Bridal Shower Ideas, Themes, & Etiquette

Articles / / Bridal Shower Ideas, Themes, & Etiquette

You have probably heard about how much fun a bridal shower is and you may even have had the pleasure of attending a few of these. While the girls have some fun, the guys are kept on the outside wondering what they really are missing out on. If you have never been to a bridal shower and have one coming up, there is nothing to be worried about. These are nothing more than one big party where all of the girls get together before the actual wedding. If you are the one that is going to be hosting the bridal shower, there may be a few more details for you to keep in mind. Again, this is not to scare you, as a bridal shower is supposed to be fun, so regardless of who is planning it, as long as having a good time is kept in mind no problems should arise.

The first thing that you must do for a bridal shower is determine who you are going to invite. Traditionally, bridal showers are only for women. Guests should include the bride, family, friends, honor attendant, and wedding attendants. Also, if you do not plan on inviting someone to the wedding do not invite her to the bridal shower. They will more than likely give you a gift at the bridal shower, but will not get anything in return such as an invitation to the wedding.

Speaking of invitations, they are not absolutely necessary when throwing a bridal shower, but they can make the entire process a bit easier. Not only will they remind people of the occasion, but you can also toss in some directions to the party for good measure, helping reduce the workload in that department.

Traditionally speaking, bridal showers are thrown by the honor attendant. In addition, tradition also states that a relative should not be responsible for giving the bridal shower. But this is no longer the truth in today's day and age. What if your honor attendant is related to you? Of course it's perfectly fine for her to host it. If your attendant lives far away from you another female friend or relative can always host the event. With more and more circumstances arising such as finances and location, it is no longer thought that the honor attendant has to throw the bridal shower. If for some reason they are unable to do it, it is perfectly acceptable for other wedding attendants, friends, and family to help out.

When it comes to the location of the bridal shower, this is really up to the person who is throwing the party. In the past, the majority of bridal showers took place at somebody's home, often the honor attendant's home. But in recent years, more and more bridal showers are taking place in public places - bars, restaurants, and even parks. The main advantage of having a bridal shower at a restaurant or bar is that you will not have to worry about making food for all of the guests. Even though you may have to spend a bit more money renting out a room, you will save some money and time by not having to cook for everyone. The clean up duties get left to somebody else too, an added bonus, especially if you have to put 50 or so people in one home, things can get a bit messy.

The hostess of the bridal shower is responsible for giving out duties to other people who will be in attendance. The bridal shower can be a big deal and trying to take it on without assistance can be very difficult. By delegating the responsibilities, the party will go much smoother and no one person will feel overwhelmed with the task at hand.

There are no rules about when a bridal shower can take place. The only thing to remember is that it should happen after the engagement party, and before the bachelorette party, and obviously before the wedding. It is usually best to have the bridal shower early on because the closer the wedding gets the more bogged down everybody will be with additional tasks. As far as the time of the bridal shower, it can take place morning, afternoon, or night. This is up to the discretion of the host based on the style of the party itself and the time that best suits the guests.

A bridal shower gives the bride some time to communicate and bond with her friends and family. Even though some people skip this step due to financial restraints, they may regret it down the line. It is a great way for all of the women to get together and talk about the past, present, and future. Themed bridal showers are becoming more popular by the year, and they can definitely add to the overall appeal of the party.

And for the bride, she will receive gifts from all of the guests. Even though they are not a necessity, it is always nice to get some gifts that can be useful for either before or after the wedding.

Overall, a bridal shower is a great event. It is a time for the female members of the wedding to get together in a laid back, no stress fashion.

Save & Share This Article [What's This?]

Advertise here