The One Where Sousie Leaves Childish Games in the Dust for Project Brideway!

I should have had my bridal shower in April, because the only thing my March shower is bringing me is a disturbing revelation. I have, with the help of some very talented suppliers, put together what I think will be a chic, sophisticated Sunday brunch with 75 women at Archeo Trattoria in my fave Toronto spot The Distillery District. I enlisted the talent of a Sugar Expert, Christine Hasler of Custom Wedding Cakes (you will get more than a mouthful of cake when you go to meet her!) to bake a cake to echo the theme, Love is in the Air and my dress (by A.B.S); the advice of my fashion expert Karen B to approve the shoes; and of my stylist Adriano Morassut to complete the coiff.

To express my love for my city I went to the local grocer for the flowers and I even put together a nice medley of Canadian jazz music to soothe our minds while we munch on our brunch. In further support of the arts, I hired an up & coming photog to chronicle the events of the day. And, to help a cause, I donated money to a charity in honour of a woman near and dear to me who sadly won't be there, my late godmother.

I (thought) I had everything covered by about mid-February. I knew I still had to sketch out a seating plan and physically put together some party favours and décor but what I didn't realize was that I had left off one, apparently very critical item from the program. As I began to delegate responsibilities to my wedding party (Helen to pick up balloons, Peggy the flowers, etc) they began to call into question an element of the day I never even thought of - Bridal Shower Games.

What games do you want to play? We need to know in order to plan, was asked of me repeatedly for weeks. It wasn't just the question itself that perplexed me, but the fact that they all seemed to feel that the entire success of my shower hung on the coordination of these games.

I began to avoid their calls for weeks, not returning phone messages reminding me of my executive decision on game selection was necessary in order to advance planning and buying trinkets for prizing. It got to the point where I was feeling really weighed down by the incessant question, and almost embarrassed that I couldn't come up with an answer.

As I cleared my mind on a walk one morning with my P-doggy Paula; the answer came to me I hate bridal shower games. Furthermore, I don't understand why adult women have to play games at showers. Or why anyone thought love themed cross word puzzles would ever be a success in a room full of keen, but marginally illiterate Greek women.

Almost a decade into the 21^st century and 40 years after Gloria Steinem burned the bra, it would appear that a group of women sadly cannot collect in one room for a few hours and simply, talk and enjoy themselves without counting lipstick cases and nail polish in their purse. My flower girl and very creative niece is conducting a yo-yo competition with the other young ladies. This I understand because she's five.

Why must we entertain women with puzzles and bingo? Gossip even, what happened to old-fashioned gossiping? The art of catching up on those who you care so little about and divulging dirt on those you care about even less. I know there's no shortage of it in the world, why can't it be enough entertainment on March 29?

My friend Les thinks it's all about the gift prizes, but really, do we do it for the smelly soap bar and dollar store trinket? I think not. Somewhere along the way someone decided games were necessary because women were too boring I disagree. I believe we've just been lambs following in tradition.

I am also removing the chains that have held down centuries of bridal shower guests - while colourful ribbon lashed at their cerebral cortex for countless hours - by deciding not to open my gifts at the venue. This is not only because it's boring, but also because I find the entire process an insult to my keen wrapping skills. Instead, on what is supposed to be my day, I will display the pretty boxes not the contents inside, and will send thank you cards appropriately. In lieu of waiting in the proverbial three hour line up to see their gift be unwrapped and raised in the air, I want my friends and relatives to use my three hours and prove that a shower can be great without calling on Mattel to produce movement in the brain.

I'm going to listen for the chatter, for the chuckles, and if all I hear is silence then I'll bust out a back up game of my own creation Project Brideway!

I'll let you know how it goes, it in the meantime, wish me luck!

Sousie Tsotskos, A Greek Divas Bridal Brigade
		About the author:
		Toronto public relations expert Sousie Tsotskos will walk down the aisle on June 6th, 2009. After years of showcasing Toronto's finest to media from around the world for Tourism Toronto, she uses industry secrets to plan her own wedding, taking us on an intoxicating and zany tour. From unusual dress-fittings, unwelcomed run-ins, hen parties and a minor identity crisis - find out how this Toronto mover-and-shaker learned to plan her BIG, LEAN, STYLISH GREEK WEDDING on a dime. This is one of the most highly addictive columns on WOMAN.ca.
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