Catalog Bridal Show for Out of State Bride?

[junkfortara]

Hi All,
I'm trying to organize a bridal shower for my sister-- however the trick is she lives in California (I'm in MN), most of our relatives are in SD and she wants everything shipped to CA. So I'm thinking the best way is to do an "online/catalog show". Any ideas or suggestions on how I word an invite and exactly how to manage logistics of orders for guests vs orders for the bride?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Tara

 

[lesliec]

I just did a Bridal Show that was local. Don't know if this will help.....
As people were checking out I put everything on their order (for them and for the bride), and they made their payment. Then I moved everything in P3 off of their order and onto an order for the bride. I did it mainly for the convenience of the hostess so it would be easier for her to sort, but also for the bride. If she has any trouble with any of the products, she will have the reciept for them and won't have trouble with exchanges. The guests reciepts will only show the products that are actually for them, but will show overpayment. Everything ended up even for the total payment of the show.
Don't know if you could somehow do something of the sorts to help you.

 

[junkfortara]

Interesting Leslie- so you submitted two separate shows?

I am hosting this show for my sister (though of course I'm giving her all benefits) plus many of the guests will be spread through the country. I guess I'll just need to charge direct shipping for everyone except the bride?

Any tips or suggestions for wording on an invitation? This is unique!

 

[lesliec]

No, just one show, but there was an order there for the bride. I moved the items people were ordering for her to an order with her name on it. This would really come in handy if someone was doing direct ship for themselves, but wanted the bride's items shipped to her.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I have guests mark which items are for the bride and I do not separate out the orders - too much work plus the guest wouldn't get the freebie of the month.

I have always had bridal showers shipped to me as a service to the bride & host. They are all so busy just before the wedding and it's easy for me. If the shower was long distance I would mark the bride's gifts with a highlighter so there's no question what the bride gets and to make it as easy as possible for whoever had to sort it.


One thing I have done is put all the bride's gifts in one order on P3, print it and then delete it. I then write next to each item who she got it from. That way she has a list for thank you notes and to use if she has an issue with one of the items. That printout would not be an official order form but it would have the show info on it as well as who's name it was ordered under. I did have a bride need to do an adjustment and CS was very understanding about the name on the order being different. They expect that with a shower.

 

[BethCooks4U]

In the situation that the OP has I would have the shower shipped to the bride and put the gifts on a customer order in the bride's name and pay for the $4.25 shipping as a consultant gift. I would tell the guests that they could also order for themselves and make sure they understand that their order will be direct shipped. Don't forget to remind them that purchasing for themselves also adds up to more free gifts for the bride.