The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-02-26, Page 71{
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Showcase '06, page 45
Stress
equality with his 'n her shower
Even in these modern times, sexual in-
equality thrives when it comes to the
wedding. Not true, you say?
Well, think about the.bridal shower. To-
day the average shower is a party for the
bride with mothers, sisters, aunts, grand-
mothers and girlfriends in attendance.
And the gifts? Things to help the new
wife take care of the house.
Where does that leave the bridegroom?
To fend for himself, no doubt. No one
thinks to give him the implements he'll
need to carry out his share of the
household chores.
While the bride spends the first weeks
of her marriage cheerfully trying out
cookbooks and utensils, her husband is
scouring the store's for -tools, nails,
lawnmowers and rakes. Before he can
begin sharing the work, he has to find
and buy.
What's the solutio) to this modern-day
shower inequality?
The wedding shower for couples.
Honoring the couple instead of just the
bride, this celebration not only helps the
groom get comfortable in his new._home
Tailor your
reception.
to suit
lifestyle
You're getting married and you want
an elegant catered reception. But on a limited budget, having the best to make
you and your guests feel special isn't
easy': Her G"G re some -tips., _......
First, decide on a budget. The money
you can spend will deterniine several
things: the amount of food, type and
amount of decoration, location, rental
and equipment, entertainment.
To begin your selections, consult a few
caterers in your area to get ideas for the
party. Look at photographs of parties
they've catered and ask for a price list
and referrals.
During your search, you'll find that
some caterers are stricly food handlers
and servers. They don't provide party
equipment set up for decoration. But
others - usually the more expensive ones
- do everything from hiring the band to
hunting for a location. This type of ser-
vice ca>�your mind at ease but may
put too mu of a burden on your pocket-
' book.
Once you've decided the general style
of your reception, sit down with your
price lists and determine which caterer
came the closest in price and services of-
fered
ffered to meet your, needs. To stay within
your budget, yofn'11 probably have to
decide which services you wish to pay for
and which you can do yourself or
eliminate. Remember,that themore you
do, the less you will have to pay.,
Obviously you don't want to be washing
dishes while your guests are dancing, but
there are other ways to cut costs. You
may prefer to make a portion of the food
yourself, borrow equipment instead of
renting, decorate, do the flower ar-
rangements or provide the musk
yourself. For instance, if you want a lun-
cheon reception, consider slicing meats
and making salads, side dishes or
relishes yourself. All of these can be
made ahead and refrigerated until the
party day.
sooner, but also makes a lot of sense.
Shower invitations should alert guests
to this twist on tradition by simply
stating the event is in celebration of Sue
and John. Instead of assigning each guest
a category like kitchen or bath items
from which to choose a gift, you might
advise them to buy with the wife, the hus-
band or both newlyweds in mind to en-
sure that the groom gets his share of the
fun.
One household responsibility that's still
generally thought of as the man's domain
is tending bar, so gifts•to help home
"stock up" would be well appreciated. A
wine rack is sure to please most grooms,
i
particularly if it comes complete with a
bottle of his favorite vintage. An ice
bucket or blender will win favor as a bar
basic, while a variety of liqueurs can add
a note of sophistication.
For the more humdrum side of
domesticity consider garden equipment
or -a tool kit. Even an apartment dweller
needs a hammer, pliers and screwdriver,
and for the first-time homeowner, these
basics are absolute essentials.
An outdoor barbecue is one way to en-
courage a reluctant chef to take on some
of the cooking duties. And, if the groom is
a gourmet, you're safe with anything
fta maker to a spice rack
rom a pas
If you're not sure -bow the new couple
intends to divide housework, simply give
gifts they both will use. A collection of
record albums is a thoughtful choice,
particulary if you can include the song
they've chosen for the first dance at their
wedding reception: A year's cable televi-
sion subscription is an unusual gift, they
both can enjoy, even if she's an old movie
buff and hes a devoted sports fan - or
vice versa.
If guests are at all concerned about the
bride sharing her shower with the groom,
just ask them to imagine how she'll feel
when he says, "honey, come look at the
shelf I put up today for our new china."
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