Bridal shower themes needed (no registry) help!

I read somewhere about a shower to stock the bar...

Http://weddings.usabride.com/wedding-planning-advice/wedding-shower-themes-and-shower-gift-ideas/

http://www.beau-coup.com/bridal_shower_themes.htm

They both have decent lists. I have been toa stock the pantry and stock the bar. The pantry one was fun because there was so much recipe sharing going on and I like that kinda thing.

If you like to cook you can do a receipe shower, where guests bring you their favorite receipe for you to try. Can't say they will ALL be good, but its something different.

Do NOT do a stock the bar shower. That's as bad as asking for money. Unless of course, it's a stock your own private bar ;-)

If you have a yard, patio, or balcony and don't already have a garden, you could do a garden party. Everyone could bring a plant, pot, etc. to help you get a lovely little garden started.

Jamie - I love your idea for a garden party I'd like to use that for a house warming party when we eventually buy a house.

You could do a theme that's towards your honeymoon destination.

Our wedding registry is already for our honeymoon on Honeyfund.com.

What is everyone's thoughts on an activities theme. People could give is things my FH and I can do together. Maybe like gift certificates for cooking classes together, or rock climbing? Something along those lines?

Thanks for all the help everyone; keep the ideas coming.

"Spice It Up" shower where they bring different spices, seasonings, or herbs along with a recipe using that ingredient.

I had a stock the bar shower and I have no idea how it would be the same as asking for money -- people got me stuff ranging from martini shaker sets to bottles of liquor/wine and one of my BM bought every kind of little mini airplane bottles of liquor the store had. It's not supposed to be liquor for the wedding - at least that's not how I ever interpreted it.

Anonymous, I like the activities theme but I'm not sure exactly how you would convey that to guests -- buy us "experiences"? And what would the shower itself be like? Would you take everyone to one of these activities (could get very expensive)?

Do you cook? If you do or are wanting to, I like the recipe exchange idea!!! Stock the pantry!

My friend in the same situation did a honeymoon shower....some people brought traditional gifts, but some brought things for the honeymoon or gave giftcards from honeyfund...I gave a snorkeling giftcard and 2 snorkel masks for example.

I'm not sure how I became "anonymous", I'll have to fix that. I'm Ellen

I don't get why everything has to be a theme? But I guess if I have to follow that, the activities thing would be difficult. I do LOVE the idea of getting recipes from people. But my FH and I have a kitchen full of tools already

Idea! I enjoy cake decorating (I will be making my own wedding cake) Would it be socially acceptable to ask for some cake decorating tools I have been wanting to buy? I guess we could make it a dessert theme?

Based on what you mentioned earlier, what if you did "date night theme" and people would give things for your future date nights?

Gifts I can imagine are gift cards, Groupons, or Living Social vouchers for movie theaters, restaurants, or for various activities (such as cooking classes, couple's massages, wine tastings, IDK), ingredients and recipe to make a dinner at home together, tickets for the theater or comedy club... I could imagine someone doing a fun little sexy gift box with massage oils and other toys or items (hopefully nothing over the top and embarrassing!)

I am just brainstorming. Hopefully the host could give some guidelines as far as expiration dates (I'd hate to get a Groupon that expires in, e.g., two months--with the wedding activities, it's be hard to fit something in if it expires so quickly.

Yes...a cake decorating theme would be perfect! That sounds like a ton of fun!

For the record, I don't think there has to be a theme...I just threw a shower this past weekend at a Mexican restaurant and we had "fiesta" invitations, but it wasn't really a theme, just good food But she had a registry so people just bought from that. If you're wanting to give people targeted gift ideas without a physical registry, a theme is helpful.

I didn't realize you could do honeyfund gift cards...but that could be a solution where you wouldn't need a theme so to speak.

Juliette, I think they were referring to the parties where it IS to stock the "open" bar for the wedding. I've never seen one, but I've heard of it. And I understand how it's similar to the dollar dance where you're asking wedding guests for money at the event.

Now, a stock the bar for your home, yes please!

I've never heard of a party where you try to stock the open bar. What I've read and seen multiple times has been gifts related to what Juliette mentioned--alcohol, drink mixes, glassware (e.g. a margarita set, martini shakers, etc.) and stuff related to that.

Glenda C, I LOVE your idea. I love that its about the couple, not just the bride. I really think we would enjoy that. Thanks for such an awesome idea. I feel like I had something like that in the back of my mind, but I didn't someone to pull it out of there

We're doing a tea party brunch theme for my bridal shower! The only alcohol will be from the mimosa fountain (helllllll yeah!) and then we'll have tea and coffee and brunch foods. I do have a registry so there will be gifts to open, but I could see it easily being a cute hang-out day with all my family dressed up in adorable dresses for a tea party, too!

Yea!

I love theme gifts and trying to be creative so personally I'd be excited to get an invite to such a shower... I'd be trying hard to think of something really unique and fun!

Oh...I like date night themed too!!!! Very cool Glenda!

And yeah, we stocked our home bar...still going through the alcohol slowly but surely