When Should A Bride Have A Bridal Shower?

A bridal shower is a pre-wedding celebration held in honor of the bride-to-be, typically occurring a few weeks to a few months before the wedding. It is a joyous celebration where friends and family come together to celebrate the bride and her partner. The tradition suggests that the shower should take place between two weeks and two months before the wedding.

When planning your wedding shower, consider how much time you would like between your shower and the wedding date. Send out the invitations six to eight weeks prior to the event to allow guests to clear their schedules, buy gifts, and inform you if they are unable to attend. Plan the bridal shower menu and stock the bar, as it is a rite of passage for any bride-to-be. While some brides prefer to stick to the traditional style of the bridal shower, others like to break the rules.

A flower bar can double as a unique activity and shower favor, with guests picking their favorite petals or flowers to create a fresh assortment. Wedding shower palm leaf centerpieces can be a fun and immersive idea for the shower.

The mother of the groom can co-host the bridal shower, providing home essentials for the couple before the wedding. It is important to be flexible for what works for the host and the couple, as most bridal showers are hosted between three weeks and five months before the wedding day.

A bridal shower is a party usually held for the bride-to-be in the months leading up to her wedding, providing an opportunity for her close friends to celebrate her engagement. Most bridal showers are held 1-3 months before the wedding, but you can hold it whenever works for you.

What is the difference between a wedding shower and a bridal shower?

What Is The Difference Between Bridal Showers And Wedding Showers?. The difference between bridal and wedding showers is pretty simple. The bridal shower is designed for just you and the girls while the wedding shower is a co-ed party where the bride and groom both get showered with gifts and love.

If youre a bride who loves to party and celebrate, then have both a wedding shower and bridal shower! This way, you can have a big party with all your soon-to-be husbands friends and family members, plus a smaller and more private bridal party for you and the girls.

Having both a bridal shower and a wedding shower is a great way to make sure all your friends and family members get a chance to attend and celebrate you!

Get Planning. So now you know the basics, which means you are on your way to one of the many parties on your wedding planning timeline that are going to make you feel special! Plus, parties are fun! If you arent sure what theme to shoot for, check out this post, 11 Trending Bridal Shower Themes for 2022 and 2023! Whether you want a traditional bridal shower or youre looking for trendy new ideas, youll find plenty to help you create the pre-wedding party youve always dreamed of. Need even more inspiration? Whether youre a bride looking for the best engagement party and bridal shower games and ideas for your grand entrance on the big day, or a groom trying to learn more about what he can expect on his wedding day, youll find it all in our blog, which we constantly update with new ideas.

Who usually pays for a bridal shower?

Who Pays for the Bridal Shower?. In short, the host is the one who pays for the bridal shower—or at least some of it. Most commonly, this is the maid of honor, but the couples relatives, friends or even the to-be-weds themselves can all pitch in to cover the cost of the wedding shower.

In that situation, my recommendation for cutting back on conflict is to put one person in charge of collecting the money and then designating that person or another person to make the purchases, says Swann, who is a nationally recognized expert on social etiquette and lifestyle practices. That way, theres a very clear line of communication in terms of who is contributing what. Just be sure to clearly outline how much youre expecting from everyone involved so theres no confusion or hurt feelings down the line.

Keep in mind that the bridal shower cost is an added expense that might not be feasible for some people, especially for anyone whos also in the wedding party or contributing financially toward the actual wedding. If people arent able to contribute financially, it doesnt mean that they arent interested in helping organize the party in other ways. There are plenty of other non-financial ways to contribute, including sending out invitations, setting up the food, decorating the space and cleaning up, says Swann.

What is etiquette for a bridal shower?

Hosts: Dont Invite Guests That Arent Also Invited to the Wedding. Perhaps the number one etiquette rule, says etiquette expert, Lisa Mirza Grotts—also known as The Golden Rules Gal—is to only invite people to your shower who are also on your wedding guest list. Including friends and family in the pre-nuptial celebration—who arent also invited to be part of the big day—implies that theyre only welcome when they have a gift in hand.

Hosts: Dont Forget to Mingle. Whether your guests drove five or 50 minutes to the venue, everyone in attendance should feel welcome at your bridal shower. As the host, an easy way to do so is to make your rounds when mingling, rather than sticking with a specific group. You should be mingling with all the guests, making everyone feel comfortable and cared for, says Chanda Daniels of Chanda Daniels Planning & Design.

