MEET the bride is a function held by the bride’s family to raise funds to foot the kitchen party or wedding celebration budget.
The bride is showered with money or some gifts for convenience sake.
Meet the bride is usually held earlier than a bachelorette party for United States then here in Zambia were we do not have bachelorette party because of our culture values, it is held before the kitchen party.
The bachelorette party began during the sexual revolution of the 1960s but it was uncommon until at least the mid-1980s.
The first book on planning bachelorette parties wasn’t published until 1988. Its significance is largely tied to concepts of gender equality.
A bridal shower is a gift-giving party held for a bride-to-be in anticipation of her wedding.
The custom originated in the 1980s and it is still practiced.
The history of the custom is rooted not necessarily for the provision of goods for the upcoming matrimonial home, but to provide goods and financial assistance to ensure the wedding may take place.
The custom of bridal shower is said to have grown out of earlier dowry practices, when a poor woman’s family might not have the money to provide a dowry for her or when a father refused to give his daughter her dowry because he did not approve of the marriage.
In such situations friends of the woman would gather together and bring gifts that would compensate for the dowry and allow her to marry the man of her choice.
In Zambia the bridal shower has wrongly been organised and thought of as a kitchen party. A bridal shower is different from the kitchen party. A bridal shower is the same as a meet the bride party.
This is a party hosted in honour of the bride for guests to meet the latest bride in town, share some insights and help her financially or materially to plan her memorable wedding.
Meet the bride party is held some months before the kitchen party and it is a function which helps the bride mingle in a good way of course.
She can find out from those who had kitchen parties or wedding ceremonies before how they organised there functions.
Combining colour schemes and themes can also be discussed and a lot of ideas from the guests which can be beneficial to the planning of the kitchen party or wedding for the bride.
Many brides are having stressful wedding all because the people around them do not want to help the brides.
What many fail to understand is that the bride and groom’s vision for their wedding which includes theme, scheme, venue, number of bridal party has to be put into consideration.
She might not be the one footing the entire kitchen party or wedding budget but her wishes must be respected. It is her wedding after all and she will leave to love the wedding photos. A wedding comes once but the memories are for life.
Meet the bride party is all about women having fun and sharing their knowledge on how to plan a kitchen party or wedding.
The bride sits among the invited guests but on the front row table or a simple head table can be put, this is optional.
Meet the bride party or bridal shower men are typically not allowed at these functions but it is a pity that recently more men have been attending.
The camera crew, catering, DJ consists of men and yet we have women who are capable of doing such tasks.
When choosing a theme for the ‘meet the bride’ party select one that reflects the personality and interest of the bride. We all have favourite colours that reflect what we love and how we love to do things.
Palette colours usually work well with such a function because even the time when it is held is conducive for such sweet colours.
Some brides are organising their kitchen parties just like they would have organised their ‘meet the bride’ party if given a chance to hold one.
Kitchen parties are being organised with palette colours scheme and theme which works well for a meet the bride party. The décor and invitation cards carrying a palette scheme then guests are being allowed to buy any type of gifts regardless of the colours.
Kitchen party’s main purpose is to educate the bride and to give practical advice and gifts for the new bride to set up her home with all the basic necessities required in the kitchen.
Kitchen parties are slowly turning into home parties as we are seeing sofas and wardrobes brought it as gifts.
Palette colours are working out well for kitchen parties as invited guests are given a chance to think outside the box and but anything they believe will help the bride start her new home.
Natasha had her palette kitchen party scheme by combining purple and pink. Pink was the colour for the invitation cards and her attire was purple and pink.
Her attire was perfectly made for her body shape and the fabric choose was suitable for such a theme.
Pink is a positive colour inspiring warmth and comforting feeling while purple is a colour of royalty.  Combining pink and purple will add strength and sophistication to the theme.
This is a colour theme where a crowd is not advisable but only a reasonable number of invited guests.
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