What to do when the bride and groom are out of state for a bridal shower?

[cookn' katie]

I am doing a bridal shower the end of May for my husband's cousin and fiance. They live in Washington and the shower and entire guest list lives in Iowa. They don't want to ship everything at their own cost to Washington and I don't want to have 2 different address to ship to. What do you guys do when this happens?

 

[BlessedWifeMommy]

Two shows? One to each address?

 

[jross93]

What if the guests used old catalogs and cut out pictures of what they were ordering for the bride and groom? They could wrap the pictures so the couple would have something to open and you could just have the real item shipped directly to Washington...that way the giver gets to see how the couple reacts to their gift without the added hassle of trying to get the real gifts back home then....(I hope this makes sense!)
Just a thought!
Jen

 

[Jules711]

Are you doing a typical shower for them? They will be there? You put all of the gifts under his name as guest and all of the host benefits under her name as host and have them directly shipped to their home. It's a little more expensive, but VERY reasonable. The ONLY downside is if the guests purchase $60 worth of product WITH the gift with the couple. They wouldn't get the free product. Small price to pay to get the stuff off safely. I did this with my niece. She lives in Hawaii and it was great for her to know that it would arrive safely. I just made sure to wait to submit the order until I knew that she'd be back home.

 

[Jules711]

Oh..and the rest of the order will go to the host to distribute to the rest of the guests. Remember to encourage them to get outside orders. Doesn't matter if they are invited. It's a catalog show to them!!

 

[raebates]

I've done this before and done exactly what Jules is saying. It worked well.

 

[pkd09]

I have done one and that is exactly what I did...two shows. One for bride & groom so items go directly to them and another for those who live locally for their items. It worked out great!

 

[raebates]

The problem with doing it as two shows is that the host benefits are seriously cut. I put the gifts under the bride or groom's name, with direct shipping. (I pay for the shipping. That's my gift to the bride and groom.) I put the host of the shower as the host of the party. Guests' personal orders are shipped to the host's home. I put the bride as the co-host. This allows the host of the shower to get a discount and PHD. All of the free products can go to the bride as co-host. Her products can be shipped directly to her. (Again, the shipping charge is part of my gift.)

 

[lauradahl]

My director has done this also Rae...or something similar to make it all work out. I've not had to do it yet, but this description is great, it's the first time I've had it explained where I "get it". Thanks! I have 3-4 of them coming so this is good mojo for me:thumbup:

 

[raebates]

My pleasure. I hope they're all tremendously successful.