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Wedding Announcements

Hosting a Happening Bridal Shower

Take guests, and more importantly the guest-of-honor, from bored to buzzing by simply tacking a theme onto this centuries-old event. A theme makes planning easy on the host; gives guests something to talk about, as well as inspiration for gift-giving; and makes the bride feel treasured.

Themes can run from the ordinary—bring something for this room, that hour, or beginning with this letter—to the outrageous, so let the bride’s personality be your guide. For instance, Rachel’s refined nature might make an elegant tea party just the thing. Also take guests’ natures into consideration. The idea is not to offend, but to celebrate. Mortify Aunt Mary and the bride might be belittled instead of blessed. Crank up your creativity by asking yourself these questions: What are the bride’s hobbies or interests? A shower centered on one of these is sure to please. Where is the couple going for their honeymoon? If Hawaii is their destination, a luau might make for a festive shower. What has the bride always wanted but doesn’t have? Now is the time to help make her dreams come true. Has she dropped hints about the type of shower she’d like? You can run with this one for a sure-fire hit. Now let your imagination flow. Write down all of your ideas. Next, get together with a close friend or family member of the bride’s and whittle your list down to two or three possible themes. Lastly, factor in things like your budget, space and time-frame, and then make your final decision. It’s okay to keep the theme a surprise to the bride, but it’s no longer cool to throw a surprise party. Life’s just too busy. You don’t want the bride to be a no-show, or to show up needing to be somewhere else in an hour.

Furthermore, the bride should get some say-so about the guest list. While it’s now acceptable to invite people to a shower who might not be invited to the wedding, the bride might feel awkward about such a situation. Plus she’ll know best about what groups can mix well—or not. It might turn out that she’s not comfortable combining coworkers with family members. From here on out it’s just a matter of putting it all together. Can you pull it off on what you’re willing to spend, or would it be better to ask someone else to co-host and share the cost? Are you going to supply eats (catered or self-prepared?) or do you want to hold a potluck? If your venue charges an entrance fee, are you footing the bill, or do you expect guests to pay their own way? They need to know this well in advance.

The bridal shower is generally held three to six weeks prior to the wedding. And shower guests should receive a written—that’s right, not a phone call, not an e-mail, not a generic Internet form—invitation at least a month prior to the event. This gives them ample time to plan to attend, RSVP and to purchase a gift. Be sure the invitation includes the type of shower, for whom it will be held, when, where, who’s hosting, and how to RSVP. It is okay to follow up by phone with anyone you haven’t heard from within a few weeks. The time between issuing invitations and the actual event is the time for you to get your act together. Organize food, plan activities, and put together decorations—all of those things that help tie the theme together. And if the party’s at your place, clean the house. Most importantly, when the big day arrives, breathe, relax, and just have fun.
That’s what it’s all about.

Note: bridal showers are not just for brides anymore. You might want to select a theme that allows for a coed shower honoring both bride and groom.

By Catherine Parmelee
For the Juneau Empire