Bridal Showers

Hi Friends,

I am sorry it's been so long since my last blog post! BUT I am back! And wedding season is starting up again. My fridge is full of save the dates and one of my best friends is getting married in a month with her wedding shower around the corner! This got me thinking of showers and the questions that come along with it. Here are some answers to the typical questions on bridal showers.

Do I need a theme?
If you can think of one, great but honestly a theme is not required. But there are lots of cute ideas depending on the bride's personality. For instance, you can have a brunch and do breakfast type shower with food/mimosas. Or you could coordinate the shower with the colors of the wedding, etc. etc. Lots of ideas! Here are some more theme ideas.

Who should throw the shower?
A bride usually has at least two showers, one for friends and one for family. If you have the honor of being asked to be a Maid of Honor, I would recommend you offer to throw the "friend" shower. Of course you should not feel obligated, but this is the most common practice. And if bridesmaids offer to help, I would take them up on it.

When is the best day for a shower?
Typically a shower is thrown on a Saturday or Sunday. Try to plan around the day/afternoon so that people can still have time for themselves during the evening. Usually a shower lasts between 2-3 hours.

Should we play games?
This depends on the personality of the bride. Don't be afraid to ask the question to the bride herself. Some brides can't stand games, and others think it is fun! Some of the games that are more interactive and popular are bridal bingo and having the guests fill out a questionnaire about the bride - like a "get to know" type game. Here are some more ideas.

When should the invitation go out?
For a bridal shower, I would recommend sending out a written or designed invitation over an evite. It is a little more formal this way. Invitations should go out at least a month before with a response date due probably 1-2 weeks before the shower date.

Who should be invited to my shower?
If you are trying to think of a guest list, I would recommend close family and friends. Only invite those guests who will also be invited to the wedding.

Do I need to send thank yous?
ABSOLUTELY! Those who know me, know I am big on thank you's. It's a shame but people are steering away from written thank you's with all the technology out there (emails, etc.) I would say to definitely hand write your thank you notes.

That's it for now! Please let me know if you have any other questions on bridal showers!

Fun fact I found: The term "bridal shower" most likely came about because of a tradition of placing wedding gifts inside a parasol. The parasol was placed over the heads of the wedded couple and opened to a "shower of gifts" on them both. Cute…but sounds possibly painful!     

Love,
Kristin