shower, we suggest making a really great playlist, filled with fun, party music on your iPod and playing it during the event. Select music that’s not too overpowering but the music will be an essential element. You might want to consider this amazing playlist on iTunes in the iMix section, titled Stock The Bar Shower Mix.

Provide floor pillows and other comfortable seating options. Food and drinks should be placed in several locations around the house. Dim the lights, light some candles and create the perfect lounge in your house! Encourage guests to mingle and have fun.

If having a houseful of people and liquor isn’t your cup of tea, take the show on the road! Consider renting out a private room within a bar or, if you have many guests, the entire bar. There’s no need to decorate when hosting your party at a club or bar. And, you can still ask the bartender to play that awesome playlist!

Refreshments

Whether at home or at a bar, you’ll want to make sure guests have multiple food items to graze on during the course of the evening. Be sure to have both hot and cold selections, and try arranging areas with serving platters in several locations. This will help naturally move people around the event throughout the evening.

Consider serving one or two “signature” drinks, perhaps the couple’s favorite drinks if they have one, along with a selection of beer. Don’t feel like you have to have a fully stocked bar at the Stock The Bar shower! Often, a few well-executed and thought out drinks make a better impression than lots of random liquor bottles, mixers and fruit slices!

Here are a few cocktails that would make great signature drinks for this event, the French Martini and the Tequila Sunrise.

French Martini

What You Need
1 oz. citrus vodka
1 oz. pineapple juice
1/2 oz. Chambord
Lime wedge, for garnish

How To Make It
* Shake vodka, pineapple juice, and Chambord well with ice in a shaker
* Strain into a chilled martini glass
* Garnish with lime wedge

Tequila Sunrise

What You Need
1 1/2 oz. tequila
1 oz. orange juice
Splash of grenadine
Cherry or lime, for garnish

How To Make It
* Add tequila and orange juice to ice
* Top with grenadine and garnish with cherry or lime
* Serve on the rocks

Party Favors

Finally, you’ll want to send your guests home with a unique, fun party favor. One idea guests will love, is a creative display featuring miniature bottles of alcohol, personalized with the couple’s favorite drink recipes and their wedding date. You can use the little mini bottles of liquor, like the kind used on airplanes, or tiny bottles of wine or champagne. All of these selections are commonly found in grocery markets or specialty liquor stores. Tie each bottle with a ribbon and an appropriate drink recipe, and let guests take a handful on their way out.

This party will help your friends get a great start on stocking their bar. Have fun with this shower theme, it’s sure to be one of the couple’s favorite showers!