Wedding Shower Invitations – When and What to Do

The wedding shower or bridal shower is an important part of the wedding process.  It not only gives the bride and her close friends a chance to get together before the wedding but also allows those who are close to the groom to learn more about the bride and her bridesmaids.  However, before planning for the actual shower events shower invitations need to be sent out.  Here are some guidelines to help you with the process.   

When to Send out Bridal Shower Invitations

Usually you would send out wedding shower invitations about 4 weeks beforehand. You could ask for reply about two weeks before the event if needed. This provides plenty of time for guests to reserve the date of the event without being notified too far in advance. 

What to Send and Include

The obvious things are the date, time, and location of the shower and the name of the host. If you are having a special theme shower, do not forget to include special instructions so the guests can bring any required items to the shower. Many guests appreciate if the location at which the bride and groom are registered or a suggested list of gifts for the bride is also included with the invitation. Often we would recommend written directions or including a map with the invitations. Lastly, be sure to include a phone number to call in case people get lost on their way to the shower. 

Who is Invited

The person or people hosting the shower should do the inviting with the bride's assistance. A good place to start is the bride and groom's wedding invitation list. If at all possible, do not invite anyone to the shower that will not also be invited to the wedding. Traditionally, you are supposed to invite only people who personally know the bride. However, it is not uncommon for the mother and close family or friends of the fiancé to be invited so they can get to know the bride better and be included in the festivities.

Who should Host the Shower

Usually the maid of honour and bridesmaids would host the shower. Today, a bridal shower is sometimes hosted by very close friends of the bride. The mother of the bride should never host the shower, but she can help with the arrangements or preparation of the food, if the shower is hosted at someone's home. 

Who should Receive an Invitation

In general, the rule is one invitation per person. So if you are inviting roommates or people living at the same address, then each should receive their own invitation. If men are invited then one invitation would be sent per couple.

Wedding Shower Invitation Themes

A popular bridal shower theme is the “Bathrobe and slippers” theme. The guests get together and shower the bride with gifts meant to help her relax and unwind before the big day. Send out invitations for the shower with a picture of a bathrobe and slippers on it to set the tone. The invitation should instruct the guests to bring items suited to the purpose, such as bath products, gift certificates to a spa or salon, and yoga lessons.

Themes can also be practical. For instance, a honeymoon shower can be planned with the honeymoon destination in mind. Gifts can include helpful items like maps, travel books, or luggage. Food, decorations, guest favors and music can also be used to incorporate the theme of a honeymoon destination.

For a tea party theme, serve tea along with finger foods such as scones, finger sandwiches, petite fours, to your guests. Incorporate pictures of teapots into the shower invitations and give away tea packed in vellum pouches to each guest as a gift to take home.

For a winter bridal shower you can use Christmas Ornaments as a theme. Guests can be instructed to bring a ornament for the couple's first Christmas tree. Serve apple cider and egg nog and find a warm location with a roaring fire to shower the bride. Place vases filled with pinecones and candles around the room to add a warm glow and play some Christmas music in the background to help celebrate the season.

For a garden party theme, the shower can be held in a garden setting and each table can be decorated with a pot of fresh growing herbs. Hang a few lanterns off the tree branches and give away packets of seeds as shower favors to accentuate the garden theme. Have each guest bring some of their favorite gardening tools for the bride to use at her new home.

For a favorite memories theme, have each guest brings a gift that represents a favorite past time spent with the bride. Have pictures of the bride and her friends and family posted around the room so each guest can reminisce about the times they have shared with the bride-to-be. For each favor, tie a printed picture of each guest from their childhood onto a box with the bride's favourite sweets inside.

For a pajama theme, have guests arrive dressed in their PJ's. Keep it simple and fill the evening with manicures, pedicures, facials and massages, comfort food, and lots of girl talk! As a perfect gift at the end of the night giveaway a bottle of your bride-to-be's favourite nail polish!

For a cooking or baking theme have each guest write their favorite recipe on a recipe card and bring the card along with all non-perishable ingredients for the recipe in a box or gift basket. The invitations can be printed with pictures of cupcakes and other baked goods or a spatula and spoon. Place baskets with baked goods and flowers around the room to double as decorations and plan games around the bride-to-be’s favourite desserts and dishes.

Thank you Cards

Thank you cards should be written, by the bride, as soon after the shower as possible, and most certainly before the wedding. The thank you cards should be signed using the bride’s maiden name.  During the shower, a bridesmaid should keep track of gifts given by guest while opening the presents so they may be properly thanked for the item they purchased for the bride.   

For more information or ideas please visit www.stephita.com.