How much liquor to buy for your party?

During your wedding weekend, for the rehearsal dinner you'll host at home, for bridal showers, bridesmaid parties, crafting parties at which volunteers come help to make the favors, and even for an at-home engagement party , you'll want to be sure you have enough drinks to go with your menu. But, of course, you don't want to spend a fortune at the liquor store, over-buying the wine and alcohol and wasting money. The trick is getting just enough...

Here is a terrific tool from Evite.com that I've found to be right on target in estimating how much liquor you'll need to suit your crowd of light- to heavy-drinkers.

If you're on a budget, keep in mind that a terrific champagne punch or sangrias stretch your liquor dollar and guests LOVE getting to sip on a unique drink they don't get every day. I love the drink recipes at Food Network, and I also have a fabulous Sangria recipe book that I often break out whenever we have guests or are hosting a party.

It's important to pair your drinks to your menu -- since a great app will be spoiled by a so-so vintage or a too-strong mixed drink -- so get adventurous, explore your drink options, and taste test any new drink recipes before the big party, just to be sure.

Get my #1 Amazon Bestselling Bridal Shower Book

This just in: My book The Ultimate Bridal Shower Idea Book is #1 on the Amazon.com list of bestselling bridal shower books! Get your copy today, and find out how to throw an amazing shower on a budget, with fun themes, games, menus, and favors your guests will love.

Books are the #1 budget wedding favor and gifts choice!

If you're looking for the perfect, affordable wedding favors, forget about those cheesy little silver frames and choose to get your guests great little gift books! Priced at under $7 each in most cases, these books offer your guests humor, quotes, pretty pictures, poetry...you name it. It's something they'll enjoy and keep on their bookshelves for a very long time, always remembering your wonderful wedding.


For parents' and bridal party gifts, get your recipients gorgeous coffee table books featuring photos of their favorite locations (Tuscany, Paris, Egypt), their favorite artists (Monet, VanGogh, etc.), architecture, boats, whatever topic they love. Again, this gift -- signed by you with a heartfelt message of love and thanks -- stays in their home, on display, for a long, long time. That's way better than a bottle of wine and is the perfect add-on to the framed photo or album you're already planning to get them.


And if you have a Rewards system with Amazon, just think about the points and perks you'll get when you order 30 shower favor books or 100 wedding favor books! It's an additional savings on an already affordable gift idea, adding up to a very smart gift choice.

My personal favorite for bridal shower favors? A very fun choice for your married and single guests: Love Bets.

Wedding Wines That Give Back

Check out the fantastic, sports-centric vintages at www.charitywines.com as the perfect theme item for your wedding, rehearsal dinner, or co-ed bridal shower bar:

"Charity Wines partners with superstar athletes & celebrities to create fine wines and help raise funds for charities across the country. In the Spring of 2007 Charity Wines launched the Longball Vineyards brand, featuring wines from Boston baseball players, Manny Ramirez, Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield. In less than three months, following the largest single wine presale in Massachusetts' history, donations from a portion of those proceeds raised over $350,000 for the players' charities.

Following the 2007 Longball series, Charity Wines teamed with hockey legends Ray Bourque and Cam Neely and football hall-of-famer Dan Marino to produce a line of California wines. In Spring of 2008 the "Boys of Summer" returned with a line-up of 18 new baseball players from Boston, New York, Atlanta and Cincinnati as well as four baseball hall of fame legends. To date, Charity Wines has donated over $1.5 million to charities featuring these collectible Baseball Wines, Football Wines and Hockey Wines"

Joe and I did this for our own rehearsal dinner, stocking up on the Marino Estate Cabs, Merlots and Chardonnays, and our guests loved them.

It's a great way to give a little back in fine style...

Praise for my Ultimate Bridal Shower Idea Book!

The Ultimate Bridal Shower Idea Book: How to Have a Fun, Fabulous, and Memorable Party by Sharon Naylor

The list author says:
"This book is chock full of amazing ideas! What I love about it most is the idea of picking a theme and then really going for it! If you are preparing a shower for someone you love, she will be absolutely thrilled when you follow the guidelines outlined here. A creative, fun, classy offering from one of the most impressive wedding professionals out there! Bravo!"

Thank you for the fabulous review!

Are you ready for some football?

Sports-themed pre-wedding parties are a top trend right now, as couples look to their shared passion for sports teams as a great foundation for their party plans. Since tonight starts the NFL season, now's the perfect time for me to suggest a sportsfan-friendly focus if you want to do something a little bit different for a co-ed bridal shower, wedding weekend event or even the rehearsal dinner. For any party that takes place during the sports season, just design your own themed invitations using the software and papers at http://www.mountaincow.com/, and let your guests know to wear blue for your Giants'-themed party, or -- if they dare -- the color of their favorite team. If you have a wide mix of sportsfans, just make it an NFL party and have guests wear their choices of pro player jerseys or team shirts. Decor is easy, tailgate party food is a breeze, microbrew beers can take the place of a keg if you're not the kegtapping types, and somebody in your circle of friends has that CD of stadium songs. Now let's say your party takes place on the weekend of a big playoff game....many of your guests will be far happier to attend your bash and not miss the action.

Of course I'm using the NFL as an example here because I'm a football fan, but you can do the same with your alma mater football team colors, baseball, basketball, whatever you'd like.

It's a fun way to put a new twist on a wedding celebration party.

Want more party theme ideas? Check out my book The Ultimate Bridal Shower Idea Book.

Is your toast ready?

It's wedding season, and if you're like most people, you have at least a few weddings to attend in the coming weeks -- and perhaps a few bachelorette parties. Since I've always said Words Make the Wedding, why not prepare a special toast in honor of the bride and groom? If you're not the Maid of Honor or Best Man, those who are slated to speak at the reception, you can propose a toast at another occasion such as a shower or even in the couple's honor at a regular 'ol family dinner. Check out my book Your Special Wedding Toasts for the top tips on toast-writing and -giving, hundreds of classic and contemporary quotes to build your toast around, and warnings about the top mistakes you don't want to make. Cheers!