Throwing a Bridal Shower

One of the most exciting (and fun!) pre-wedding events is the bridal shower. Many bridesmaids have never given a bridal shower before, so I have decided to dedicate this blog to the discussion of bridal shower etiquette and planning.

Who to invite:

It’s important to remember that anyone who is invited to the bridal shower must also be invited to the wedding. It’s typical to include:

-The Bride’s female friends
-The Bride’s female family members
-The Groom’s female friends
-The Groom’s female family members

Out of town guests should also be acknowledged with an invitation, even though it is unlikely they will attend.

The invitation:

Invitations should be sent one month in advance of the shower (and the shower should be planned for 1-2 months prior to the wedding). Invitations should include:

-Name of the bride-to-be
-Date of the Shower
-Time of the Shower, e.g. 2 PM – 5 PM (it is best to put both the beginning and end times on the invitation so that the guests can plan their day)
-Address where the shower is being held
-Name and phone number of the hostess/hostesses
-A deadline date for the RSVP (this is usually about two weeks prior to the shower date)
-Bridal Shower theme (if you choose to throw a themed shower)
-A map of the shower location
-It is also appropriate to include a small blurb about the bride’s registry in the invitation (assuming she has one)

The shower:

The maid-of-honor is typically charged with throwing the bridal shower, and is thus responsible for all costs associated with the shower. Therefore it is important that she make her budget clear in the beginning stages of the planning with the bride and other bridesmaids. It has also become common for all of the bridesmaids to share the cost of the shower with the maid-of-honor.

Bridal showers can be a socially tricky landscape to navigate, because most guests will likely not know each other. It’s important to get them talking as soon as possible to avoid discomfort for the guests. An easy way to break the ice is to ask guests to introduce themselves and explain how they know the bride. Name tags can also be handy, but can seem a bit corporate for a social affair.

Food and drink does not have to be served at the shower, but it is typical to at least offer appetizers at the shower. An easy way to decide what to serve is to create a theme for the shower, such as a High Tea shower where tea sandwiches, champagne, hot tea, fruit and small treats are served. The theme can be decided based on the bride’s personality or interests, and can be as creative as a BBQ themed shower where BBQ’d meats, beer, slaw and baked beans are served on a sunny day outdoors.

Games are not mandatory, but can be a great way to keep each guest involved in the shower. Prizes should be given for the winners of games. Party favors are not mandatory, but always appreciated.

Make sure one of the shower-givers makes note of each gift the bride is given and who gave it to her, as well as the gift-giver’s mailing address. The bride should mail thank you notes within 1 week of the shower.

The bridal shower should not only be fun for the guests, but also for the planners. Make sure to plan the shower so that it’s fun for the bride, her guests, and YOU!

Image courtesy of http://www.thedesignersden.com/Invitations/bridal_shower_invitations.htm