Hosting a gay wedding shower is a wonderful way to share in the happiness of an engaged couple. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to wedding showers anymore--they can be adapted to fit the style of any couple, gay or straight. So have fun with it. Read on to learn how to host a gay wedding shower.
Choose a date in advance of the day of the wedding or commitment ceremony. Decide where to host it, such as at your house or the private room of a favorite restaurant. Settle on a theme, if you want to have one, and begin thinking about the menu.
Prepare the guest list with the help of the happy couple. Unlike traditional bridal showers that tend to be women only, plan a more modern "couple's shower" by inviting all of the couple's friends and families regardless of sex.
Encourage the engaged couple to register. In addition to the mainstream wedding registries at department and specialty stores, inform them about registering online with a network of gay-friendly vendors who will donate some of the proceeds to benefit the gay community, such as the Rainbow Wedding Network. See the Resources section for a link.
Purchase traditional invitations, or unique invitations featuring same-sex couples or variations on the rainbow theme, which are available on the Internet. Include registry information on the invitation. Send out invitations.
Prepare for any party games you want to include. Creating a bridal gown out of toilet paper can take on a tongue-in-cheek twist when performed on two brides, or better yet, two grooms. Adapt another common game--matching up the two names of famous historical or current couples--by heavily including famous gay couples.
Finalize the menu. Complete all of the shopping, decorating and cooking.
Enjoy the day of the shower. Ensure someone writes down a description of each gift the couple receives along with the name of the giver, to make it easier for the couple to write thank you notes later.