Decorative cupcakes
One of the best (and easiest) ways to make a party feel put together is to have a theme. It only takes a little extra thought and preparation, but it makes a big difference. And since almost any party requires food, and bridal showers certainly do, incorporating the food into your theme is festive, and it may even help you make a few decisions.
Narrow Your Options
The first thing to do is determine the type of shower you're throwing. If the party is at a restaurant, then most of the food is taken care of, and at most you will have to choose between dishes. However, if the party is at someone's home or a venue such as a hall or recreation center, then you'll be completely responsible for the food, unless you decide to hire a caterer. Even then, you'll have some say in the menu.
Tailor the food to suit the bride's personality, wishes and guest list. The shower might be a mellow get together (simple food, relaxed atmosphere), a fancier event (more elaborate food and decorations), a formal party (upscale attire and behavior), a blow-out (plenty of guests and fun), or a shower with a very specific concept (luau, fiesta, fifties). Keep in mind that, generally, the fancier and more complex the food gets, the more time and money it will take. Once you have a general idea of the type of shower you're throwing, use that to refine your menu.
Casual Showers
For the mellow bride and her shower, think simple and fun. A barbecue or cook-out is easy to do yourself. A potluck is even easier, although it has the added stress of arranging who brings what and making sure it's actually brought. Sandwiches or a cold lunch buffet are quick and uncomplicated. Ethnic food, such as Mexican, Italian or Indian, is a festive and pre-unified food theme. Generally, a blow-out kind of shower will have the same type of food as a more casual shower, but on a larger scale.
Fancy or Formal Showers
For something a little fancier, think about presentation and connotation. Desserts with coffee and tea, for example, can be made to look very elegant. Wine and cheese are other sophisticated choices. A brunch can be casual or more formal, depending on what you choose to serve and how you present it. For an evening shower, hors d'oeuvres and cocktails are glamorous (but don't forget that hors d'oeuvres can be complex and cocktails require mixing). To translate fancy to formal, add a sit-down meal. This doesn't have to be a full meal--an English tea party theme, for example, just needs tea and dessert. For a full-fledged formal affair, a dinner party is great.
Concept-Themed Showers
For a shower with a more specific theme, the menu is somewhat predetermined. A tropical theme, for example, implies shish kebabs and exotic fruits. For an English pub theme you might serve ale and fish 'n chips. A fifties theme would call for diner food, such as hamburgers, french fries and shakes. Be creative--a particular theme doesn't exclude standard foods, it just requires that you think of them with a twist.
Tags: food such, hors oeuvres, shower throwing, shower with, theme example, type shower