Incorporating a bridal shower theme is both fun and practical when planning a bridal shower. It makes it easier to decorate and is a great way to help your guests figure out what to bring the bride-to-be.

Kitchen bridal shower themes are easy, practical and way more interesting than they used to be. For a creative twist, assign a type of cuisine to each guest. For Italian, shop for garlic presses, pasta pots and essential seasonings like sea salt, red pepper flakes and oregano. For those assigned all things American? Barbecue tools, All-Clad grill pans, and a colorful Kitchen-Aid mixer, ideal for making everything from apple pie crusts to cookie dough.

An around-the-clock theme is a clever way to ensure that guests bring a variety of gifts. Assign each guest a specific time of day (morning, tea time, bedtime) and ask them to bring a gift for that time.

If you're looking for a slightly sassier bridal shower, host a lingerie shower--but give your guests plenty of guidance on how naughty to go.

Whatever the bridal shower theme, make sure that your decoration incorporates the theme, and light lots and lots of candles to set the mood.

Rules, schmules. As long as everyone is having a good time at the bridal shower, you're good to go.

But one sage piece of wisdom: Know your bride. If she likes all things sexy, sassy and flirtatious, then let that inspire the party. But if she's more practical, modest and not one to make a fuss -- you might want to reconsider the lingerie bridal shower theme.

Make the bridal shower an occasion to share, give and inspire. Ask the guests to bring recipe cards, words of wisdom and tricks and tips to make the future bride and her lovely groom happy and wise and ready for all the fun ahead.

Give the bride a special gift to remember the day. Buy a guest book or a big, light-colored canvas, and invite everyone to sign it. Put out lots of colored markers and crayons so guests can get creative.

Incorporate the bride's special indulgences into your party. Does she love martinis? Set up a bar and let everyone stir or shake their own. Is she into wine? Serve bottles from her favorite regions. Treat a cheese-loving or chocolate-craving bride to an assortment of delectable varieties.

Celebrate the bride with bite-size morsels of tasty treats, artfully presented. Light appetizers and a decadent desserts are perfect for nibbling on while opening gifts and chatting about the upcoming event.

Cheese and crackers always make a nice starter. Choose several varieties — hard and soft, goat and cow, local and exotic.

Kebabs with veggies and meat coated lightly with olive oil, spices and a squeeze of lemon are the perfect main dish, alongside fresh salads (green, potato and/or fruit). Finish with assorted mini cakes or chocolate fondue.

A bridal shower is a great time to whip up daiquiris, spiked or virgin. Or hurricanes — really, anything topped with a maraschino cherry. The fruitier, the better. For a tamer alternative, blend smoothies with plenty of tropical fruits, like bananas, kiwis, pineapples and melons.

Tropical Cocktail • 2 1/4 oz gin • 1 oz pineapple juice • 1/2 oz of lemon, orange and lime Juice • 1 1/2 oz of mango or guava juice • 1/2 tsp superfine sugar • pineapple slices and maraschino cherries for garnishes Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into highball glass. Garnish with a colorful paper umbrella, a slice of pineapple and a maraschino cherry.

1.	A Boy Named Sue/ Johnny Cash
2.	Let’s Get Married/ Al Green
3.	Alcohol/ Brad Paisley
4.	Good Times Roll/ The Cars
5.	One Way or Another/ Blondie
6.	Sea of Love/ The Honeydrippers
7.	Dancing with the Women at the Bar/ Whiskeytown
8.	Your Body is a Wonderland/ John Mayer
9.	Bubble Toes/ Jack Johnson
10.	Ball and Chain/ Social Distortion

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