bridal shower

How to plan a bridal shower?

To properly honour the bride-to-be, nothing beats a wedding shower. It's the first chance many guests at the wedding will have to mingle with those on the other side of the family tree, and it's also an occasion to dress to the nines.

This is your one-stop shop for all things related to the arranging of a wedding shower. If you're throwing a wedding shower for the first time or are a seasoned pro looking for some last-minute tips, this book has you covered.

The wedding shower is a party that is both celebratory and useful. The purpose of a bridal shower is to help a newlywed couple start their life together by presenting them with useful household items.

The real point of a bridal shower, though, is for the bride's loved ones to have a chance to relax and spend time with her prior to the stress of the wedding day.

The reception is a time for friends and family to celebrate the bride and offer their love and best wishes.

Remember that the bride is the day's royal guest, and don't do anything to make her feel unwelcome in your preparations.

You want to know the best way to organise a bridal shower. The bride's closest girlfriends or relatives often throw this party before the wedding. A wedding shower can be either all-female or co-ed and can focus on any topic the hosts like.

It is your responsibility as the bride's friend to give her a memorable bridal shower.

Stuck for Hens ideas? We’ve got you covered. Check out our extensive list of Hens Party Ideas for your bestie.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

While no one bridal shower is the same as the next, there are three main events that traditionally take place in the following order: eating a meal, playing games, and opening gifts. Most of the time, these events take place one at a time, but there are some instances in which there may be some overlap.

What do you do at a bridal shower? Most bridal shower guests spend time mingling, eating, playing games, and honoring the bride-to-be. As a guest, you'll want to remember the celebration is all about the bride and her special day ahead, so most activities during the day will reflect this.

An intimate bridal shower for 15 people is perfectly normal, as is a 50-person coed shower that feels more like a cocktail party. A variety of factors can influence the size of the guest list, such as: the shower location. whether it's the only shower being thrown.

The cost of the shower is covered by the hosts. If the bridal party is hosting, they should split the cost amongst themselves. If a relative offers to serve as hostess, she will take on the costs—but bridesmaids should offer to chip in, either with money or by lending a hand.

Often, the maid of honor and her fellow bridesmaids throw the bridal shower and pay for it, and the mother of the bride contributes. With this model, the bridal party pays for the bridal shower for the most part and split the price, but the parents of the bride may contribute some part of the expenses.

The Essentials of Throwing a Successful Bridal Shower

Make a Plan For Your Financial Future

Preparing a wedding shower budget is the initial stage in throwing a successful party. Keep in mind that this does not have to be a one-woman show; with the help of a few of the bride-to-closest be's friends and family members, you can throw a memorable party without breaking the budget.

Know your audience and avoid pressuring them beyond their financial means by bearing in mind that certain individuals have more or less than others. One suggestion is to maintain all of this information in a group conversation or mail topic so that everyone is on the same page.

Set a Time And Place For The Event

It's customary to host the bridal shower three months prior to the wedding. Calling or emailing potential guests to offer a couple different dates is a good way to ensure that everyone interested in attending may do so. If two dates are equally good, pick the one where more people can attend.

Put Together a List of Invitees

Creating a guest list is the following step. Before you begin addressing invites, you may want to run the list by the bride to ensure that everyone who is invited to this party is also on the invitee list for the wedding itself.

You may also enquire as to her prefered mode of bathing, should the need arise. She might rather have a small family dinner with her best girlfriends than the huge coed celebration you've always imagined throwing.

Pick Your Spot

The site can be selected when the date, guest list, and budget have all been finalised. If money is no object, a fancy restaurant and country club are two classy places to go. In order to save money, you might have the party in one of the hosts' or hosts' friends' homes and simply decorate the space.

Decide on a Topic For The Bride-To-Be’s Celebration

Themed bridal showers aren't required, but they are fun additions. When nothing springs to mind, try riffing on the future bride's interests. Is her interest in camping genuine? Maybe have a barbeque and beer party in the backyard.

Is her interest in Italian food fervent? Plan a pizza party for yourself. You and your co-hosts can come up with something absolutely outstanding by engaging in a brainstorming session.

Prepare Invites For The Bridal Shower

Your invitees will appreciate being given at least two months' notice to prepare their schedules. The most time-consuming and formal approach is to mail out invitations to a wedding shower.

On the other hand, if you're attempting to save money, email will suffice (remember to follow up, as it may end up in a spam folder).

