Top 10 Things Every Bride Needs to Know About Her Bridal Shower

A bridal shower is a lovely get together just before the wedding that honors the bride – and literally showers her with gifts! If you’re getting married, someone is likely planning one for you! While you don’t need to plan your own shower, it’s still important to know a bit about it – and you may even need to discreetly remind a loved one to throw one for you! But be careful – there might be a surprise shower already in the works!

10. Who Will Plan it? Traditionally, the Maid of Honor or Bridesmaids plan the Bridal Shower  or Wedding Shower, as it is also known. The family of the bride might also pitch in. Important details are usually run past the bride – unless it is a surprise shower!

9. Who Will Come? Whoever is planning the wedding shower usually knows the bride quite well and should be able to put together a fairly comprehensive guest list. It’s a great idea to run this list past a relative of the bride as well, to make sure you aren’t missing anyone! Then, show it to the bride for any final adjustments. Generally, only guests who have been invited to the wedding should be invited to the shower. However, in some special situations, this might not work. For example, if the wedding is extremely small (only family) a shower might be thrown for the brides’ friends to join in the fun as well. If the couple is planning to wed down South, a shower might be thrown for those who cannot travel with them. Or, someone in a bride’s workplace might throw a shower for officemates. Generally, showers are for the ladies only, but you can go ahead and invite men as well if you choose!

8. Who will Pay for It? Generally, the wedding shower is paid for by the Maid of Honor, or whomever is hosting. The bride’s family might pitch in as well, depending on circumstances. If money is tight, consider hosting a potluck or a picnic!

7. Where Will It Be? Showers are often hosted in a home of a friend, relative, or bridal attendant. If the weather is nice, why not make a day of it and head to the beach or a local park? Bakeries, cafes, and restaurants are also great spots to celebrate – just be sure to plan a budget in advance

6. Sending out the Invitations The shower is generally held about two months before the wedding – however, if lots of guests are coming in just for the wedding, you might choose to host it closer to the actual date! Send out invitations by mail (or online) about three weeks before the shower date.

5. Theme & Décor Whomever is planning the shower for you will choose a theme for your shower to give it an event feel, and let guests know what to bring as a gift! For example, you might host a “Kitchen Theme,” a “Garden Theme,” or a “Sexy Lingerie Theme!” Feel free to let your planner know what theme would work best for you – she’ll likely be pleased to have your input!

4. Menu If you or your guests have any dietary constraints, this should be taken into consideration during the planning! For example, if the bride is vegetarian, pregnant, or does not eat dairy, there are certain foods, which wouldn’t be appropriate to serve – after all, the bride is the guest of honor! The time of day, time of year, and number of people who will be there all have an impact on the food choices as well. To keep the budget in place, consider a teatime or wine-and-cheese shower as opposed to an entire dinner or lunch.

4. Games Bridal showers often include games. If your Maid of Honor or a dear friend is planning your Bridal Shower for you, and you’re afraid you’ll be the center of attention during some mortifying games, let her know your concerns. Work together to come up with some fun activities that will make the day special. Some ideas: decorate cookies that are shaped like wedding items, or take turns giving the bride-to-be special advice about being married.

3. Gifts and Thank-You Cards During the shower, it is extremely important to keep careful track of any gifts that you receive. If your shower is small and you plan to open the gifts in front of everyone, have a bridesmaid carefully take notes. This will allow you to send out proper thank you notes after the shower!

2. Delegate! Remember, your friend is throwing a shower for you! The most gracious way you can say thank you is to step back, relax, and let her do all the work! If she has a question or concern, be there to help out, but let the shower truly be her baby! (Baby shower? That will come later!). After all – you’ll be far too busy planning your actual wedding to worry about the details of a wedding shower!

1. Relax! On the day of your wedding shower, dress nicely, arrive on time, and relax! Enjoy being the guest of honor (it’s good practice for when your big day comes!).

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