So who throws the bridal shower? If you’re not sure who’s hosting, who pays for what, or how to have a great party, keep reading. We’ll go over everything from who should be invited to who is expected to contribute money and gifts.
Do you want to have a bridal shower? You can do it for yourself. Or you could plan one for someone else. But make sure not to do it simultaneously as someone else.
The bridal shower is usually hosted by somebody close to the bride or groom. If that person cannot, the bridesmaids should help plan and host it.
Wedding Shower Etiquette Guidelines
It is important to have good etiquette when hosting a bridal shower. You don’t want to hurt any feelings or step on anyone’s toes. This makes sense because weddings are meant to be happy, and everyone should feel included. Please remember that this is the bride’s special occasion. She wants to do something different, and that is her choice. Here’s some excellent wedding shower etiquette guidance.
Who Is Responsible for Paying for the Bridal Shower, and How Much Does It Cost?
Those who are hosting the bridal shower should cover the costs. The food, games, and decorations are included in this. You do not need to ask for donations from your guests.
You and your pals can pool your resources to cover the expense of a party. Perhaps one person could be the mother of the Bride and Groom. Or all the Bridesmaids can do it together.
- The average cost is $10-$15 or less for a bridal shower in the host’s home.
- A bridal shower is a party room at a mid-range restaurant with an inexpensive activity following usually costs about $15 to $40 per person.
- The average price for a bridal shower with an elaborate meal and activities is around $40-150 per person.
If you are the bridal shower host, consider how much money you have before planning. Then your choices will save you money.
There are some simple ways to save money on a bridal party. One way is to choose a venue. You can either host the party in your home or inquire about using one of your church’s facilities. For food, you could ask people to bring different things. You could also have finger foods that are cheaper than a full meal.
You should ready your wedding checklist in 3 months, and the bridal shower should be planned about 2 months before the wedding. This gives the couple enough time to register for items they need. Then if they get an item at the shower, they can return it or replace it with what they got at the shower.
Here is a useful checklist for organizing a bridal shower:
Find Out What the Bride Would Like
Ask her if she wants a party that is only for women or a party for both men and women. Inquire as to what kind of meals she like. Where would she like to have it? And so on.
Set the Date and Make Reservations
If you are having an event, you need to know the date, time, and place. You should talk to the bride to decide if that is OK. If it is not at her house, call ahead to know that you are coming.
Decide on the Guest List
The venue is important for who you invite to your bridal shower. Invite the same people to your wedding as you do for the bridal shower.
Establish Your Budget
Before buying anything for your bridal shower, decide how much you want to spend.
Inquire About Any Allergies or Mobility Concerns the Bride May Have
Ask whether she has any relatives or friends who have food allergies or mobility issues for the menu. Then you can choose the location.
Make a Menu Selection and a Vendor List
Inquire about the bride’s preferences for cuisine at your party. You may simply need to prepare a cake or a special dessert for her if you’re going out to eat.
Purchase and Send invitations
Invite guests a month in advance of the shower. Ensure attendees know the date, time, location, and how they may register.
What Happens at a Bridal Shower?
The number of guests at the bridal shower will depend on the size of the venue. There could be anywhere from 20-50 people there. Many brides wear white clothes to their bridal shower. But it is not mandatory. They can wear whatever they want to feel comfortable in.
When people shower for someone, there will be a lot of food. If the shower was planned well in advance, it might be a full meal. If not, the food might be simple snacks. There are also games, prizes, and more. The bride will open up gifts at a time that is given. The maid of honor will record everything the bride gets. Then thank you cards can be sent out after the shower.
Bridal Shower Themes
Themes are a great idea for a bridal shower. They can match the bride’s personality. Here are some ideas:
- Brunch
- Tropical
- Tea Party
- Garden Party
- Nautical
- Food Truck
- Rustic
- BBQ
- Crepes and Croissants
- Elegant
- Coffee
- White and Gold
- Donuts
- Autumn Rustic
- Cupcakes
- Scavenger Hunt
- Kentucky Derby
- Burlap and Lace
- Mediterranean
- Global Cuisine
- Vintage Antique
- Love in Paris
- Slumber Party
- Ice Cream Social
- Roller Disco
- Movie Night In
- Spa Night In
- Pool Float Party
- Flamingos
- Winter Wonderland
- Downton Abby
- Country Western
- Cooking Class
- Recipe Swap
- All-White Shower
Bridal Shower Etiquette for the Bride
The bride needs to show up at the party and let it happen. All she has to do is answer questions about herself, but that doesn’t mean she should plan the party. Let someone else do that for you so you can stay relaxed!
At the shower, be sure to talk to everyone who came. Thank them for coming and their gift.
She is expected to open all of the gifts like it’s Christmas.
After the ceremony, the bride may like to give a toast to thank the guests for their gifts.
The bride usually gets a small gift for her host/hostess as a thank you. Jewelry, perfume, novels, or even spa things could be included. Choose the best option that fits your personality.
The bride should send thank you notes to the guests a few weeks after the shower. They will have a card that they could write on. You can also ask them to write their address at the bridal shower.
For more information about bridal showers, you can visit this site.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bridal Shower Etiquette: Who Hosts, Who Pays, & More
Today, the maid of honor and bridesmaids throw a shower for the bride. One person in this group covers all the costs. Often, the mother of the bride also contributes to it.
Normally, the bride’s mother does not throw a bridal shower for her daughter. It is usually her maid or matron of honor’s job. But, the mom can go to the bridal shower if she wants to.
The maid of honor usually does the lead and a lot of the work, but other people like the bridesmaids and even the mother-of-the-bride might pay.
At a bridal shower, the bride’s family or friends might throw it. The groom’s mother and the groom’s side of his family are also invited to come.
Traditionally, bridal showers are only for women. But these days, people invite men and women. The guests invited to the wedding should also be invited to the shower. Not everyone invited to the wedding needs to be invited to the shower, though.
You might need to throw a bridal shower for someone getting married. A typical one costs $15 to $40 per person. You can go lower or higher, but most people spend around $25-$75 per person. My most recent bridal showers cost roughly $250 for about 20 attendees, and they were on the low end of the price spectrum.
A bridal shower is something that the maid of honor can do. It’s not the mother of the bride. Some old rules are good to keep, like “family members should not host.”
The bride’s mother is in charge of welcoming guests when they come into town. They also help them with anything they need.
It is not required, but many brides choose to give their shower hostess a gift. This could be done in the form of a thank-you letter or a gift.
The bridal shower is when friends and family get together to celebrate the bride’s upcoming wedding. It is usually planned by the bride’s mother or maid of honor. They should listen to what the bride wants, but they know best what to do for her.
It can be hard for the bride’s family to figure out what kind of gift they should give to the bride herself. Because the bride’s family traditionally pays for the wedding, their present can seem excessive. But mothers love their daughters. So another gift won’t make any difference at all.
The bride usually gets ready with her bridesmaids and her mother. You can do it differently if you want to, but this is what most people choose to do.
Originally only the bridesmaids were supposed to throw a shower for the bride. But now, friends, coworkers, and even members of the groom’s family are invited too. And most experts agree that it is not wrong for future mothers-in-law to do this.
Your friends and family might throw you a shower. One of the most traditional is when your friends or family members throw the shower. It’s also important to include people in your groom’s family, like his mother or other relatives, on the invitation list for your bridal shower.
