Unique bridal shower games.

Ok. We've all played Bridal Bingo, made several toilet paper brides and done that super annoying game where you can't say "bride" or "wedding" lest some kind of ring or token is taken from you. Here are some games I found that are one step above the rest.

Name Game
How to play: Before the shower, make a list of famous lovers (for example: Ricky & Lucy Ricardo, Marge & Homer, Aladdin & Jasmine). Write down names (one half of a pair) on labels, post-its, or sticky nametags. As the guests arrive, slap a tag to their back so that everyone else can see their name (no guest will know his or her own identity). Have guests mingle and mill about, posing yes-or-no questions to each other. Examples: "Am I a fictional character?" "Am I living?" Their mission is to a) determine who they are, and b) to pair up with their "other half." The game doesn't end until everyone finds his or her partner.

Celebrity
How to play: Split guests up into two teams. Each member of each team writes the names of 10-20 celebrities (whoever constitutes "famous" to your group; i.e., both Mom and Madonna are fair game) on separate strips of paper. Throw all the names into a hat and mix them around.

Round One:
Player 1 from Team A draws a name from the hat (example: Madonna), stands up, and tries to explain her celebrity pick to her teammates without actually saying "Madonna" (example: "Material Girl," "Like a Prayer," etc). If her teammates guess correctly, the slip of paper is put aside, and Player 2 draws a new name and goes on as before. Team A has one minute to get through as many names as possible. Then, Team B does the same thing (also for one minute). The two teams compete in this fashion until all the names are out of the hat. Each team records the number of names they guessed correctly (one point per name).

Round Two:
All of the strips of paper are thrown back into the hat. The play procedure is the same, except players may use only one word to communicate the celebrity name to their teammates (example: Material).

Round Three:
Proceed as in the previous two rounds, except now players must silently act out the celebrity names using gestures, poses, dances, etc. When all of the names have been expired, each team counts up their points from all three rounds -- the highest score wins.

Scattergories
How to play: Hand out pieces of grid paper to guests, with the bride's first name written out across the top margin (example: LIZ). The left margin should list several categories (for example: flowers, cities, restaurants, household products, colors, etc.) Each guest must then come up with words that a) fit each category, and b) start with the letters forming the bride's name, writing them in the corresponding grid square (example: lilac, iris, zinnia...). They should be allowed no more than five minutes to complete their grids. When time is called, each guest must read off what they wrote. If other guests have chosen the same words, the word gets disqualified. The goal is to acquire the greatest number of unique words. Award a prize to the winner.

Tip: This game can be both challenging and nerve-wracking, but that's part of the fun. Also, debates over the validity of certain words inevitably will arise -- the maid of honor may have to moderate. If the game is well received and the crowd wants to play another round, choose words like "WEDDING," "BRIDE", "MARRIAGE", and "GROOM."

Bridal Piñata
I know it’s not the most lady like thing to beat something with a stick, but it might be fun to fill the piñata things the bride would need for her wedding day and night. For example, condoms, lace garters, lip gloss, lotions, massage oils, ect. I guess the only trick would be selecting the appropriate piñata for your guests to massacre. Maybe a wedding cake? Or...a huge hamburger or donut...something the bride shouldn't necessarily be eating before the wedding.

>>References: The Knot & Bridalshower.com

There's got to be other good games out there. What are some creative shower games that you have played?