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Bridal Shower Basics

A Splash of Shower Essentials!
Learn the basics on bridal shower etiquette

Who typically throws a bridal shower?
When should the bridal shower take place?
Where should a bridal shower take place?
Who should be invited?
Should registry information be included in the invitations?
Are gifts given at a bridal shower?

Who typically throws a bridal shower?

• Bridesmaids or the maid of honor traditionally throw a bridal shower. However, any friend of the bride or groom may offer to host. Family members such as mothers or sisters should usually avoid throwing the shower because it could seem overeager to some people. However, in some cases it may not be possible for others to host.

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When should the bridal shower take place?

• Traditionally, a bridal shower would be hosted approximately six months to two weeks prior to the wedding. An exception may be if there are a large number of people attending the wedding from out of town. In this case, a shower might be scheduled to take place two to four days out. A shower can be held at any time of day the host/hostess desires. Examples include a morning coffee or brunch, lunch, a cocktail party or a dinner party.

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Where should a bridal shower take place?

• The location of the shower should be based on the amount of people attending. If you are having a very large shower, consider renting a hall to comfortably fit all of the guests. However, as part of the etiquette, never ask people to pay for their meal at a shower. Make sure it’s in your budget to cover the cost of having the shower at a restaurant. Also, if the guest list complies, a shower can be held at the home of the hostess. This works as a warm, relaxed location for people to gather.
  

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Who should be invited?

• Usually, the bride and groom’s immediate family including mothers, sisters, grandmothers, cousins and nieces are invited. Also, the female members of the wedding party and close female friends of both the bride and groom should be on the list of invitees. The guest list should be discussed with the bride to ensure that everyone she wants to attend, receives an invitation. Furthermore, couples' showers are becoming more popular, but keep in mind this can double the guest list.

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Should registry information be included in the invitations?

• Nowadays, many hostesses include the store names where the bride and groom are registered in the invitations. This makes it much easier for everyone invited to know where and what to purchase the couple for their shower gift.

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Are gifts given at a bridal shower?

• They sure are! One of the objectives of a bridal shower is to "shower" the bride with gifts as a way to help her start her new life with her husband. It's also a great opportunity for relatives and friends to spend time with each other and the bride in a relaxed, fun environment.

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FREE Anouncement Cards

Our announcement cards are the perfect envelope stuffer! Why? Because they tell your shower guests exactly where to shop for the gifts you want! Learn more.

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Bridal Shower Themes

Shower Her with a Distinctive
Theme to Fit Her Personality!
Soak up our list of bridal shower themes to flood
her day with happiness!

Kitchen Shower
Around-the-Clock Shower
Alphabet Shower
Pamper-the-Bride Shower
Month-of-the-Year Shower
Lingerie Shower
Stock-the-Bar Shower
Christmas Ornament Shower

Kitchen Shower

• Ask each guest to bring an item to help stock the bride-to-be's kitchen. Some possible gifts include bakeware items, utensils, small electrics, kitchen towels, cookbooks, etc.

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Around the Clock Shower

• Guests are assigned a "time," such as breakfast time or bath time. Their gifts should correspond with the given times such as coffee mugs or a coffee maker for breakfast time. Bath time gifts might inlcude towels, bathroom accessories or bath and body items.

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Alphabet Shower

• Each guest is given a letter of the alphabet and the gift they bring should start with that letter.

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Pamper-the-Bride Shower

• This could take place at a spa or at home and could include gifts such as bath and body items, makeup, lingerie, gift certificates, etc.

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Month-of-the-Year Shower

• Each guest is assigned a month and the gift should correspond with that month. This is also a chance for the couple to receive decorations for various holidays.

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Lingerie Shower

• Each guest brings an article of clothing that is associated with lingerie. The guest can make it humorous if they would like, depending on the bride-to-be!

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Stock-the-Bar Shower

• This theme is especially nice for coed showers, which are growing in popularity. Gifts to the couple may include martini glasses, wine or liquor, barware, etc.

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Christmas Ornament Shower

• Each guest can attach an ornament to their gift so the couple will have decorations for their first Christmas tree as a married couple.

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Bridal Shower Games

Soak up Some Fun
Pick shower games that will keep the conversation flowing!

Wedding Word Scramble
Bride-and-Groom Trivia
Pin the Veil on the Bride
How Well Does She Know Him?
Anyone's Guess
Toilet Paper Wedding Dress

Wedding Word Scramble

• This one is easy! Choose 10-20 words and scramble the letters of each word. Give the guests about 10 minutes to unscramble the words. Announce the answers and award a prize to the guest with the most words spelled correctly. Examples of words that can be used include bride, wedding, flowers, groom, church, reception, ring, etc.

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Bride-and-Groom Trivia

• Simple and to the point! Write out 10-20 questions about the bride and groom with a selection of answers to choose from. Give guests about 10 minutes to answer the questions. Then, have the bride-to-be and/or groom-to-be give the correct answers. Guests will be amazed at what they learn! Some examples of questions include: Where did the couple meet?, Where was their first kiss?, How long have they been a couple?, etc.

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Pin the Veil on the Bride

• An old favorite! This game is just like when you were younger and played pin the tail on the donkey — with a twist. First, draw a profile of a bride and hang it up. Next, make a pretty bridal veil and have something to serve as a blindfold on hand. Blindfold each guest when it’s time for their turn. The person who pins the veil to the correct spot can be awarded a prize.

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How Well Does She Know Him?

• This is a fun one! Before the shower, have someone secretly ask the groom-to-be an assortment of questions that the bride-to-be will be asked during the shower. See which answers she is able to match. For each question the bride-to-be gets correct, she receives a prize. For those she answers wrong, a guest's name is picked out of a hat and they receive the prize. Examples of some questions include: What is the groom’s favorite food?, What is the groom’s favorite color?, What is his middle name?

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Anyone's Guess

• Keep 'em guessing! Fill a cute container with candy, recipes or anything having to do with a shower. Count the number of pieces you fill the container with. Ask each guest to guess how many pieces are in it by writing it down on a piece of paper. Whichever guest guesses the closest to the actual number, wins the cute container and its contents!
  
  

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Toilet Paper Wedding Dress

• This game is a riot! Divide guests into teams depending on the number of overall attendees. Each group receives a roll of white toilet paper and are given an allotted amount of time to design a wedding dress out of the toilet paper. Each team chooses a "bride" for the group, then proceeds to wrap the "bride" and create a dress. Once, the bridal gowns are complete, the bride from each team models their creation in front of everyone. The bride-to-be then chooses the gown in which she would be most likely to wear. A prize can then be awarded to the chosen bride and her design team!