Couples Shower

Salmon Puffs: Smoked salmon and feta cheese are baked into tender little pastry packets.

Creamy Dill Cucumber Toasties: This tea party classic tastes as cool and refreshing as it looks.

Notes:

• Mix cream cheese, dry salad mix, and mayonnaise the night before to let the flavors develop.
• Substitute fresh dill for dried. It's much prettier.
• Instead of slicing the cucumbers in rounds, try slicing in thin strips using a narrow vegetable peeler.

Raspberry Cup Cakes: Creamy mini cheesecakes are drizzled with sweet raspberry puree. (Note: Sweeten the puree to taste or add a tablespoon of orange-flavored liqueur to the raspberry puree, if you wish.)

Party Mimosa: Toast the happy couple with tropical mimosas.

Notes: 

• For a gorgeous presentation, freeze an ice ring in a bundt pan (try orange juice and whole strawberries) to float in a punch bowl filled with Party Mimosa.
• No need to use expensive bubbly for this drink. A nice, moderately priced bottle will do.
  
  

Showers used to be girls-only but you can go co-ed for a more modern spin.

Make this party all about the engaged couple by crowning them as they come through the door. Who doesn't crave a nice tiara?

In a gaming mood? These mild-mannered amusements are suitable for all ages. More daring dos depend on the crowd and the vibe. Veteran shower-goers know that you can have too much of a good thing, so don't go overboard on the games.

• Who Are These People? How well do the guests know the bride and groom? Do a little digging and make up a trivia Q + A.
• Bouquet Bonanza. Guests compete to see who can create the most beautiful/amusing/thematic bridal bouquet using craft store materials supplied by the host: colored tissue paper, chenille sticks, floral tape, ribbons, etc. The event is timed and voting is by applause-o-meter.
• Thanks for the Memories. Ask guests in advance to decorate a scrapbook page commemorating key moments in the lives of the bride and groom, from childhood through courtship. Let each guest make a presentation, then bind the pages into an album. Have supplies on hand for those who forget to bring a page or who remember good stuff at the last minute.

There will be presents. Deal with it. If the party is organized around a theme--kitchen, new home, or other special interests--be sure to let the invitees know and include the gift registry rundown.

• Instead of the traditional unwrapping of the shower gifts (yawn) give the gifting a new twist by letting the guests do the unwrapping. Up the fun factor by having guests unwrap and explain the thought behind gifts that other people brought. Think of it as improv theater.
• Assign a reliable person to record who gave what for those all-important thank you notes.
• Provide the means for transporting the gifts home: shopping bags or big baskets will do.
• If the married couple is moving away, consider gift certificates instead of heavy, bulky items.

For DIY party favors, set up jars of candies and let guests fill small take-out cartons as they leave. Design clever labels for the cartons, of course.