Today, I am all about surprises. Yesterday, my husband and I threw our eldest daughter a surprise bridal shower and, even though there were slip-ups, i.e. text messages not meant for her sent in a group family text, I think we pulled it off. She had a fabulous day and she seemed, genuinely, surprised.

For me, planning the party was more fun than I expected. I really enjoyed planning a party for someone else. I loved figuring out what restaurant she would most like to have her party, as well as planning a menu for her.  Apparently, the new trend for bridal showers is that the bride wears a short white dress to the shower. She knew we were planning a bridal shower but did not know when it would be. So, I told  her to buy her dress and shoes and give them to me  by September 1 and I brought them to the shower for her to change into.

My bridal shower was also a surprise hosted by my mother and sister.  The only suspicions I had occurred the evening before. The weather forecasters were predicting snow for the day of my surprise shower.  I remember being confused as to why my now ex-husband was so concerned about the possibility that we might not be able to get to my parents’ house the next day (let’s just say they weren’t fans of one another).  When the weather was sunny and nice the day of my shower, I put those suspicions aside and wore an old pair of overalls to my parents’ house. Back then, the host of the shower did not bring clothes for the bride to change into. So, there are numerous pictures of my friends and family in beautiful dresses and pants outfits at my bridal shower and I am wearing my old overalls.

Have you ever hosted or had a surprise party in your honor? What was your experience?