Photo Credit: www.jessicaclaire.net
As much as we love attending bridal showers, do you know how much stuff goes on behind the scene? Finding the location / venue that will accommodate the number of guests; picking the perfect date that will be suitable for the bride and the guests; decoration; food; invitation; party favors; and most importantly what does the bride want for a bridal shower. It doesn’t help if the bride says “i don’t know” or “it doesn’t matter”. It’ll be nice for the bride to tell the Maid of Honor or whoever is planning the shower what kind of stuff the bride wants to do. But if you do encounter a bride who has no opinion or is too busy with other wedding stuff and has no time to think, and who’s going to pay for this big event? If all these thoughts apply to you, well then hopefully this Q/A post will help!
Who should plan the bridal shower?
Traditionally it’s the Maid of Honor’s (MOH) responsibility to organize the bridal shower and the bridesmaids to help the MOH. But nowadays, I’ve seen other close friends / family members of the bride help plan a bridal shower. Or even have multiple bridal showers: a close cousin or any relative may host one for immediate family only; a co-worker may host one for the bride with other co-workers; and a close friend may host one for close friends only, and the list goes on. Some times it’s better that way because you won’t have to worry about who pays for what. Because it’s separated in different groups, they can coordinate on their own. Less stress for the MOH, in my opinion.
When do you have your bridal shower?
One to two months before the wedding date is good. Don’t try to have less than a month before the wedding - it’ll be hard for the bride since she’ll be busy with the wedding stuff. Just make sure that the bride can make it since it’s a bridal shower FOR the bride. And once you know the date, let the guests know as soon as possible so that they can arrange their schedule.
Who should be invited to the bridal shower?
Aside from the MOH and the bridesmaids, the following should be invited to the bridal shower: grandmothers of the bride & groom, the mother of the bride & groom, sisters of the bride & groom, any close relatives of the bride, and close friends. (i would suggest you ask the bride who she wants to invite). Remember, it is rude to invite someone to the bridal shower but not to the wedding day.
Are men allowed to the bridal shower?
Traditionally, no.
Where should the bridal shower be located?
This will depends on your budget and availability if you’re looking into a venue. You may also want to consider if you want decoration / party supplies for the bridal shower (sometimes keeping it simple is just as good, no need to go all crazy w/ the decorations). If you’re in a tight budget, don’t have it in a restaurant or in a big venue. Nowadays, many bridal showers are held at someone’s house and finger foods are being served. I also know a few friends who had their bridal shower at a park and they did a picnic thing.
Who pays for the bridal shower?
This should be decided before you organize it. Those hosting the event should pay. Now if the bride knows about it and she wants to have a wedding shower, the bride’s family can pay for it too. One rule for sure is that you don’t expect the guests to pay for anything at the shower; the food, tip, room rental, and any other expenses are the responsibility of the hostess and bridesmaids.
Should it be a surprise?
This is optional. If you do make it a surprise, make sure you get that list of who the bride wants to see. And make sure that you have a convenient date and time for the bride-to-be.
How long should the shower last?
The shower usually last 2-4hours.
Are favors necessary?
No. Favors are mementos. It’s nice to have it to give it out, but it’s not required.
What are bridal shower gifts?
Bridal shower gifts doesn’t replace wedding gifts. Gifts for bridal shower are usually less expensive than wedding gifts. If you’re close friends w/ the bride, you can give out gag gifts. I had a friend who attended a bridal shower and she gave the bride dishwasher detergent, mop, and gloves just to remind her that she’ll start doing all the cleaning now that she’s someone’s wife. Some would give out sexy lingeries. So it’s up to you. Unless they have a gift registry, then I guess you can get something from the registry.
When should I sent the bridal shower invitation? and what information should I include?
In order to give the people a chance to get time off or arrange their schedule, you should send the invitation one month before the event. The invitation should include:
- Bride’s Name
- Date & Time of the bridal shower (beginning and end time)
- Address where the shower will be held
- Name and contact info. of the hostess
- if there is one, Theme of the shower
- RSVP deadline
As my friend is planning his engagement party, he is starting to realized how hard it is to set the perfect date that will accommodate everyone’s schedule, getting people together, and making a reservation at the restaurant.
Recent Comments