bridal shower

A Guide To Hosting a Bridal Shower
Preparing to throw a bridal shower? Take a look at some of these common questions people have when first putting together a bridal shower.

Preparing to throw a bridal shower? Take a look at some of these common questions people have when first putting together a bridal shower.

When a close friend or relative decides to task you with the responsibility of putting together a bridal shower, it can be a big honor. You want to make sure you throw an event that will satisfy the happy couple without straying too far from their sensibilities. Of course, there are also a lot of tasks associated with this kind of event. If you’ve never had to throw a party like this before, you might not be sure how to get things going. Thankfully, a bridal shower is far from an impossible task to accomplish.

Take a look at some of these common questions people have when first putting together a bridal shower. Learning these answers early can help you throw a fantastic event to celebrate the happy couple.

Inviting the Right People

One of the most difficult things you’ll have to figure out is who to invite to the shower. The couple most likely will be spending a ridiculous amount of time ironing out the details of the wedding guest list, which means you can’t just invite anyone to this party. The biggest rule to remember for invitations is that you should not be inviting anyone to the shower who will not be receiving an invitation to the wedding itself. The best way to avoid this mistake is by coordinating with the couple and figuring out exactly who they would like invited.

Depending on how close you are to the nearlyweds, you might be able to simply use your best judgment with the invitations. When you already know their friends and family members, you most likely will have a good idea of who should be receiving an invitation. When you aren’t sure, reach out and try to get some more information. Don’t guess when you aren’t positive, as you might wind up making an awkward error. It also is a good idea to try and keep the event small, as you are probably paying for it.

All in the Timing

You also may need a bit of information on when you should be planning this event. More often than not, the couple will ask you to throw the shower by a certain time. In specific cases, you might be told by the bride or groom exactly when he or she wishes the party held. When you aren’t given any set details to follow, you’ll need to select the date yourself. Generally, you want to have the shower no earlier than five months before the date of the wedding.

On the reverse side, you want the shower to be at least three weeks before the wedding. This large gap of time makes it easy to pick a date and have enough room to plan out all the details. Unless the event is very small, you are most likely going to need a little bit of help organizing everything. Try to not involve the couple too much. Instead, reach out to other close friends and see who might be able to offer some assistance. Involving a few other people can also keep the costs down, which is a huge help.

No Surprises

Finally, if you are a maid of honor or member of the wedding party, you need to respect the wishes of the nearlyweds. When you are told that they don’t want a shower, you should not take it upon yourself to throw one. It might seem like a fun idea, but you do not want to go against a specific request. Do what is asked of you, and you’ll be the biggest asset that the couple requires.

Putting together a wedding shower takes a bit of time. As long as you don’t rush into the responsibility, you should have no trouble throwing a lovely event.

 

Keep a Bridal Shower Fun for Everyone
Planning your first bridal shower is going to seem like a lot to take on, but there are simple ways to make the event enjoyable for everyone.

Planning your first bridal shower is going to seem like a lot to take on, but there are simple ways to make the event enjoyable for everyone.

A bridal shower is a chance for the friends and family of the bride to come together and celebrate. If you’ve been tasked with putting together this event for a friend who has recently become engaged, you might not know what to do. Planning your first shower is going to seem like a lot to take on, but there are simple ways to make it through. While it is important to remember the bride is the person of honor at this event, the entire ordeal should be enjoyable for everyone in attendance.

Making the bridal shower fun for everyone involved is a simple way to produce positive results. You don’t even need to go to extreme lengths to achieve this goal. Take a look at these simple tips and discover ideas to help with your own plans.

Not a Solo Mission 

You might be the person who has been elected to throw the bridal shower, but you should not be doing it on your own. Planning this event often requires a lot of people. You need to set a date, gather invitations, plan food, come up with games, figure out who is bringing what present, and ensure everyone arrives in a timely fashion. Allowing this gathering to stress you out is a simple way to make it an unpleasant experience. Instead of trying to go it alone, ask for help.

Whether you are the sister of the bride, the groom’s mother, or a best friend from childhood, it is crucial to reach out to others for assistance. Not only will this gesture allow you a chance to share the weight of responsibility, it also adds to how effective the shower is overall. If you do it all by yourself, some areas of the event will suffer. Sharing the responsibilities can allow each person to go above and beyond to bring the best results to the table.

Activity Madness

Games and party activities are also a common feature of most bridal showers. Here’s the thing: Do not plan the entire event around the games. Some people absolutely hate games. If the bride is not a person who likes to sit and play silly games, do not force her to. The occasion is meant for everyone to have a good time, but you need the bride to enjoy herself to make the entire event worthwhile. Conversely, a bride who has a competitive edge should have a shower packed with fun activities.

While you know the bride and what she enjoys doing, it can be easy to let the thrill of planning this celebration cloud your ability to make the best decision. Reading over article after article on fun games to play at a shower might inspire you to come up with a ton of games when you know the woman of honor won’t be interested. Use your best judgment and remember the tastes of the bride before you commit to a day crammed with different wedding-related games.

Keep Things Simple

It is also important to remember that you aren’t planning the actual wedding. The bridal shower might be a big deal in some respects, but there is no need to go overboard with what you are attempting. For example, sending out invitations is considered a smart step to take. Spending a lot of money on nice cardstock and fancy envelopes, on the other hand, is a bad call. Keep costs sensible by opting for the simplest solution when it comes to mailing invites.

Planning a bridal shower can be a great honor. To ensure the bride has an absolutely lovely time, keep in mind what activities would be most appealing to her while also keeping the event fun for all. Make the experience simple and light to maintain a celebratory mood and a great time.