Bridal Shower

Weddings are wonderful events but they aren’t the only big celebration awaiting you. Don’t forget the fun and the presents of your bridal shower. Whether you’re trying to give your own maid of honor some great ideas or you’re looking for some answers as you plan a bridal shower for someone close to you, you’ll find all of the information you need in our compilation of useful articles.

Need help choosing a bridal shower theme? That’s one of the issues that really give party hostesses problems normally. Then don’t look any further. We have articles on a wide variety of possible themes and how you can use those themes effectively in your party planning. Once you’ve settled on a theme, you might have time to catch your breath and reflect on the history of bridal showers – you might something that will surprise you!

You’ll also find articles on bridal shower etiquette, including who to invite and when to throw the event. Of course, if you’re also working on the bachelorette party, we have articles that will help you with those efforts as well.

Brides and grooms might also want to drop by and read the articles about what each of them can expect from the other’s respective bachelor and bachelorette parties. That might help ease some of the nervousness and tension you’re feeling about those celebrations.

Besides bridal showers and other pre-wedding events, you’ll also find a number of interesting articles, including information about some common wedding superstitions and how to choose the best day for your wedding.

If you have questions about planning pre-wedding parties or you’re looking for some entertaining and informative wedding reading, then you’ll find plenty to satisfy your needs with these articles.

Bridal Shower Invitations

Getting Started on Bridal Shower Invitations | A bridal shower allows female family and friends of the bride to get together and celebrate the upcoming wedding like only girls can do. Although the bridal shower itself is important, choosing invitations should be the first item on the to-do list. Who Is In Charge - Typically, the maid of honor, along with any local bridesmaids, plan ...

Bridal Shower Invitation 101 | A bridal shower is a time of celebration, one that will lead to lifelong memories. While it takes careful planning, the process does not need to be stressful. Starting with the perfect invitations can set the entire theme of a memorable bridal shower. Why Invitations are Important | invitations set the tone for the event, and once chosen, can really ...

Sending Out the Bridal Shower Invitations | Mailing the bridal shower invitations transforms the fantasy into a reality. Somehow, putting a stamp on the completed invitation and sending it out makes the shower come alive. There are several details, however, that need to be in place before this can happen. Before You Send the Invitations - You need to have certain details ...

Important Information to Include on Bridal Shower Invitations | The bridal shower tradition began in the Netherlands when, as legend states, a Dutch father refused to pay his daughter’s dowry because he did not approve of her marriage. Today, bridal showers signal approval and preparation for marriage and are anticipated with pleasure. Important Bridal Shower Decisions - There are many important ...

Bridal Shower Invitations – What You Should Know | It is a privilege to plan a shower for the bride. In order to make this a memorable event, the maid of honor, with the help of bridesmaids, has many preparations to organize and decisions to make. However, the bridal shower will most likely not be a great success if invitations are not sent. Why Send Invitations - A shower without paper invitations ...

Why You Should Avoid Free Bridal Shower Invitations | Saving money is always a concern, especially when the price of everything from milk to gasoline to health insurance is skyrocketing. To trim a little from your budget, you may be tempted to go online and use free invitation templates for your party, but there are a number of good reasons why you should avoid this choice ...

How to Use Die-Cut Bridal Shower Invitations | Most of the invitations on the market are pretty similar in shape. The majority are rectangles – some are narrow, some are wide, some are oversized. You might find a few square invitations here and there. That doesn’t mean you can’t find invitations that ...

Bridal Shower Thank You Cards, Sample Wording, Tips and Etiquette | Weddings are typically prefaced by at least one bridal shower. It is a time for close female friends and family to come together and celebrate your upcoming wedding. Gifts are exchanged along with pleasantries, games are often played, and good food is eaten. You are then left with the task of writing thank you cards ...

Bridal Shower Invitations Vs. Wedding Invitations | A bridal shower is traditionally hosted a few months prior to the wedding as a way for female friends and family to gather and celebrate the bride's upcoming nuptials with gifts, games, and food. Invitations play a vital role in planning bridal showers and weddings, both functionally and aesthetically ...