Include the couple's present registry information; some stores will even provide registry alert cards that can be tucked into the invitation. Use the guest list planner to keep track of everyone's mailing and email addresses and follow our advice on how to word your wedding shower invitations.

Make a Decision Regarding The Type of Catering You Wish To Have

The number of expected guests will play a role in establishing the menu's framework. A complete supper is a great choice for a small gathering. If your party will have more than 10 guests, however, finger foods and cocktail fare may be more appropriate. It will help you save money and reduce the number of dirty dishes you have to wash.

Prep The Libationary

Champagne, cocktails, and mocktails should be readily available. Make a special cocktail for the party out of the couple's favourite flavours if you really want to wow her.

Start Putting Up Decorations

Get the party area decked out before guests arrive. To give it personality without maxing out your credit or debit card, just pick up a few unique accessories.

should be a few themed decorative pieces around the room. Perhaps your party has a French flavour?

Decorate the space with pastel ribbons and bunting to make it feel like a bakery. Want to add some bohemian flair to your life? You might use geodes, crystals, and throw cushions as seats at your location. Use our recommended bridal shower music to create the perfect atmosphere.

Organize Some Fun Games For The Bridal Shower

Planning some entertaining games in advance might help you avoid boredom and stillness. Do not think that this calls for the use of board games like UNO, Operation, or Monopoly; rather, it encourages you to think outside the box.

Your guests will have a blast participating in the Newly married Game, Bride Pictionary, Bridal Bingo, and Vow Mad Libs. In addition to being a great conversation starter, this will help your guests feel more at ease.

Organize a Place to Put The Presents

Bridal showers, in contrast to engagement parties, typically entail exchanging presents. Gifts are more likely to remain intact and undamaged if they are placed on a special table before the party begins. Keep a tally of the gifts and their givers for when it's time to hand out thank-you notes to the happy couple's guests.

Make a Bouquet Out of Ribbons.

As the bride opens each present, gather the ribbons to make a bouquet. During the wedding rehearsal, this is utilised in place of a genuine bouquet. It's a great way to have some fun while still reminding the bride of her special day.

Get The Champagne And Toast Ready

Guests should be thanked for attending and the bride should be toasted as she nears the end of her bachelorette party. Don't feel like you have to fill it with quotes and anecdotes; keep it simple.

Send a Token of Appreciation To Your Guests

After all, a wedding shower wouldn't be complete without some sort of take-home gift for the guests. Just anything small to mark the occasion would be appreciated. When money is tight, it's a good time to showcase your handyman talents. Produce baked goods, jewelry, or thank-you notes from scratch and give them as gifts to your visitors. 

Earlier Than Three Months From Now

  • Have a word with the bride. Should it be entirely female or mixed gender? What would you rather do on a Saturday night, have tea and cake or a party? Is there something specific she'd like for her bridal shower? Can you guess if she'd rather meet in a lively restaurant, a quaint tea shop, her grandparents' patio, a spa, or your apartment? Even though you'll be making most of the decisions for the wedding shower, it's still a good idea to ask her opinion on what she'd like to see.
  • Plan the wedding and try to have it a couple of months in advance. Hold off if several of the bridesmaids and key guests can't get together until the last few days before the wedding.
  • Make the necessary bookings as soon as possible if the wedding shower will be held at a tea salon, special dining room, restaurant, or nightclub.
  • Build the bridal shower guest list. Not only that, but remember that whoever you invite to the showers should also be invited to the ceremony.

In The Two Months Prior To

  • Make sure that all of your special guests can make it by calling or sending a "save the date" email to find out if they have any conflicts.
  • Call out of town visitors to let them know they are still welcome to attend.
  • Discuss a spending cap with the bridesmaids.
  • Get or make invites for a bridal shower. (Here's a hint: Minted is where you can go to quickly and easily purchase aesthetically pleasing invitations online.)
  • Gather everyone together for a final discussion and decision making on the event's theme, table settings, flowers, meal, decorations, favours, music, and activities.
  • Specialty baked goods and catering can be ordered, and linen and other equipment can be rented from a service.
  • Gather contact information for the invited people.
  • Construct a comprehensive list of things to complete and divide up the work.

