Common Bridal Shower Etiqutte Questions

A bridal shower is a party held in honor of the bride-to-be and attended by her closest friends and family. The tradition of a bridal shower is almost 300 years old, yet many people have questions about what are acceptable rules of etiquette concerning them. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions and the answers to help make her bridal shower a happy event for the soon-to-be- bride.

When should we hold the bridal shower?

A bridal shower is normally held one to two months, but should never be held more than six months before the wedding.

Who should be invited?

Normally, the female friends and family are invited to the shower. Children may or may not be included at the hostess discretion. Men are normally not invited unless it is a couples wedding shower rather than strictly a bridal shower.

Should the bridal shower be a surprise party for the bride?

This is purely a choice for the hostess to make. The preferences of the bride should be considered, however.

Where should we hold the shower?

Anywhere that a party would normally be held is an acceptable venue for a bridal shower. A restaurant, a park, or even someones home are good examples of locations for a bridal shower.

Who should pay for the shower?

Typically, the hostess will pay for the shower. It is, however, perfectly acceptable for her to request help from the other bridesmaids or the guests if everyone can agree on an amount to pitch in.

Should favors be a part of the shower?

Favors are not a requirement. They are, however, a nice way to provide the guests with keepsakes that act as reminders of the party and a good way to say thank you for attending.

How should favors be tagged?

If favors have tags on them, the tags should be filled out with the name of the bride and the date of the bridal shower.

What items make appropriate wedding shower gifts?

It is not required that any gift be brought or given. If shower gifts are to be given, tradition dictates that they be something for the household. However, new trends are moving toward giving more personal gifts for the bride herself. If the couple have registered on a gift registry, bringing a gift from that is acceptable. One point to remember is that the shower gifts should not be as expensive as the actual wedding gifts.

Are money or gift certificates acceptable shower gifts?

While it would be very inappropriate to ask the guests to give cash or gift certificates, letting people know that the couple could use cash for a specific goal is acceptable. Giving cash or gift certificates is acceptable, especially if the couple are not registered and the guest has no idea what they may want or need.

Who should send out the Thank You cards?

Even though she traditionally has little to do with planning the shower, it is the responsibility of the bride to send out the thank you cards within a couple of weeks after the shower. Each one should be handwritten and include some short personal message.