Wedding Tips

Bridal Showers

Once an engagement is announced, the party
parade can start. Showers are included in the group
of parties planned for the newly engaged couples.
There may be several showers planned or there may
be just one, but there are some shower etiquette tips
that brides may find helpful.

Who hosts the shower?
Friends, not relatives, give showers. Members of the
bride’s and groom’s immediate families do not give
showers. Often the honor attendant and bridesmaids
will hostess a shower. Work colleagues may plan a get
together and friends of either family may host a shower.
Note that anyone who is invited to a shower
should also receive an invitation to the wedding.
Bride’s need to consider the expense of showers for
members of her wedding party. It is usual for all of the
bride’s attendants to be included in the guest list of
every shower.

When and where is the shower held?
It can be held any day of the week and any hour of
the day. It can be a potluck supper, a poolside brunch,
an at home party or elaborate event in a restaurant.
Showers are usually held from four to six weeks prior
to the wedding, with two weeks being the cut-off date.
The primary focus of any shower is the opening of
the gifts. If traditional games are played and prizes
given, the winner should not feel obligated to give the
prize to the bride. At one time that was considered
“proper”, but the tradition has all but faded away. It is
customary to ask someone to keep track of the gifts
and the givers. Accurate records will help the bride
write thank you notes to each guest. The notes
should go out in the week following the shower. It is
a nice touch to send flowers to the hostess with her
thank you note.
While “all girl” events are still standard, couple’s
showers are increasing in popularity and offer a
slightly different approach to “showering” the engaged
couple.