Knot Plan

Music is important to Hawaiians, so, it should be important at your Luau Shower too. Everybody knows Tiny Bubbles, by Don Ho, but there are many other recordings of Hawaiian music and artists. For example, Blue Hawaii, by Elvis, Hawaii’s Greatest Hits,by New Hawaiian Band, Best of Hawaii, by Various Artists, and Gabby Pahinui playing Stack Key.

You can play as many or as few games as you would like at a bridal shower but they should be as different or as exciting as your imagination will allow. Guest participation, that is getting guests out of their seats, is always a great idea. It is a wonderful mingling tool and makes for a memorable shower. One such game or activity that is a must at a Luau Bridal Shower is Making a Lei. I have listed complete instructions below, but to begin you should have a table or area set up with your supplies, which can include, dental floss, large sewing needles, small,leaves, feathers, roses, plumeria carnations, bougainvillea, orchids, daisies, or any medium size flower.

The Bride, and Groom, if he is staying, should be offered a lei upon entering the shower and it should be the biggest and most elaborate lei. I mention the groom because some showers today include male guests and games and even food should accommodate both genders if you are hosting a mixed gender bridal shower. The Luau Bridal Shower that I am describing lends itself to an all female or a Jack and Jill shower.

Another game you may want to try is a traditional Hawaiian game called ulu maika, which is similar to horseshoes. To play set up a small stick post in the ground and have guests gather stones for throwing, or this can be done already. Each guest chooses a stone and tosses it at the post, the one closest wins. Prizes can be pretty shells, macadamia nuts, and even a pineapple! You can also try the Hawaiian Dress-up Game. Buy hula skirts, coconut bras, sarongs, leis, and pack them in two suitcases. Make two teams, instruct one player from each team to dress up in items provided, then undress and repack items for next team member. The team that finishes first wins.

No luau is complete without a hula contest; the longest, the funniest, the sexiest. You decide. These last two games are especially fun if Mai Tai’s have been served, but they’re fun know matter what! If your budget will allow it, it is extra special to hire a dance troupe to perform or teach the hula. Sometimes local dance schools may be able to help you out with this.

I feel as though I have given you a lot of ideas that you can expand on to host an exciting and unboring Luau Bridal Shower. It should be memorable for the bride as well as the guests. Below are some recipes as well as directions for making a lei. Aloha!!

Directions for making a lei:
You may use any medium size flower, feathers, small leaves, or shells with pre-drilled holes. You need a large sewing needle and at least a 45” piece of dental floss to yield a 36” lei. String the flowers by going through their centers from front to back and then sliding them down the floss. It takes about 50 to 60 flowers to make one lei. You can use fresh or silk flowers with fresh being more traditional. To preserve a fresh lei, you may store it in a refrigerator.

Recipes:

Pork Butt

5lb. pork butt
5lbs. of sweet potatoes
Bar-B-Q Smoke

Score pork, rub with salt, sprinkle liquid smoke all over meat. Wrap in tin foil and bake in 325 degree oven for 4 hours. Add sweet potatoes for last 1 and ½ hours of cooking. Shred meat off bones and enjoy!

Chicken Luau

2lbs. chicken thighs
1 can coconut milk
1 teaspoon sugar

Put chicken in baking dish. Combine sugar and coconut milk and pour over chicken. Bake in 375 degree oven for 1 hour or until done.

Mai Tai

1 oz. light rum
Fresh lime juice
1 oz. Jamaican rum
Orange juice
½ oz. Orange Curacao
¼ oz. Rock Candy Syrup
½ oz. French Orgeat

Fill large glass with ingredients, ice and a splash of orange juice, garnish with pineapple wedges and enjoy.

Some items to have on hand for decorating or serving:

Tiki torches
Shells
Hawaiian post cards
Sand
Hawaiian pictures, or posters-current or vintage
Fish nets
hula skirts
paper parasols
wooden bowls and utensils
tropical fabric
loose flowers
pineapples
bamboo mats
macadamia nuts
surfing memorabilia
coconuts

Just as you used a Hawaiian honeymoon locale as a theme for a Luau Bridal Shower you can use any honeymoon location as a jumping off theme. Other interesting ideas for a bridal shower especially a Jack and Jill one, includes a wine/beer tasting party, and a sports trivia party. A decade party also makes a great bride and groom shower and I’m sure there is plenty of info on music, food, decorations, and dress. A Shoe/Handbags -vintage and contemporary-Bridal Shower may appeal to a bride who is obsessed with designer wear. Imagine the possibilities! Old magazine pictures as well as grandmas’ handbags and accessories can provide fabulous background material for your bridal soiree. Remember, whatever is meaningful or fun for the wedding couple can make an exciting shower experience for them and for their guests.