The best time to have a bridal shower and how to make it a successful event.
If you’re engaged to be married you are probably already excited about your upcoming nuptials. You may even be secretly hoping that someone hosts a bridal shower for you. But exactly when do you have the bridal shower and what are other things that should be considered in order to make the bridal shower successful?
Let’s explore when is the best time to schedule a bridal shower and also look at things that should be done to make it unforgettable.
After attending numerous bridal showers over the years, there are several reoccurring features at all most every shower. The food. The games. The gifts. But there’s so much more that should be taken into consideration.
Before we look at how to plan for a bridal shower, let’s take a step back and look at where the tradition originated in the first place.
History behind bridal showers
It is believed that the custom of bridal showers began somewhere in the 16th century. Bridal showers were hosted to help brides whose families did not have a dowry in place for her, or for brides whose father refused to pay a dowry. The purpose of the bridal shower has always been to help the bride begin a new life with some type of support.
Later in the late 1800s, bridal showers started showing up in the United States and were mainly hosted for middle-class brides.
Bridal showers today
Today, it is common for bridal showers to basically consist of a group of friends who gather together for finger-foods, play bridal games, give gifts to the bride-to-be, and enjoy other forms of entertainment. The event general lasts several hours
When is the best time to hold a shower?
According to the advisors at the Emily Post Institute, a family run business based on the principles taught by the infamous etiquette expert Emily Post, the best time to plan a bridal shower is anytime between two months to two weeks before the wedding. The most important thing to consider before having a bridal shower is making sure that the wedding plans are firm.
Bridal shower invitations
Ideally, each invited guest should receive their own personal invitation. If a bride has a gift registry established, it is appropriate to include this information in the bridal shower invitation, if desired.
Today hosts have several options when sending an invitation. They can drop an invitation in the mailbox, or for those who are eco-friendly, an electric invitation can be e-mailed or text to guests. There are many online bridal invitation applications and tools that offer an array of options.
Can a bride-to-be have more than one bridal shower?
It is not uncommon for a bride to have multiple bridal showers. Perhaps the bride has a shower hosted by a family member and another that is hosted by a co-worker. This is totally acceptable. Each shower event just shows the bride how much she is appreciated by her family, friends, and acquaintances.
Who should host a bridal shower?
It is customary that the maid-of-honor or matron-of-honor host the bridal shower, but this is not set in stone. Anyone wishing to throw a shower for the bride-to-be can do so especially if someone sees that the bride and her partner can generally benefit from it. This is probably even more true for a young bride who is just leaving home for the first time and has not established herself, especially if her spouse-to-be is just venturing off on his own as well.
Themed bridal showers
Now, here is where the host and bride’s creative juices come alive. You don’t have to stick with the traditional classic bridal shower, but you can be creative and explore countless themes based on personal preference. Here are a couple of ideas to chew on.
Champagne Brunch
Have your guests sip on a mimosa while indulging on fresh fruits, cheese, and scones. Add a crescent roll souffle, a strawberry cream cheese crepe, and mini waffles drizzled with hot maple syrup and let the party begin.
Make It a White Party
Encourage all of your guests to wear white for an afternoon of fashion and flair. This coupled with a room of white accessories makes for great conversation and camaraderie.
Have a Garden Party
So, you don’t have a garden? Make it a backyard party instead and buy a plant. Seriously, backyard or garden parties can be convenient and comfortably casual. The host can transform their backyard with beautiful outdoor accessories to give it a garden party feel. To spice it up, add some BBQ with all of the fixings coupled with a beverage station stocked with refreshing drinks.
Have a Tea Party
Remember those days as a little girl playing with your tea kettle and dainty miniature teacup? Well, you can experience that feeling again but this time you can actually have real tea (or coffee if you prefer). Set up an array of tea flavors served with tea cakes (or crumpets) for a more British-like feel. Make it even more authentic by inviting your guest to wear a fashionable dress hat and it will transform you back to the days in England.
Pajama Party
If you are looking for loads of laughs and fun, have your host throw a pajama party. Just invite your closest girlfriends to an old-fashioned slumber party and a night filled with fun, food and a lifetime of memories.
Dinner Party
Invite friends to a local restaurant to have appetizers and drinks or a full chorus dinner at local restaurant. This option is a turnkey solution for the host who doesn’t want the bother of planning, prepping and decorating. However, there is one thing to keep in mind. If the bridal shower is at a restaurant, the guests should not be expected to pay for their meals. If you do decide that the guests pay for their own meals and drinks, they should be informed about this in the invitation so that this will not be a surprise. It is however considered to be proper etiquette to have the host pay for the shower expense.
Have an ice cream social
Get some waffle cones, flavored ice cream, along with your favorite beverage and just have an ice cream social with friends.
At the movies
Contact a local theater to inquire if they have an event space to have your bridal shower at the venue followed by a group viewing of a movie at the theater.
Have an outdoor movie or a home theater movie
If you would prefer a homey feel, hook up a projector and make it a movie night. Whether is a big screen inside of the home or a video projector in the back yard, the evening can be a night of cinematic fun. To add a little twist, have the décor take on a Hollywood theme.
Spa Night with the Girls
Sit back and say, ahh. Invite a group of friends over for a night of celebration, wine, and pampering. A night filled with massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, and makeovers. Hire a professional service provider and wow your guests. This is the type of shower that everyone can benefit from.
Couples Shower Any One?
Known as Jack and Jill showers, this type of shower is gaining in popularity. Both the bride and groom jointly have a shower in which guests are invited to celebrate their upcoming date. This is a great alternative for couples who share the same group of friends or brides that have a ton of male friends. This type of shower is usually attended by both male and female guests and have a more casual party vibe. Get a couple of dozen BBQ hot wings, taco bar, pizza buffet, and a bar with blended drinks, soda and beer and you are in business.
Who should be invited to the wedding shower?
Some experts say that the mother of the bride and groom should be invited to the shower along with the couple’s sisters and/or brothers if it is a coed mixed shower. As the bride and honoree, even though this is your time to get excited and want to celebrate with all of your friends and family, it is recommended that you be mindful of your host and try to stay within their budget. It’s easy to get carried away with a wish-list, especially if you are not flipping the bill. According to some reports, the wedding shower could range from $10 per person for simple showers to upwards of over $100 for more elaborate showers. Depending on whether the host purchases favors for the guests or buys gifts for the bridal shower game winners, the expenses could climb. This is just a little something to keep in mind.
After the bridal shower
After all of the bridal shower festivities are over, it is important that the bride follows up with guests by sending them a personal thank you note for participating in the shower. This is a great way for the guest to know that they are appreciated.
