Jack and Jill Party Ideas
More couples these days are having unisex showers. Once considered taboo, co-ed showers (or Jack and Jill showers) are for couples who want to share the joy with every member of the wedding party, and who don’t want lots of lingerie gifts and tales of first boyfriends. Second-time brides and grooms like the custom a lot too. If you’re considering a unisex shower, read on for tips everyone can enjoy.
Joint showers work great at a restaurant or bar, especially if you reserve a back room. You can turn it into an evening affair, so everyone can eat, drink, and be celebratory of your upcoming nuptials. Remember, just because the shower is unisex, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Friends can give toasts and share stories, but in a more casual atmosphere than the rehearsal dinner or the reception. Since anyone can host a shower, you can also make it a cocktail reception in someone’s home; an especially nice touch if your wedding is at a beach or another casual setting.
(A word to the wise: If you specifically don’t want a ribbon bouquet or adult-oriented games, make sure anyone who might be hosting is aware of your wish.)
Event wedding parties are growing in popularity, so take your unisex shower on the road. You can organize a wine-tasting, a big-city outing, or a beach or park affair—great if your wedding is going to be formal. More casual ideas include softball games, bonfires, bowling, or pool parties. If you’re set on having a traditional bachelorette party, you can have your unisex shower at a day spa—men will enjoy the massages, as well as the facials and pedicures. This latter idea turns your shower into a mini-gift to your wedding party, which is ideal for the couple who’s expecting lots of pre-wedding parties or has been married before.
Some couples who plan a unisex shower do not want gifts; if this is the case, let whoever’s hosting get the word out. It’s also common to invite parents and, in many cases, children. As soon as you start adding on to the guest list, the shower will become more formal and more of a mini-engagement party. While some unisex showers still have a male-male and female-female touch (backyard barbecues where the men are expected to make the burgers and hot dogs and the women are supposed to set the table), your unisex shower has no rules. Feel free to make it singularly your own.
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