Just One Month Ago

  • Make invitations and send them off. Specify the location of the couple's registries. Also, make sure guests know what to bring to the party based on the theme.
  • Invitations sent through the mail.
  • Get party supplies like paper goods, decorations, and more.
  • Pay for favours.
  • Invitees who have provided sweets or other refreshments should be contacted by phone or email to confirm their contributions.

Twice (or More) Months Prior to The Event

  • Get the floral order in now.
  • Get the bride a present for her shower.
  • Produce a list of what must be purchased for the party's refreshments. Stock up on any unusual ingredients you need.
  • If you plan on mixing cocktails, you'll need to buy some liquor.
  • Gather up any borrowed items, such as hampers, CDs, cake stand, sound equipment, and serving utensils, from friends and neighbours.
  • A Foretelling of the Future, One Week Prior
  • Verify your bookings immediately.
  • Reconfirm orders and expected arrival times.
  • Get everyone's RSVPs confirmed.
  • Make favours and package them as gifts.
  • Put some money aside for groceries.
  • Make a rough sketch of the room in your head to help with the decorating and the setting up.
  • Set up some fun activities for the shower.

A Day Earlier

  • You should get ready in advance the dishes that can be served during the meal (or just do prep work).
  • Assemble party favours and decorations, prepare tables, and established equipment (s).
  • Get in touch with the bridesmaids to make sure everything goes smoothly on the big day.
  • Finish up whatever errands you need to at the last minute.

Things To Consider When Organizing a Bridal Shower

Who Foots the Bill?

Whoever organises the gathering is on the hook for all associated expenses. Attendees are not asked to chip in for the meal costs, but they are welcome to bring gifts in lieu of cash.

When Does One Traditionally Host a Shower For a Bride-To-Be?

The ideal time is between two and eight weeks before the wedding. Still, most people prefer to go on a Sunday or Saturday, though attendance is welcome at any time of day.

 A late breakfast, a leisurely lunch, or an early supper are all acceptable choices.

As Soon As Possible, Please.

Get started on preparations at least 3 months before it happens to maintain your sanity.

Exactly Where Does One Hold a Bridal Shower?

The location of the shower is not important. Locations including eateries, breweries, banquet halls, vineyards, spas, and even local, regional, or national parks are all possibilities.

Just Who Is Invited Exactly?

The women in the bridal party, the women in the bridegroom's family and extended family (mothers, grandmothers, sisters, cousins), and good friends all participate in the shower. 

Jack and Jill showers, which include the groom and the couple's closest male friends, have replaced the traditional all-female guest list. 

In general, if someone is asked to a shower, they should also be invited to the wedding.

bridal shower

When Will Guests Be Invited?

6 to 8 weeks before the baby shower, send out invitations (by mail or email).

How Long Do You Typically Keep The Bridal Shower Going For?

A range of between 2 to 4 hours. How long it lasts is contingent upon the number of guests and the complexity of the event's preparations.

When Do Bridal Showers Take Place and What Do They Entail?

Gifts that aid the happy couple get their new life started are exchanged as guests toast their approaching wedding. 

There will be food, drinks, and plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" as guests watch the bride tear open her gifts. 

Games as well as other activities, including such wine plus painting or a day at the spa, are common features of bridal showers. 

If you're capable of designing plans, you get to direct how people spend their time.

Ought a Whole Dinner Should Be Served?

No. You need to supply meals, but it doesn't have to be anything fancy. However, a lavish, multi-course supper is possible for those who have the time and resources to prepare it. 

What Is The Best Way to Keep Tally of The Bridal Shower Presents?

Appoint one of the bridesmaids or another reliable guest to keep track of the names and amounts of the gifts. It's now a lot less of a hassle to write and send out gratitude notes. 

All she needs to do is compose the messages and put them in the post if you get "thank you" cards, copy or write down addresses just on an envelope, then affix a stamp.

A wedding shower is traditionally held for the girl, her mates, and the bride's female relatives on both sides of her family, including grandparents, uncles, and cousins. 

Mixing eating (either a formal meal or informal hors d'oeuvres), games, and socialising are typical party activities. 

The bride is showered with gifts from the guests, most of which come from the couple's register. 

The bride-to-be often inspires the party's theme, which might range from a tropical island luau to a more traditional tea party.

Conclusion

A wedding shower is thrown to give the bride and groom a leg up on their married life. This pre-wedding celebration is typically thrown by the bride's closest pals or family members.

It's up to the hosts to decide whether or not to have a gender-specific or mixed bridal shower.

