If you've chosen a theme from this book, chances are there's a shower game that's perfect for it, and it was mentioned in the theme description. There may be other games that would be perfect for the type of girls you and your bride are.

Doing a Funny Skit

If anyone in your set can write, sing, dance, or act, or if anyone should have been a comedian and missed her calling, why not put together these talented folks and create a special ten- or fifteen-minute skit for the shower? Steal ideas from Letterman, Leno, or Raphael, or make up something totally on your own.

Memories Activity

Have everyone bring a photo of the bride or groom or themselves with her. Assemble them into a montage. Write on the back where each one was taken and the memory associated with it. Or collect written memories and put them in a memory book for the bride, with or without the pictures.

Getting to Know You

Working in a circle, have everyone tell how they first met the bride, or tell a funny story about their experiences with her.

Not Him Again!

Is your bride so annoyingly besotted by her beloved she's driving everyone nuts? Try this game every time she mentions his name or anyone says a different word, like “work” or “cat.” Choose a word that no one is allowed to say at the party. Before the party, select a bunch of really cheesy segments from movies, erotica books, or paperback romances. As in: “Her perky breasts heaved at the sight of him. Oh, when would she feel the weight of his tawny fingers on her smooth young skin? Cybil noted that her nipples were hardening under her shirt. Would Jim notice? Would he care?” (You could also make them up, like I just did.)

Anytime someone mentions the groom's name, or some other forbidden word, he or she has to pull one of these selections. Type them on sheets of paper and put them into a big bag or box. The guest has to read it aloud, with inflection. Hysterical!

This Is Your Life!

Having a “This Is Your Life!” shower would be loads of fun if your guests include family and friends who may not know each other. Get each of your guests who RSVPs to tell you their favorite anecdote about the bride. Ask for pictures. Call her mom and get background information such as when she was born, the type of labor mom had, and so forth.

If you've got dramatic flair, tape-record a baby crying as your intro, with “It's a girl!” as a voice-over. Continue with a “Jennifer Sexton—(drum roll)—This is your life!” Then, emcee a wonderful journey through the bride's life. To make it even more fun, try to invite her best friend from out of town (high school) whom she hasn't talked to in years, or the bride's sister from Georgia who told her she couldn't make it, or anyone else you think your bride would go nuts to see. If you cannot get a relative or an old friend, why not hire her favorite author (Authors eat up this type of chance to be a big star! You'll have to pay airfare, though, and a night's lodging.) Try getting her favorite English teacher from grammar school, someone like that. Do some investigating to find out whom she'd most love to see. Put them up at your house if you have to.

If you are going to do this, play it not more than 30 minutes into the shower, so the surprise guest gets to enjoy the party, too, and not just wait in the wings, and so that the late guests (there are always a few) won't miss the fun.