If you all have the means to do so be considerate of your guests' budgets , you can even have a destination bridal shower. Whether your hosts are inviting 18 guests or 80, "the invites should go out a month to six weeks in advance," says celebrity planner and lifestyle expert Mindy Weiss.
As for who makes the cut? Since showers are intended for the bride's nearest and dearest, every shower guest must already be on the wedding guest list. Because it's understood that guests should bring a present to a shower, it's not appropriate to invite people whom you don't plan to include in the wedding. One noted exception is an office shower; it's not usually possible to invite all of your colleagues to the wedding, but they may want to help you celebrate nonetheless.
Shower stationery trends run the gamut from sweet and simple to high-end. While there are no boundaries when it comes to selecting the stationery, the sending-it-out part is a little less flexible. We recommend snail mail only. That said, if a save-the-date seems necessary, an e-mail is still considered completely appropriate. For that, just turn to creative e-card sites like pingg. Guests who haven't met the lucky guy before often look forward to this part of the shower for that very reason.
Other rituals that have been passed down from older generations are still common. A popular one: making a bouquet out of the shower gifts' ribbons and bows and using it as a stand-in for the real one at the wedding rehearsal. Old-school traditions, such as having something old, new, borrowed, and blue on hand, are still favorites of today's brides as well. Creating a new tradition can add a layer of sentiment. Some ideas? Passing around old photos from the mother-of-the-bride's shower, or taking a snapshot with multiple generations of women.
If you're hosting a shower where many groups of people are invited—from the bride's childhood friends to the groom's aunts—games can help people get to know each other. If the bride has specifically requested no bridal shower games , ask a few stealth assistant hostesses to make a special effort to draw everyone into the conversation. If the bride thinks a few games would be fun, try a few designed to get people to talk about themselves.
By the time the shower invitations are sent, the bride should have already registered for gifts. While not necessary, providing the couple's registry information on shower invites is often welcomed by the recipient, who otherwise might not know where to start in terms of purchasing a gift for the party. Add a line like "Sarah and James are registered at Target and Macy's" at the end of the invite, after all other relevant details have been listed.
It may still be more convenient for the bride to travel to her shower if most of the guests live locally, instead of asking the entire guest list to hop on an airplane. The specific location depends on the type of shower and the host's budget. It could be in a friend or family member's home or backyard, at a local restaurant, or somewhere more specific if the shower has a theme such as a cooking school or a wine-tasting room.
No matter the selected date, make sure the bride has put together a wedding registry before the invitations are sent out so guests can purchase gifts. It doesn't have to, but it's a fun way to add some personality to the party.
Some of our favorite themes include a bridal tea party, a Disney-themed shower, or a Parisian-influenced affair. Not necessarily. The actual wedding registry can also function as a bridal shower registry. If, however, it's a lingerie shower, that would require a separate registry should the bride want to register for specific lingerie. As a bridal shower guest, it is in good etiquette to purchase a shower gift off the registry.
Plan an unforgettable bridal shower by checking off each of the following steps. The very first step to plan a bridal shower is to create a budget for the entire process. Consult with the bride to choose a date that works for her and fits the wedding timeline. Aim for a minimum of a couple of months before the wedding. Get a must-invite list from the bride and work with her as you create the full party guest list.
Have the bride double-check and approve the list before you send out invites. You may decide to opt-out of a bridal shower theme, but if the bride is a wine-lover or cooking connoisseur, you might consider choosing a theme that follows suit. This will guide your planning decisions for the rest of the process.
Often the host will offer their home to hold the bridal shower. If this isn't an option, see if another guest or co-planner has an available space. You can also choose a venue that correlates to the theme, like a spa or a winery, or you can host at a restaurant or hotel, or rent an Airbnb. Give guests as much notice as possible so they'll be able to attend the shower and purchase gifts.
This should be done about four to six weeks before the shower date, which means you should start looking for and purchasing invitations at least a few weeks prior to then. It's also a good idea to include a line on the RSVPs for guests to note any dietary restrictions. The food will depend on the shower's theme and time of day. Hosting a brunch affair? Stock up on mimosas and breakfast foods.
Whatever the menu, make sure it's something you know the bride will like and includes options for any food restrictions the guests note on their RSVPs. If you've hired a professional event designer, this part will be pretty breezy for you.
If you're decorating yourself, this is arguably one of the most fun steps in planning a bridal shower. Whether you're following a theme or not, think about what kinds of personal touches you can include for the bride. We love pretty floral and balloon installations—and don't forget a picture-perfect photo backdrop.
Games are a great way to break the ice when guests first arrive if they are not already acquainted with one another. With a lot of traditional shower games, there is no purchase necessary—just a bit of creativity!
If your budget allows, there are also tons of super fun shower games we love that are available on sites like Etsy. Get everyone in the party mood with a fun selection of music. Ask the bride to send some of her favorites she'd like included and mix in some love songs and upbeat tunes for background music.
Your Privacy Rights. One exception: when coworkers wish to throw an office shower for the bride even though they are not being invited to the wedding. Multiple showers are okay, but be sure to invite different guests to each party.
Generally, only close family and members of the wedding party may be invited to more than one shower. As a guest, if you're invited to more than one shower, you only need to bring a gift to the first one—and that goes for members of the wedding party, too. If you don't want to come to the second party empty-handed, you can always bring something inexpensive, such as a small bouquet, chocolates, or even some homemade goodies. Brides: if you have a guest in this position, it's nice to make a mention of their previous gift.
It's up to the host to decide the number of guests. A shower should be an intimate party—not a gathering that rivals the wedding—so the guest list is usually made up of the couple's close friends, family, and attendants.
The host usually consults the bride to be sure that shower guests are wedding guests. Showers for both the bride and the groom—called "Jack and Jill" showers—are popular these days, and showers for the groom only are a recent phenomenon. Couples' showers can be themed: examples include room of the house, hour of the day, gourmet cook, and great outdoors showers. Yes, it is fine for the hostess to include gift registry information with but not on the invitation.
If the bride has been married before, she may be given a shower.
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