What games do you like at bridal showers and bachelorettes?
 

Well, nearly everyone travels now and again for bridal showers and bachelorette parties, so here goes my post:

What games do you find to be the most fun at either of those two? I've been to a number of showers and bach. parties, and inevitably we always end up playing the same old games.

What games have you seen that are irresistably fun? I personally like the smelling game (where you sit blindfolded and smell things that go along with marriage and stuff). I'm very olfactory-driven. I also liked this rice game where there was a big bowl of rice with little paper clips scattered in the rice and two-by-two ladies had to blind fold and try to find as many paper clips in the bowl as they could. It was absurdly fun.

Please help, as I'm planning my SIL's celebrations in Chicago later this summer!

Personally, I hate those games and whenever I host a shower, I just make sure there is plenty of wine or margaritas, great food and we all end up having a wonderful time. I think you might have better luck checking in on the www.party411.com board for ideas. Go to the discussion boards section for bridal shower specifics.

ditto
hate the games
enjoy spending time with friends

Well normally I have to admit that most games are kind of lame. I just went to one where I was asked to buy a pair or underwear (in the bide's size of medium) that would reflect my personality and then the bride had to go through the back and guess as to who each pair belonged to. It was pretty funny. We also had margaritas which are always fun.

Yikes, meant to say she had to go through the bag (not the back).

Yes! I've played that panty game before -- at my own bachelorette party-- and it was, indeed, a lot of fun. When I guessed wrong, I had to put another stick of gum in my mouth :)

But, when I was 10, I stuffed the most marshmallows in my mouth at a county fair contest, my mom said "like the grand canyon." ;)

Please, keep the game suggestions coming- the in-laws don't drink and are traditional! Gotta fill the time w/ something other than booze. And besides, it's a rite of passage to put the bride-to-be through all that stuff. BTW, I hate the games, too ;)

If you hate them and everyone else hates them, why do them? Have nice food, good conversation, open some gifts, and let everyone go home. I'm always wary of "rites of passage" since they are invariably humiliating bordering on cruel.

Adults don't play games, unless it is golf. Everyone dreads them.

The best showers-bridal and baby-I've been to have been without games. That always feels like enforced "fun" and no one seems to like it. Good food and drinks and interesting people are all you need.

The best bachelorette/shower game is:

www.pervartistry.com

Because it combines the best elements of well-known charades & pictionary, it's perfect.

Enjoy!

I would rather attend an enjoyable but shorter party without games than one artificially lengthened with lame games that no one wants to play anyway and whose primary goal is to embarass or humiliate someone.

NONE, NONE, NONE!! Inane, sophomoric.

Play a TRAVEL-related game!!!!

None. Even after margaritas they just seemed too forced. The people are what make it fun, especially for a bachelor/ette party. I can't imagine a bunch of guys playing anything but golf!

I don't like forced fun, which is what some of the games seem like to me. Maybe you could offer each guest (the ones who want to) the opportunity to tell a story about her relationship with the bride.

No games. Please. No one likes them. Don't do it. Stop the trend.

None.

Okay. 10 "no" votes. It's a landslide. Take our advice and you will be the most popular shower thrower around! :-)

Let me add to the No votes! I just cringe when I'm at a shower and games are involved. If necessary, I'll find a way to remove myself from the room--that's how much I hate those things!

When my friends were planning my shower the one and only thing I asked is that they not do games. Got no arguments and the shower was a good one. Good food and hostesses are key not those stupid @ss games. (Do you think I feel strongly about this, or what?!)

Please do everyone a favor - NO GAMES!

At the last shower I attended - we played how many words can you make out of the bride and groom's first names. I thought they were kidding until they handed out paper and pens. It was AWFUL! I thought I was in 2nd grade.

I usually don’t comment to threads already filled with good answers, but I had to on this one. Skip the games!!! They are dreadfully boring (this goes for baby showers too), and most people don’t enjoy them. Have some good food, open some gifts and enjoy each other’s company.

