A bride-to-be has quite a bit on her mind that she needs to accomplish.
Worrying about the bridal shower and how it will flow should not be one of the things that concerns her.
Here is a list of bridal shower etiquette tips to ensure the bride is happy and that no one's toes are stepped on: 1.
Maid/Matron of Honor should host the shower.
The bride has chosen one person specifically to stand by her side as her key witness to the ceremony, thus the shower should be planned or at least coordinated by her.
If she lives out of town, the mother of the bride should consult with her to see how she can help, but the responsibility for the shower itself falls to the maid/matron of honor.
2.
Host the shower 4-6 weeks before the wedding.
If you have the shower too early, the bride won't be ready for it, and if you host it too close to the wedding, the bride will be too busy with last minute details.
Having the shower 4-6 weeks before the wedding is a great timeframe for the busy bride to fit it into her schedule, while enjoying the preparation time for her wedding.
3.
Keep it small and simple.
Wedding showers should incorporate only those closest to the bride-her family, the groom's family, her friends and co-workers.
Try to limit the shower to no more than 20 people so that it will be intimate and more relational in nature.
4.
Who to invite.
The list of people to invite can be daunting-so make sure and enlist the bride's help in this.
Minimally; however, you need to invite the following to the main bridal shower: oMothers of the bride and groom oGrandmothers/great grandmothers of the bride and groom oAunts oFemale Cousins oSisters/Sisters-in-law oBridesmaids/female attendants oClose friends of the bride and her family oClose female business associates of the bride If someone lives out of town, state, or the country, yet is a close friend of the bride, it is very important to invite them as well.
5.
Invitations.
The invitations should be sent out 6 weeks in advance of the shower to allow for others' schedules.
It is important to include the following in the invitations: oBrides name oDate of the bridal shower oTime of the bridal shower (beginning and ending times) oAddress where the shower will be held oName and phone number of the hostess (and email address, if desired) oTheme of the shower, if there is one oRegistry information (some people consider this in poor taste; if that is the case, the hostess and those closest to the bride should use word of mouth to inform guest of where the couple is registered) oRSVP deadline (usually two weeks before the bridal shower) oMap/directions to the bridal shower location, with the phone number there in case people get lost 6.
Greeting at the shower.
It is important to have a person designated to greet people as they enter the home or the place in which the shower is being held.
This can be a bridesmaid, a relative, or a close personal friend of the bride.
The greeter should also provide direction for the guests, including: oWhere to put their coats/personal belongings oWhere to put their gift for the bride oWhere to get refreshments oWhere to sit, if applicable 7.
Thank You Notes.
While it is the responsibility of the bride to complete this job, the maid/matron of honor can make this easier for the bride by having each individual sign an address book for the bride as the guest book.
This will help the bride not only know who came to the shower, but will also give her an address book as a gift that she can use to send out thank you notes.
The maid/matron of honor should write the gifts given next to the names on the main line of the address book.
Following the above list will help you design an unforgettable bridal shower for the bride and her family!