Bridal showers are usually planned by the bridal party for the bride. The shower is normally pretty informal but there are some general etiquette and protocol rules that need to be followed. The first etiquette stumbling block for some planners is figuring out who to invite. It is important to remember that even though the shower is a celebration for the bride and her family and friends it is important not to forget the grooms Mom, and sisters.
The idea of most showers is to only invite immediate family, close friends and female members of the wedding party. Of course the since the bridal party is planning the event they may have a good idea of just who this would include and that list can get awful long if everyone has input, but proper etiquette for a traditional bridal shower limits the guests to no more than 20-25 guests. Any guests invited to the bridal shower should be also invited to the wedding.
Who plans the bridal shower?
The Maid of honor usually plans the shower and may delegate duties to others, usually also members of the wedding party. However if the Maid of Honor can't organize the event another person may take control but should ask first if it is alright to do so. The normal amount of time between the shower and the actual wedding is six to eight weeks. The bride is usually overwhelmed as the wedding date approaches so it is best to have the shower way ahead of time.
Gift giving
There are traditionally gifts given at the shower. These gifts are usually not elaborate in nature and are meant to pamper the bride. As the gifts are being opened, someone should be in charge of making sure every gift and the person who gave it gets recorded so that thank you cards can be sent out later on.
Menu
Traditionally food at a bridal shower is anything goes. It really just depends on the brides wishes. However this may be an area to consult the bride's family in case there is some tradition that needs to be followed or if there is anything that is definitely not to be served. Most bridal showers have a theme and sometimes it works well to continue that theme with the food you select for the event.
Budget concerns
The bridal shower is usually paid for by either the Maid of Honor or the bridal party. Of course this is not a hard and fast rule. Sometimes a family member will pay for all or part of the event. Before the planning stage is complete it should be determined who exactly is paying for the event and what the budget is going to be. A bridal shower is a fun pre-wedding event. The objective should not be to try and be really elaborate with the food or entertainment but to instead just enjoy spending time together.
No comments:
Post a Comment