Tips to help your best friend's bridal shower go off without a hitch

As the maid of honor, it's your obligation to throw your best friend an unforgettable bridal shower, but these events can be daunting tasks without the right preparation. With a large guest list, party decorations to find and a venue to book, you'll have a list a mile long unless you take the proper steps to streamline the process. Here are a few time-saving tips that can allow you to juggle your own needs and ensure that the bride-to-be has a rewarding experience.

1. Set the date. Strictly adhering to a date will help everyone in the bridal party get their schedules in line and ensure that you aren't making any last-minute adjustments. A bridal shower is typically held about eight weeks before the ceremony, so keep this in mind when planning out the date. Your best course of action is to go to a place that handles meals, drinks and the activities all in one place. This will help you avoid rushing from place to place and help you do everything under one roof.

2. Choose a theme. Picking a theme is one of the easiest ways to help save money on decorations and create a streamlined look for the bash. For instance, if the bride-to-be has a favorite color or a style of food, you can plan your entire decorative scheme around this simple addition. This will also make a huge difference when deciding on bridal shower favors, but there are a few items that will work with any theme. Personalized stemless wine glasses or personalized mini glass candy jars can appeal to the whole bridal party.

3. Create a gift-buying list. A bridal shower is meant to give the bride-to-be everything she needs to start off married life in her new home. Therefore, it's vital that your guests aren't purchasing items for the same room of the house. When you send out the invitations, ask each person to concentrate on a certain area of the home, whether it's the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. This will help her decorate each space in her home with a personalized accent and help her hit the ground running in her new place.

A bridal shower is a huge commitment, but as long as you appeal to your friend's tastes and make it as relaxing as possible, it should go smoothly.