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Wedding Etiquette Forum
kimmy1688
member
What to do? Bridal Shower with Adult Coloring activity?
Hello all, this is my first time posting to the discussion boards here on the knot. My brother is getting married in June 2016. My future sister in law's mother is of course helping with her daughters bridal shower. She says she does not want the "typical" bridal shower games and that she would like to do some sort of adult coloring activity. She suggested a thank you card that the guests can color. I was thinking along the lines of getting a puzzle, give each guest 5 pieces to color their own way and then either give to the bride as a gift to put together after the wedding OR one of the bridesmaids (probably me) to put together and frame and give to them on their wedding day with the date engraved at the bottom. I am looking for suggestions to this idea? I am not sure if a coloring puzzle even exists? Or that you could even color on a puzzle with colored pencils? I imagine you would need markers and I see that turning into a smeary mess. Any input or suggestions would be extremely helpful.
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Re: What to do? Bridal Shower with Adult Coloring activity?
Do people use the colouring books as a social activity? I know they are popular now, but I kind of thought they were for nice alone time, to zen out, rather than at a party.
I like the idea of the puzzle, that's kind of cute. I think you can get puzzles custom made and you would just have it blank. I don't think pencils would work, so you'd need some sort of marker. Sharpies might be good for that, less smear.
I had to do a coloring/ scrapbooking activity at a baby shower. It was awkward, especially for the less artistic guests. I'm not a fan of shower games in general. I would be annoyed if I had to color my thank you note...let me guess she also wants them to address the envelope to themself too
When it comes to bridal shower games, I think there still needs to be a social aspect to them. Having guests sitting and coloring doesn't sound like very much fun to me. And as the bride, I can't see myself hanging up that framed puzzle in my home.
What does your FSIL want for her shower? You only mentioned her mom. I would go along with what the bride wants. If the bride wants any games, ask her what games she likes. The bride may want no games at all. I feel like FSIL's mom just wants to go crazy for this shower. Make sure she pays for all the crazy. This shouldn't be put on your or other BMs shoulders.
ETA: changed word to negative
I'm honestly not a big fan of the coloring. The point of the adult coloring IMO is to be fun and alone. I don't really see it as social.
Instead of something like that, what about a dessert bar? Fondue?
If she actually likes the coloring/puzzle idea, she could order a custom puzzle with a pic of bride and groom, then have guests write notes to the couple on the plain back of the puzzle, so as they put it together they read thoughts from their friends. That would be an easy thing to have on a side table, with a quick announcement "feel free to sign the B&G's puzzle portrait" or something. And they do make "adult coloring" puzzles; they're normally mandalas, but they would look really ugly if a different person colored each piece. And I agree, coloring is not really a group activity (at least outside of my college dorm).
Beyond that, I agree with the PP that the "adult coloring book" seems to be a "know your crowd" sort of thing. If the shower guests are likely to actually enjoy it, then I don't see why you couldn't do it.
And I agree with the hostess about the "typical" shower games. Games aren't necessary at a shower.
But personally, I am not an activity-joiner, so I would prefer if there was just good food and booze instead of mandatory games.
I like the idea of each guest writing or drawing something different - a doodle, a bit of advice, whatever they like.
Do you really need games at all?
But I'd like to reiterate what PPs have said about guests coloring thank-you notes. Don't do this! Guests should have no involvement with their thank-you note, including not addressing their own envelope. Thank-you notes should be written and addressed by the bride after the shower. I would majorly side-eye having to address my own thank-you card... its okay for me to spend time/money to give a gift, but it's too much effort for the bride to write my address on an envelope?!
I was recently at a bridal shower with what felt like a hundred bars:
omelette (made in microwave) bar. Coffee bar. Parfait/garnola bar etc.
All I wanted was a BAR bar!
A microwavable omelet bar? That sounds gross. Eggs cooked in microwaves never taste good and the smell is even worse! I mean my dogs certainly like when I have egg batter leftover, cook it in the microwave and feed it to them with dinner - but their palates aren't as refined as those of a humans. . .
Re: coloring. I like coloring and being creative, but I hate when I am forced to do something creative on command like that. It stresses me out. I'd rather it be an option that I could choose to do rather than something everyone is forced into. A puzzle would only look good (and be solvable) if everyone coordinated their coloring, and that just seems like a hassle. I say forego the games and just eat/drink/mingle.
Games aren't necessary but I understand that the bride's mother may insist. I think the puzzle sounds like a nice idea, but you may not have full participation. You may be able to buy a plain puzzle, and I agree about markers probably working best.
No to the thank you cards, would everyone be decorating their own thank you card? It's hard, some people are really talented in that regard and may appreciate the activity. I'm not, so if I were required to draw and color something it would be a smiley sunshine, or a poorly drawn flower, and call it a day.
I'd either skip the coloring or make it optional so if people want to they can and if they don't want to they don't feel pressured. Also I don't know of many people who would want a puzzle colored by other people. I'd probably look at it once and say aww that's sweet and then it'd sit in my basement until we moved and I decided it wasn't worth moving...
My hesitation is that finding something like this on the tables at a shower gives the message to the guests that you are expecting a quiet, seated event with no mingling. If you are expecting a shower that involves socializing and mingling and moving around, I'd avoid any activites that involve a paper and writing utensil.