A bridal shower party is often planned by the maid of honor  with help from the bride and the bridesmaids. To make your bridal shower party  planning easy and fun, try these helpful hints, which will ensure you succeed  in planning a bridal shower party that the bride will remember always with a  smile.

First Step: Consult  With the Bride

Before you begin any major planning, it's important to  consult with the bride in the initial planning stage. The only decisions the  bride needs to have input on are the guest list, the date and the theme. Once  you get a feel for what she wants in a bridal shower party and have a guest  list (with addresses) of people she wants to see at her bridal shower party  (and who are invited to the wedding also), then she can continue wedding  planning, and you can begin the true planning for the bridal shower.

Second Step: Enlist  Help From the Wedding Party

Once you've decided on the date, venue and bridal shower  party theme, then it's time to get help from the bridesmaids if they live in  the area. You can assign each one a task, such as choosing decorations,  bringing drinks, addressing and mailing the bridal shower party invitations,  and choosing fun bridal shower games.

If you're on a tight budget, getting help from the bridesmaids  is especially helpful. Together you can  make the bridal shower invitations, create simple finger foods and a lunch  salad instead of buying pre-made food for the shower, and pool any appropriate  decorations you already have, such as table linens, napkin rings and attractive  dishes.

If the bridesmaids are either out of town or are not open to  helping with the bridal shower party planning, then you might consider enlisting  a member of the bride's family, especially if the bride is particularly close  with her mother or aunt, for example. Even if you borrow a beautiful crystal  vase and antique platters for the mother of the bride, for instance, she will  feel like she contributed - and you will have less things to worry about.

Third Step: Simplify  the Bridal Shower Party for Easy Planning

Making lists is a great way to stay on top of planning a bridal shower party and ensuring that nothing gets overlooked. One might be the  guest list that you use to check names off as people RSVP so you always have an  accurate headcount for planning. If you're hosting the bridal shower at your  home, plan ahead for extra seating and decide whether you might be outdoors or  inside. Make a list of the menu and decorations you'll need so you can easily  check items off as you obtain them.

Even if you delegate certain tasks to various bridesmaids,  keep in touch with each bridesmaid prior to the bridal shower party to make  sure that each bridesmaid is able to perform her task and doesn't need help or  forget.

Once you follow these easy steps, your bridal shower  party should be simple yet complete and ready for the bride and her friends and  family to enjoy.