Are you about to be a gorgeous bride or one of your close friends or family members is looking to host a bridal shower? You must have heard something about this special event, but might not have experienced one. If this is the case, you surely have many questions.
Don’t worry—you’re not alone in this. Many of our clients are clueless about wedding showers. Therefore, to make things easier, we have prepared a guide. Continue reading to uncover interesting facts about this fun and lively day.
What is a Bridal Shower?
This lovely event involves close family and friends to honour the soon-to-be bride and make her feel special. These are usually daytime parties, and everyone drinks, enjoys, and celebrates the couple’s new beginning. It is a fantastic gathering that brings together family and friends from both sides.
Traditionally, showers were an all-ladies event. However, with changing times, many now also include male guests. Generally, the maid of honour hosts and plans the shower. In this process, the parents, bridesmaids, and relatives also help with planning, decorating, and coordinating the overall logistics of the party.
Tips on Planning Bridal Shower
Set your Budget
Before choosing a venue or planning a wedding shower theme, identify the budget. The host has to pay for the shower. Therefore, opt for something that you can easily afford.
Choose a Date
We recommend planning for the bridal event at least six months in advance. Ideally, it should be planned two months before the wedding. However, when you choose a date, consult the bride and see if it works with her schedule and if all the members can be accommodated.
Prepare Guest List
The next and one of the most stressful bridal shower planning tips is sorting out the guest list. Once you have figured out the budget and the date, the next step is preparing the list of people you are going to invite. If you are a close friend of the bride, check with her the list of must-have people she would like to be part of. The final guest list should also be in consideration of the budget you have already prepared.
Choose a Location
One of the most traditional and optimal options is hosting a shower wedding at one’s own house. However, we recommend looking for a venue if you are not considering this. It can be a restaurant, cafe, or private banquet related to the bride’s interest. Whenever you are in doubt, check with the soon-to-be bride for her opinion. However, ensure the location is easily accessible for everyone and can accommodate all the guests.
Wedding Shower Menu
Now you can begin working on the party menu. Choose the foods and snacks that the bride will like and can easily be served. If you are hosting brunch-themed showers, opt for coffee, drinks, mimosas or mini waffles and toasts. Additionally, you can make a taco station with refreshing margaritas.
Bridal Shower Theme
It’s time we turn to the more decorative part of the bridal shower planning tips. While it is not mandatory, it can be a perfect way to add personal touch to the day. That way, you can show your creativity in different parts of the shower, from invites to catering to the decor – the possibilities are endless. Moreover, there are a lot of themes to get inspiration from, such as rustic, floral, or wine themes.
Send Invites
When the invites are finalised, send them at least 4-5 weeks before the event. This will allow the guests to align their schedules. Also, they will have plenty of time to shop for the gift and let you know if they will be able to attend. But, the best option, so you don’t forget anything, is to have a bridal shower itinerary with details about the event.
Plan Out Games
Your guests would enjoy the party even more if you plan to include games to keep them entertained. You can opt for bridal bingo or guesswork games. These will be great for breaking the ice, especially if there are guests who haven’t met before.
Remember to include music, too. It would be nice to have some music in the background while the guests chat, interact, and enjoy snacking and playing around. To make this special party more creative and unique, you can also plan around a few activities, like hiring a chef to teach everyone how to cook a specific dish or setting up a DIY photo booth where you can enjoy while taking selfies with props. You have endless entertaining options, but ensure they align with the soon-to-be bride’s vision.
Prepare Bridal Shower Itinerary
Finally, we have come to perhaps the most important part of the event, the itinerary. Once you complete all of the above, prepare an order outline of the events. We recommend keeping the overall party up for 3 to 4 hours. It will be enough for all the conversations and activities. With that in mind, here is a quick sample itinerary:
- 2:30 pm – 3 pm: The bride and guests arrive at the party.
- 3 pm – 4 pm: Serve the snacks and continue mingling.
- 4:30 pm – 5 pm: Guests gather and play the shower wedding games.
- 5 pm – 5:30 pm: The bride opens her gifts and interacts with everyone. (This is optional; the brides don’t need to open gifts immediately.)
- 5:30 pm – 6 pm: The host raises a toast to the bride and thanks everyone for coming to the party while handing out the shower favours.
With this, we conclude the essential tips for hosting a bridal shower. Remember, there is no right or wrong way of hosting it. Every shower is beautiful and unique. The outline of events we have shared shows how they are hosted and planned. Depending on your preferences, style, and budget requirements, you can host a fun-filled evening to honour the bride and celebrate her beginnings.
Are you looking for more inspiring information on UK weddings? Do you need assistance from a professional team of UK wedding photographers? Feel free to get in touch with us! It would be our honour to serve and seamlessly capture your special day.
