I have to admit, I don’t always enjoy bridal showers. I like to visit with family and friends, and I’m all over that snacks-and-presents-and-favors thing. It’s when we get to the bridal shower games that I start to squirm.

Maybe I’m not the only one who’s experienced some truly cringe-worthy bridal shower games? While I love the idea of the Naughty-and-Nice theme, too much emphasis on the naughty puts us squarely in bachelorette party territory—and would you want your mom (or mom-in-law) at your bachelorette party? Selecting bridal shower games for everyone is especially important if you’re planning a shower with guests of all ages or from different backgrounds.

“You Complete Me.

Anyone who has seen Jerry Maguire has quoted this line–and even those who haven’t seen the movie know what it’s from. Every generation has their love stories, and every big screen romance has its quotable quote. Why not see how many of your guests can match those quotes with their movies? Each guest list will require slightly different movie quotes; include movies from any decade that you think your guests would remember. We thought of some memorable love stories and then Googled the titles with the word “quotes.” So for example, a search for “Love Story quotes” gives us this entry from imdb.com. It includes that famous line: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Here are more from AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movie Quotes. And here are some of our favorites:

“I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” Harry Burns in When Harry Met Sally

“You had me at ‘hello’.” Dorothy in Jerry Maguire

“No, I don’t think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That’s what’s wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.” Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind

“The odd thing about this form of communication is that you’re more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings.” Kathleen Kelly in You’ve Got Mail

“What I really want to do with my life – what I want to do for a living – is I want to be with your daughter. I’m good at it.” Lloyd Dobler in Say Anything

“Here’s looking at you, kid.” Rick Blaine in Casablanca

“Beautiful Aurelia, I’ve come here with a view of asking you to marriage me. I know I seems an insane person – because I hardly knows you – but sometimes things are so transparency, they don’t need evidential proof.” Jamie in Love, Actually

“After all… I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” Anna Scott in Notting Hill

“Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me… Aren’t you?” Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate

Brainstorm your own list of movies and find quotes to go with them. Once you have your list, there are different ways you could play this game. Make a list of quotes and a list of movies and create a matching game for your guests. Or make a list of quotes and see how many can come up with the corresponding movies. Guests can match them on their own, or can team up with other guests to complete the lists (a great way to talk with those folks you’ve never met). You could even set it up with teams like a game show–this is totally up to you! Choose some easier quotes that everyone will know, and include a few of the less famous quotes to make it challenging. And of course, you’ll need to reward the winners with prizes!

What is your favorite romantic movie? Which do you think has the most quotable quotes?

photo from istockphoto.com