The Traditions Of Pre-Wedding Party

Create Eco-Friendly Save-The-Date Cards in a Unique Way | Modern brides are eco-conscious, earth-friendly, and aware of green wedding options. Traditional weddings are still possible to achieve, even when the stationery has an appealing eco-friendly feel. Creating Your Green Wedding Scene - Today’s bride has many options when ...

Who Says Save the Date Announcements Have To Match The Wedding Invitations? | Getting married is a special time, and in order to ensure your wedding date doesn’t compete with other commitments, sending Save the Date announcements is imperative. What if you find Save the Date cards that you love, but don’t match the invitations you already bought? Must the Save the Date cards match the wedding invitations? ...

Ideas for Amazing Pre-Wedding Parties | Most pre-wedding parties are pretty traditional and sometimes more than just a little boring, but you don't have to limit your pre-wedding parties to only traditional affairs. Here are some interesting ideas for unique pre-wedding parties that you and your guests will enjoy. For starters, don't limit ...

Bachelorette Party Ideas | We're all familiar with bachelor parties - the night the groom and his buddies party like single guys for the last time. However, more and more women are having their own girls' night out parties, too. Let's look at some ideas for throwing a fun bachelorette ...

Why Choose Save The Date Cards with Photos? | Until recently, most couples sent out formal save-the-date cards that only included a bit of print. Today, most couples are opting for save-the-dates decked out with a recent photograph. In many ways, photographs are a far better option than simple print. Reach Out and Connect - Out of all the ...

Engagement Party Invitations | Getting engaged is a happy event, and many couples want to share that happiness with their friends and family members. To do that, many choose to have an engagement party. Like most parties related to weddings, however, there are some guidelines those couples need ...

Your Engagement Invitations Gone Wild! | Engagement parties should be filled with fun memories and excitement. While some couples opt for formal affairs, most find that an evening filled with excitement is the best way to go. If you want to add some pizzazz to your engagement party, consider arranging things just a bit differently. A Festive Engagement - An engagement party is ...

Engagement Ring Invitations for Your Engagement Party | Congratulations! You’re engaged! Why not let the whole world know about your engagement by planning a great engagement party? While engagement parties were traditionally thrown by friends or family members, this is no longer the case in today’s ...

Rehearsal Dinner Invitations | As the time winds down and the big day approaches, one of the last wedding-related gatherings is the rehearsal dinner. Usually held following the wedding rehearsal itself, this traditional meal involves some basic guidelines and some interesting ...

Beautiful Luau Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Invitations | A wedding rehearsal dinner begins the celebration process, as well as thanks everyone involved. Livening up the rehearsal dinner with a fun theme will help everyone relax before the big day. Whether the honeymoon destination is a tropical paradise, there is Polynesian heritage in the family or you just love Hawaii, consider having the rehearsal dinner luau-style ...

Scented Geranium Invitations for Your Rehearsal Dinner | How important is your wedding rehearsal dinner? Not only is this night meant for practice, but it can also be a night filled with many “firsts.” Start this memorable event off right with scented geranium invitations that literally linger. Bringing People Together - Your rehearsal dinner is often the last big event before ...

The Etiquette

Bridal Shower Invitations Etiquette | Bridal showers are a chance for all of the bride’s friends and family members to get together and have a more informal celebration before the ceremony. Before you start inviting guests though, there are a few more pointers about bridal shower etiquette you need to ...

What Grooms Should Know About Bachelor Parties | Bachelor parties are almost like a right of passage for grooms-to-be. While not all grooms have one, many do and some live to regret that night. A combination of too much alcohol and all of that testosterone can spell big trouble. However, a bachelor party doesn’t have to be an event you’d be embarrassed ...

What Brides Should Know About Bachelor Parties | Brides often worry about what’s going on at their husband-to-be’s bachelor parties. After all, who knows what can happen when you mix a bunch of guys with a lot of alcohol and let them loose on the world. However, guys aren’t the only ones who can go a little bit wild when it comes to their pre-wedding ...

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Etiquette, The Formal Way | If you’re having a formal rehearsal dinner, you need to brush up on your dining etiquette. Because most of us don’t get a chance to practice the etiquette skills we’ve learned (and many of us may never have learned them at all), it’s important to review some ...