The bridal shower is traditionally held three months before the wedding. An excellent strategy to make sure everyone who wants to come can is to call or email them with a few different date options.

Sending out invites by mail is the most formal and time-consuming option for a wedding shower. The foundation of the menu will be based on the anticipated number of diners.

While a full dinner is ideal for larger gatherings, finger appetisers and cocktail fare may be more fitting for a more intimate gathering. To combat the monotony and silence, prepare some fun games in preparation. Guests at a wedding shower should be given a memento of the occasion to remember the occasion by.

Don't try to stuff it full of quotes and anecdotes; keep it concise. Showing off your handyman skills is a great way to earn some extra cash during hard times.

To facilitate the furnishing and adorning, visualise the room's layout mentally. Collect any borrowed things from friends and neighbours, such as hampers, CDs, sound equipment, and service dishes.

Two to eight weeks before the wedding is optimal. The custom of inviting just women to a bridal shower has given way to Jack and Jill events, which now include inviting the groom and his closest male friends.

The ribbon bouquet given to the bride-to-be at her shower is more than just a pretty keepsake or a box to be checked off. A wedding shower is an event typically given for the bride, her female friends and family members.

It is common practise to combine the eating (either a full dinner or light snacks) and the playing of games during a party. The party's theme is usually chosen by the bride, who may want a luau on a tropical island or a sophisticated tea party.

Content Summary

  • Celebration and practicality come together during the wedding shower.
  • You're looking for advice on how to have a perfect bridal shower.
  • This pre-wedding celebration is typically thrown by the bride's closest pals or family members.
  • As the bride's friend, it falls on you to throw her a spectacular bridal shower.
  • Establishing a spending plan is the first step towards hosting a memorable bridal shower.
  • It's important to remember that you don't have to do everything on your own; with the aid of the bride-to-close be's friends and family, you can host an amazing party without breaking the bank.
  • The bridal shower is traditionally held three months before the wedding.
  • Create an invitees list.
  • To make sure that everyone who is invited to this party is also on the invitee list for the wedding itself, you may wish to run the list by the bride before you start addressing invites.
  • Get together with your friends and order pizza for a pizza party.
  • The foundation of the menu will be based on the anticipated number of diners.
  • Finger appetisers and drink fare may be more appropriate if you'll be hosting more than 10 guests.
  • If you want to wow her, you should make a customised cocktail for the occasion using the couple's favourite flavours.
  • Prepare the venue by hanging decorations before any guests arrive.
  • To create the atmosphere of a bakery, hang pastel ribbons and bunting from the ceiling.
  • To set the tone for the perfect bridal shower, listen to the songs we've chosen for you.
  • Avoid boredom and stillness by planning some amusing games in advance for the bridal shower.
  • Help the newlyweds prepare their thank-you notes by keeping track of who gave what and when.
  • Create homemade treats, jewellery, or thank-you letters to give to your guests.
  • You should still ask the bride for input on the wedding shower, even if you'll be the one making the majority of the selections.
  • Plan the wedding and try to have it a couple of months in advance.
  • Gather names for the wedding shower invite list.
  • Talk to your maids of honour about setting a budget.
  • Get or make invites for a bridal shower. 
  • Gather contact information for the invited people.
  • Make sure guests know what to bring to the party based on the theme.
  • Get the bride a present for her shower.
  • Produce a list of what must be purchased for the party's refreshments.
  • To facilitate the furnishing and adorning, visualise the room's layout mentally.
  • Set up some fun activities for the shower.
  • Guests are expected to bring a present to the bridal shower, unlike engagement parties.
  • The bridal shower ribbon bouquet serves a more practical use than just a decorative memento or checklist item; the bride traditionally uses it to walk down the aisle at the wedding rehearsal.
  • 6 to 8 weeks before the baby shower, send out invitations (by mail or email). 
  • How long it lasts is contingent upon the number of guests and the complexity of the event's preparations.
  • Appoint one of the bridesmaids or another reliable guest to keep track of the names and amounts of the gifts.
  • A wedding shower is traditionally held for the girl, her mates, and the bride's female relatives on both sides of her family, including grandparents, uncles, and cousins.
  • The bride is showered with gifts from the guests, most of which come from the couple's register.
  • The bride-to-be often inspires the party's theme, which might range from a tropical island luau to a more traditional tea party.

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