Hosts: Dont Let Game Time Dominate the Shower. Typically, bridal showers have a set schedule that accounts for opening presents, eating, photos, and more. When setting up the itinerary, Daniels cautions hosts against setting aside too much time for games. Know the guests and plan accordingly, she says. Theres nothing worse than planning lots of games and your guests are ready to do something else. She also says to skip games that will embarrass the guest of honor or make mothers and grandmothers feel out of place.

Does the mother of the bride give a bridal shower?

Traditionally, the mother of the bride doesnt host the bridal shower (the maid of honor typically assumes the chief shower-planning role), however, your daughter will likely want you to be a part of the celebration.

Mother Of The Bride Etiquette & Duties. A step-by-step guide to whats expected of the mother of the bride.

Now that you’ve shared in the joy of your daughter’s engagement, it’s time to start preparing for her big day. Not sure what responsibilities come with being the mother of the bride? This comprehensive guide to mother-of-the-bride duties and etiquette outlines your key role in the wedding, from how to lend your daughter a hand before the wedding, to what you should expect on the wedding day.

Photo credit: @facibenifotografia via @vogueweddings.

Is 4 months before a wedding too early for a bridal shower?

Timing Is Everything. Most bridal showers are usually held three weeks to three months before the wedding. The trick is not to plan it too far in advance or too close to the wedding date. If its too far out, those involved may lose some of that wedding-season excitement, but if its too close to the big day, the bride will be too busy with last-minute ceremony prep to really enjoy herself at the shower. And whether youre the maid of honor or a close relative, wedding stresses will probably be running through your mind as well, causing you to be a less-than-stellar host.

Ultimately, there is no golden rule for choosing a time, and the final date will depend on the brides preferences, venue availability, and scheduling issues. Try to choose a date that best accommodates the bride, the bridal party, and as many guests as possible. The key is planning early—especially when dealing with long-distance guests who need to make travel arrangements.

Consider a Combo Bash. For the sake of convenience, consider throwing the bridal shower on the same day as the bachelorette party. That way, guests can carve out one full day for festivities, and out-of-towners wont need to make two separate trips (which can be a costly and tedious endeavor).

Who should not host a bridal shower?

Traditional etiquette dictates that the maid of honor—not the mother of the bride—should host the shower. Nancy is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Some etiquette rules were meant to fade away into oblivion, like the one about family members of the bride not hosting her bridal shower.

Traditional etiquette dictates that the maid of honor—not the mother of the bride—should host the shower.

Some etiquette rules were meant to fade away into oblivion, like the one about family members of the bride not hosting her bridal shower. Thats right: Every shower youve attended that was hosted by the mother of the bride actually broke with traditional etiquette—who knew? The concern with having a familial host was that, since the party is all about people bringing, or showering, the bride with gifts, it was considered tacky for her family to be asking for presents.

In modern times, however, many people other than the maid of honor have taken on the role of bridal party host. And were here to tell you theres nothing tacky about loved ones hosting a shower. Anyone whos close to the bride, including her mother, sister, aunt, cousin, even her grandma, can host. Here, we explore the choices.

What should I do 5 months before my wedding?

At the five-month mark, we recommend having the following in order:Date and Venue. Undoubtedly the biggest decision you have to make is where your wedding will be. … Catering Menu. … Wedding Coordinator. … Save-the-Date Cards. … Videographer, Photographer and Entertainment.

With just under half a year left until your wedding day, it’s not exactly crunch time, but there are definitely a few things you’ll want to check up on to ensure that your wedding planning is on track. Surprises can be fun, but not on your wedding day!

By choosing The Grove at Centerton as your wedding venue in South Jersey, you will receive a dedicated wedding consultant. Our wedding specialists are professional and well-organized and will ensure that every wedding day detail you’ve dreamed of is included on the planning check list. At the five-month mark, we recommend having the following in order:

Date and Venue. Undoubtedly the biggest decision you have to make is where your wedding will be. Do you want your ceremony and reception in the same place? More couples are choosing this option because it’s convenient and cost-effective. If you plan to have your ceremony and reception in separate locations, always remember to factor in traveling times for both yourself & your guests. Don’t forget to choose a hotel and block out rooms for out-of-town guests.