I personally like wedding showers that are on weekend nights that include both guys and girls. They seem to be the most fun – basically just a big party.

For baby showers, we always do the Suck The Wine Out of The Baby Bottle Race.

For bachlorette parties, which are always outings, we give the bride to be a list of things she has to accomplish during the night (get a stranger's underwear, get on stage with the band, etc). We also make her sell condoms for $5 each for honeymoon mad money.

One of my girlfriends made over $300 for a honeymoon to San Francisco and the wine country and earmarked that money specifically for wine.

People play games at bridal showers and parties? Huh.

For bachelorette parties we used to make the bride wear an extra-large T-shirt that had "Suck for a Buck" written in large letters, front and back. It also had individual Lifesaver candies sewn all over. The idea was to have a guy pay the bride-to-be one dollar, then remove the Lifesaver with his teeth/mouth only. A fair amount of money was made off that.

I have to agree; no games...!!!!

The best showers I have been to have been with the couple in attendance. A party to celebrate them with goods drinks.

So I would be asking: what are the best summer drinks...
Pimm's Cup or Caipirinha

No games! I ditto OWJ's response about hating the stupid @ss games. :)

I'm hosting a bridal shower next week for my sister. We're not playing games. I did invite people to write down a nice memory of the bride if they felt so inclined. We'll drink mojitos and open presents and my sister can enjoy the company of friends and family.

Please NO GAMES at showers.

One thing I have done at showers was writing a special little note to the couple that could be read later . . . the notes were on a side table for the shower and participation was optional.

The couples shower for the bride and groom always turns out nice because it becomes such a nice "evening out" to socialize with old friends and to meet new ones.

"For bachelorette parties we used to make the bride wear an extra-large T-shirt that had "Suck for a Buck" written in large letters, front and back."

Sounds like a fraternity hazing instead of a celebration of an upcoming marriage.

Another vote for no games!! I too hate them. Fortunatly when I had showers held in my honor the hostesses never had any games..what a joy that was for everyone!

It's up to 20 voting for "no games". Be popular with your friends and heed the advice :-)

I also have to go with the "no games" votes! Oh please....end the madness!

Just good food, a few gifts, and good company. Perhaps people can share heart-felt thoughts - that is always nice. Otherwise, just a nice get together to celebrate an upcoming, life-changing event.

And, no, it doesn't have to include alcohol. I don't drink at all. I still manage - somehow - to have a good time!

I too have wondered why on earth adults get together and play moronic games left over from decades past. These types of gatherings are torture for anyone with a brain! (IMO. So don't single me out.)

Another one who loathes games at bridal showers. Eat, drink, open presents, talk, laugh, but please....skip the games.

Ugh! Another vote for no games. Last shower I went to, the group of women were forced to design a Barbie sized wedding gown on a popsicle stick, using toilet paper, tape, ribbon and a 3x5 card. It was truly, truly awful.

Why would anyone want to attend a bridal shower without booze?

Even the hooty doo bridal luncheons at the club and such have wine and such.

Even better are the Sunday afternoon Bloody Mary ones.

Oh calm down Mike. She simply asked a question. Besides, last I heard frats hazed men and not women.

Jesus Christ, what is with all the bitchy people on the boards the last couple of days.

Hi lynnejoel,

Even though it is a traditional family shower, I would still forget about the games. Relatives getting together for a joyous occasion will be like a bunch of gals that haven't seen each other in a long time, it will be fun! Even without alcohol, everything will flow, just make sure to have lots of good food! :) Have fun.

Don't play games unless you are a 22 year old bride. Everyone is SICK of them after the first 5 wedding showers they have to attend!

"Jesus Christ, what is with all the bitchy people on the boards the last couple of days."

Hand pooh a mirror.

If you want games:

in the last few years I've been to "stags" that were simply 18 holes of golf with a private buffet afterwards follwed by some card-playing. Last month with a couple (both avid duffers) the bridal shower was golf & dinner too. In each case, even those of us who suck at golf had a good time, and g/f says a golf outing went over well with the women too. So if you want games, make it golf.