Wedding Symbols, Wedding Date Tips & Others

Wedding Invitation Symbols & Their Meanings | When you browse through invitations or wedding paper, you're likely to run across a wide variety of images. Most of these images are important symbols of marriage and love. Below is an explanation for some of the most common symbols ...

Rating Wedding Invitations – Stationery Online | Many couples today are choosing to work with an online stationer for their wedding stationery needs instead of going to a local vendor. While there are many good reasons for making this choice, wise couples also know to be just as careful when selecting ...

Superstitions and Your Wedding Date | We've all heard a superstition at one time or another – whether it's a black cat crossing your path brings bad luck or a broken mirror curses you for the next seven years. Couples who want everything to go smoothly on their wedding day may be even more inclined to ...

Self-Mailer Invitations | One of the most exciting and scariest days of your wedding planning will be when you go to the post office to mail all of your wedding invitations. After you drop those invitations in the box, you’ve passed one of the big moments and you know that in just a few weeks ...

Easy, Fill-in-the-blank Invitations | Whether you’re planning a bridal shower, birthday party, or Christmas bash, you probably know all too well how complicated party planning can be. You need to choose refreshments, entertainment, a guest list, a location, and so on. With so many decisions, wouldn’t it be nice if ...

Creating a Dramatic Effect on Your Invitations with Vellum | When you choose wedding invitations, you’re looking for a design or style that is eye-catching and dramatic. You want your invitation to stand out and amaze your guests. One of the best ways to do that is by adding vellum to your invitations. Vellum is a ...

General Rules of Bridal Shower Invitations

Tradition always dictated how bridal shower invitations looked and who would be responsible for them. Today, the rules have relaxed, and bridal shower invitations are no longer ruled by tradition.

Who Hosts and Plans the Bridal Shower?

Traditionally, bridal showers are hosted by the maid of honor, often with help from the bridal party. Tradition also dictates that the bride and her family couldn’t host the bridal shower because it would seem to expect gifts. Today, these rules act more as guidelines. For instance, it is perfectly acceptable to hold the bridal shower at the bride’s home or the home of a family member, especially if the home is well-suited for parties.

An example where the maid of honor would not host the bridal shower would be if she resides in Arizona and the bride lives in Florida. Although the maid of honor could still be involved in certain planning aspects, she should not be expected to fly across the country to plan and attend the bridal shower. Brides often marry fairly young, so it makes sense for a more established family member or close friend to offer her home for the shower, although the planning can still be left mostly to the bridal party.

Who Chooses the Bridal Shower Invitations?

Who selects the bridal shower invitations depends on the type of bridal shower being given. If the shower will be a surprise, then the host(s) should choose bridal shower invitations that most suit the bride’s personality and color preferences, as well as coordinate with the theme.

Most often, bridal shower invitations are chosen by the host, although input from the bride is fine. If there will be a theme, such as a luau bridal shower, or a special location, such as a bridal tea, this important element should be reflected in the bridal shower invitations.

When to Send Bridal Shower Invitations

Once bridal shower invitations and a theme have been chosen, it’s time to select a date and time. It is wise to informally circulate one or two possible dates that already work for the bride to key guests. This helps prevent a poorly attended bridal shower and a disappointed bride.

Once a date is chosen, the bridal shower invitations should be mailed three to four weeks prior to the event. This gives recipients time to RSVP and possibly reschedule any conflicts. The host should always mail the invitations and be the point of contact for guests. The bride’s participation should end with theme, date, and bridal shower invitation approval.

Bridal Shower Invitation Tips and Ideas

It is important, no matter how casual or formal the bridal shower will be, to include certain details on the bridal shower invitations. The name of the bride should be featured on the bridal shower invitation, either in the title or on the first line. Then make sure to include the date, time, location with a map or directions, and RSVP information. Optional information could describe the theme and proper attire (theme-related or otherwise).

Following these bridal shower invitation guidelines will make planning the shower easier and allow you to tailor this special event to the specific circumstances surrounding a special bride.