Bridal Shower
From LoveToKnow Weddings
A bride- to - be looks forward to her bridal shower almost as much as the big day itself. It’s a fun, time honored tradition designed to “shower” the bride and groom with gifts needed to start their new lives together, and also a fun way to relieve some of the pre-wedding stress.
Bridal Shower History
Legend has it, the first bridal shower was held in Holland. The bride-to-be was rather well off, while her fiancé, a local miller, was not. Her father forbade the wedding and cut off her dowry. The couple married anyway and endured tough times financially. To help them out, many of the townspeople had a party for them and bestowed upon them many useful household items.
Today’s Bridal Shower
Today’s bridal shower is a little less about showering the Happy Couple with useful items, and more about celebration, tradition, and, yes, gifts. While most showers are a surprise for the bride-to-be, this isn’t always the case anymore. Plenty of times the bride helps to plan her own shower. Another twist is to have a co-ed shower, and invite both the future bride and groom.
Who Throws a Bridal Shower?
It used to be considered poor etiquette for the mother of the bride to throw the bridal shower as it was seen as a plea for gifts. Times have changed, however and it’s fine for the bride’s mom to host a shower if she’s so inclined.
Traditionally the bridal party throws the bridal shower. The maid of honor and other bridesmaids meet to set a date, decide on a theme and coordinate shopping and decorating for the event.
Bridal Shower Duties
The following tasks need to be completed to ensure a successful bridal shower:
- Set a date – If the shower is to be a surprise, you’ll have to coordinate the date with the groom and mothers of both the bride and groom.
- Create the guest list - If the shower is to be a surprise, ask the groom, the parents of the bride and groom, and friends and co-workers who should be invited. Since it’s bad form to invite someone to the shower who won’t be invited to the wedding, it’s best to limit the guest list to close friends and family members.
- Create a theme – Once you decide on a theme, you can purchase invitations, plan games, the menu and decorations.
- Address and mail invitations – If there are many, the whole bridal party can help out. Invitations should generally be mailed 30 days prior to the event. You’ll want people to RSVP within enough time for you to shop for the event.
- Locating a venue – Traditionally showers are held in the home of a close friend or relative. It’s becoming more and more common nowadays to hold the shower in a restaurant or catering facility.
- Plan menus, appetizers and select a cake.
- Decorate before the shower.
- Greet guests – Guests typically arrive 30 – 60 minutes before the guest of honor
- Introduce guests – Many times this is done with the help of some ice breaking games
- Greet Guest(s) of Honor
- Coordinate activities so there’s no lull.
- Help bride and groom take their gifts to their final destination.
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Comments
Patricia - You can put the RSVP date on the invitation like "Please RSVP by February 20" as one option. Unfortunately, not everyone will RSVP on time, and you may need to be making some calls to ask -- it's not a comfortable phone call, to be sure, but you can always say something like "We never got your RSVP - I hope it didn't get lost in the mail. Do you think you'll be able to make it?" Keep it lighthearted and don't try to guilt anyone into a response they'd rather not give, and you shouldn't have much trouble collecting the RSVPs.
-- Contributed by: Melissa MayntzHow do i let guest know I need the RSVP.
-- Contributed by: PatriciaThis page has been accessed 16,689 times. This page was last modified 14:34, 13 December 2007.
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