What is too early for a bridal shower?

Think as Goldilocks would, but instead of too hard or too soft or too hot or too cold, avoid too early in your engagement or too close to your wedding.

One month to three months before you get married is the sweet spot for bridal shower timing. Thats because its a little unfair to wedding guests to stretch out marriage celebrations in your honor for more than a few months (besides the engagement party). Plus, pre-wedding events, like bridal showers and bachelorette parties, are great for building momentum for the main event (aka your wedding). When a bridal shower is, say, six months before your nuptials, your guests excitement for your wedding will likely die down well before the wedding invitations go out.

Throwing a bridal shower less than a month before the wedding day also isnt ideal for a few reasons. One, youll be so busy with last-minute wedding arrangements that you wont have time to write out a couple dozen bridal shower thank-you cards. Two, even low-key bridal showers can be overwhelming for a bride, when the women you love most from all parts of your life are gathered in one room, eager to watch you open presents. Its better for your psyche to leave some space between draining (albeit wonderful) events when all eyes are on you. Three, guests who are giving you bridal shower gifts and wedding presents could use more than a couple weeks time to recover from spending money on you.

All that being said, some engagements are simply too short to accommodate a bridal shower thats more than a month in advance. Or, on the flip side, if people have to fly or drive several hours to attend your bridal shower and your wedding, you may want to leave more than three months in between the events to soften the blow of paying for airfare (and spending hours traveling). And sometimes, in order for all the women closest to you to attend, the party has to fall outside of that one- to three-month range.

Who pays for a bridal shower?

Who Is Responsible For Paying For The Shower?. Those who are hosting the shower are responsible for paying for the shower costs. This might include venue costs, the hosts gifts, decorations, food, beverages, and other event expenses.

Can The Bride Ask Someone To Host If No One Has Offered To Host?. Yes, the bride can ask someone to host her bridal shower if no one has offered to host yet, but there are a few things she should consider before doing so. Sometimes, hosts will surprise the bride with a shower. So the bride should make sure that no surprise showers are in the works before asking someone to host.

The bride should also give close friends and family time to offer to host before asking to avoid an awkward conversation. If there are no plans for a shower two months in advance of the wedding, it is safe for the bride to go ahead and ask her maid of honor to host a shower for her.

Who throws the bride a bridal shower?

Today, its common for the maid of honor or matron of honor — sometimes in conjunction with the mother of the bride — to plan the shower. However, the bridesmaids, wedding party, and the brides family can all pitch in if necessary.

Another modern trend is to make bridal showers gender inclusive. This is what we call a “wedding shower,” a celebration where everyone is welcome and invited to partake in the festivities.

Key Takeaway: Many bridal showers are a collaboration between the maid of honor (or plural maid of honors) and the mother of the bride. Yet, no “rules” prohibit close family members, the wedding party, and friends from helping.

How Much Does a Typical Bridal Shower Cost?. Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Oklahoma City/Shelbi Jo.

Is the bridal shower 3 months before the wedding?

Planning it too early can be difficult because you may not have the guest list ready. You may not yet know your budget and who you want to include. For example, will all the guests be invited or will you limit it to members of the bridal party, wedding party, or bachelorette party? Planning the bridal shower too late can result in many issues. For one, it can be hard to secure a venue and vendors. Second, it can take the focus away from the wedding day.

In most cases, hosting the bridal shower between three weeks and five months before the wedding is ideal. With this time frame, guests have plenty of time to make arrangements to attend, and the planners have enough time to set up vendors.

The best way to decide on when to have a bridal shower is to talk with the bride-to-be since the date needs to work with their schedule. You should also decide who is hosting the bridal shower. Oftentimes, the maid of honor or a bridesmaid hosts the big event. Other couples prefer to have the mother of the bride or the mother-in-law host the bridal shower. Close friends and family members can also plan the party. Figure out who is hosting and work with the bride to pick the perfect day for the bridal shower.

Like most wedding planning tasks, planning a bridal shower takes some time and focus. Luckily, bridal showers are among the most fun parts of wedding planning. Its a day to celebrate, play games, and have a great time with the honoree before they say “I do.” Once you have a date in mind, you can start planning all the fun. Heres everything you need to know about how to plan a bridal shower and how to avoid a faux pas: