Wedding season is under way, and the first weekend in May is a busy one: Check out gown trunk shows, bridal-shower workshops, and a bridal showcase with winetasting and giveaways.

Friday, May 1, through Sunday, May 3: Pronovias trunk show at Distinctive Designs Bridal
Distinctive Designs Bridal (15709 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville; 301-948-1833) is offering brides 10 percent off any Pronovias gowns at its trunk show this weekend. The stylish and sleek gowns from the Spanish company have been featured in Spanish Vogue, InStyle Weddings, and Cosmopolitan Bride. Call ahead or e-mail the store at info@ddbridal.com to make an appointment during the store’s hours this weekend. Free by appointment, Friday and Sunday noon to 4, Saturday 10 to 4.

Sunday, May 3: Paper Source bridal-shower workshop
Need tips on throwing a perfect bridal shower? Paper Source in Georgetown (3019 M St., NW; 202-298-5545) is offering workshops for the crafty party host. Learn how to create stylish invitations and favors for a bridal or couple shower. $45; 10 to noon.

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My favorite magazine, Esquire, has a feature every month called What I’ve Learned. The article has one-liners and paragraph-long tips about life as told by a range of celebrities and other accomplished people. I’m stealing the format to share my tips about how to plan a bridal shower. I just finished planning Ducky’s, so I have a few tips:

• Plan early. So many things that go into a bridal shower are last-minute preparations. You wouldn’t want to bake a cake or buy a vegetable tray a week ahead of time. But don’t underestimate how long it can take to put together bridal-shower games, decorate the space, or order favors for the guests’ gift bags.

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There has been plenty of focus on my dress and the bridesmaids’ dresses, but little attention has been paid to what the handsome men in our wedding party will sport on the big day. Realizing that our planning days are numbered, I figured it was time to start playing dress-up with my future husband and his groomsmen. So, with bridesmaid Erin and her boyfriend (and groomsman) Mike in tow, Andrew and I headed to MW Tux to pick out their wedding-day ensemble.

Andrew is the love of my life, and he has superbly handled his role in the wedding-planning process with just the right amount of interest. This was one of the only elements that didn’t directly involve me, so my plan was to be the supportive fiancé and let him lead the charge on tuxedo decisions. But things didn’t go exactly according to my plan. When Andrew started referencing the lime-green suit from the movie Dumb and Dumber as his dream outfit, I knew a female intervention was necessary.