rAUE • - ruunufiAi Giving a wedding shower? Make it a fun time for all! PAQEl-nJUNDtALSHmiMY.JUNBi, 1*1 offers pretty bath items in gift boxes. CoMtJir the couple's taate You could also plan the shower around the decorating tastes of the bride and groom. The invitation could read . . . Planning a wedding shower? There are plenty of ways to make this event easy and fun-- far the bride, the guests and for you! One way is to give the shower a theme. This will guide guests in a nice way toward gifts the bride and groom will really ap preciate. According to Bride's maga zine, it's perfectly acceptable to mention on the shower invita tion stores where the bride is registered. Bride's also reports many de partment store bridal registries now list the housewares depart ment so this allows an even wider choice in gift buying. If the bride is not registered, she'll thank you for listing her favorite bath or decorating colors on the invitation. For a kitchen gadget shower you might headline your invita tion, "Cook's Delight," or for a bath theme, "Decorate the Bath!" Cany the theme through ... gift bars of soap could be game prizes at a bath shower. And, for wedding gift ideas, a new line called Rubbermaid II SHAMROCK CLEANERS IN THE McHENRY MARKET PLACE SAYS... A N D T H E B E A U T Y O F Y O U R F O R F U T U R E G E N E R A T I O N S Our service protects and preserves your gown from light, dust, air, bacteria and moths . . . veils, gloves and other accessories always look their very best. Years and years from now your wedding gown can look as fresh as it did the day you married. You cannot buy better protection in a more beautiful package at any price. OUR SERVICE ASSURES LONG LASTING LOVELINJSS for your 4400 W. Rte 120 McHenry McHenry Market Place 385-1943 . '• • : "A Country Shower . . . Janet and Dave are lovers of old-fash ioned treasures and homespun natural goods, ^o think 'coun try' for this shower!" Cards with a calico print or artwork of pottery and baskets would help convey the idea. Don't forget important details . . . enough seating (arranged for sociable conversation), fresh flowers or other decorations and soft music in the background. You may need someone to help you welcome guests and in troduce people to each other, plus help in serving refresh ments and someone to note gifts and giver as packages are opened (have pen and paper on hand). * Prior to the shower, cover the basics with those helping you so minimum direction will be re quired while guests are present. Games? More than one per son has groaned at the thought, but they can help break the ice for guests just meeting one an other. Amusiag anecdotes Here's a suggestion. Have two sets of matching numbers prepared. Each arriving guest receives a number while the du plicate is attached to their gift. As the bride opens each gift she calls out the number and the guest with that number must re late some funny incident, per haps from marriage, a first date or a situation of their choice. You can tie this idea into a kitchen or bath shower theme by havihg guests relate their crazi est experiences in a kitchen or a bathroom. Guests can vote on the win ning story, and to collect the prize the winner must sing a stanza from a favorite "in-the- shower" tune for a bath shower, or peihaps make up an "ode to a vegetable" for a kitchen shower. (If the winner was vo ted the funniest story teller, there will probably be little trou ble with this assignment!) Have a good time Above all, plan the shower to provide a happy event for your guest of honor, and do simplify gift buying for your guests with a little direction. Finally, allow yourself time to join in the festivities. Plan ning ahead with a fun shower theme will help assure you and your guests of the best time pos sible. WEDDING SHOWER TIPS: Design a table to display gift* as they are unwrapped. Bridal shower paper and sheer curtains make a backdrop for gifts at this shower themed "The Deluxe Bath.** Silk flowers and ribbons on gifts can become lovely keepsakes for the bride and a pretty bouquet for the wedding rehearsal. The shower caddy, cosmetic center and towel holder are from the Rubbermaid II Bath Colection. NEW PRIORITIES By DENISE FOWLER Copley Newt Service The 1980s are seeing a new breed of bride -- one whose priorities are markedly different from those of her mother's... For the bride of the '80s, it is no longer essential to start out married life with a com plete set of matching crys tal, silver and china. Often, the newly married couple have had some years out on their own and bring into their new home, two dif ferent sets of china. In the course of their time as sin gles, they have acquired many of the basics for set ting up a home. Therefore, many couples are asking for unconvention al gifts for their wedding presents. And their older rel atives have a hard time un derstanding the differences which time has brought about in the needs of newlyweds. The feelings of many of these new brides were summed up by Melissa Manno: "Young people aren't living in a style today where it's essential to have H » - . For the finest in Cuisine, Serviced and Atmosphere... Plon your Wedding Reception at The McHenry Country Club BANQUET FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 200 McHENRY COUNTRY CLUB PRO SHOP 385-3435 820 N. John St. • • • ' ' : » - s -* ~ Wt CLUBHOUSE 385-1072 complete silver, crystal and china. "People prefer to spend money pulling a home to gether to make a nice inter nal environment rather than spending money on one set of silver." Manno added, "We're (she and her husband) putting a lot of emphasis on the kitch- er. and things for entertain ing, such as a butler's buffet on wheels, a two-pot coffee maker, a food processor." Another recent bride con fessed that she would be thrilled if her friends pooled their resources and got her and her husband a good ster eo. Her parents have offered the young couple a mi crowave oven and his are opting for a good camera as a wedding gift There are still brides in these unconventional times who choose silver and china patterns and go through the process of registering their choices in stores. But, even these tradition- minded brides have changed their requests compared to their mothers. According to a spokesman from Tiffany's, brides "are asking for china bowls and serving pieces rather than silver bowls. They're choosing all-purpose wine glasses rather than all the different glasses. A lot are asking for glass plates to use with their china." Anne Keating, director of bridal and gift services at Bloomingdale's, sees the changes as a sign of the times. "The prices of china, silver and crystal have gone so high that brides don't ex pect to get an entire place setting from one person."