You want to have a shower for your friend who is soon to be married, and all of a sudden you're in a panic. There are so many things to do and you don't even know where to start. This article will help you get organized.
Your first task should be setting a date. Most bridal showers are held in the early afternoon on a weekend. You should give guests plenty of notice, and of course the bride as well. This is a very busy time for her so her weekends may be booked up quickly. Most bridal showers are given between three weeks and three months of the wedding.
The next step, of course, is developing a guest list. Typically, the Maid of Honor and/or the bridesmaids host the bridal shower. Ask the bride for a list of people she'd like invited to the shower, with their names, addresses and phone numbers. If someone is not invited to the wedding, they should not be included in the shower invitation list. After all, it's insulting to ask someone to bring a gift to the shower if the assumption is that they are not a close enough friend to invite to the wedding. There are some exceptions, such as in the case of a destination wedding or a small wedding with only immediate family invited. Usually, all female relatives on both sides of the family are invited to the shower, as well as the bride's friends.
Food and drink should be next on your list. Since most bridal showers are an afternoon affair, light snacks and perhaps wine would be appropriate. Asking close family to bring a small dish is fine, but do not ask all guests to bring an appetizer or dessert. Most people will be offended to not only be asked to bring a gift but food as well. Be sure to have non-alcoholic drinks on hand.
Last on your to-do list is planning some games to play. This has long been a tradition at bridal showers. Depending on the guest list, they vary from non-offensive to slightly risqu‚. The bride should be the center of attention, but be sure to involve all the guests in some way. Two or three games should be plenty to break up the monotony of watching the bride open gifts.
The mother of the bride shouldn't offer to give a shower for her daughter. The guests might view it as another way of getting more gifts. As mentioned above, the attendants generally host the bridal shower. If a shower guest asks to bring a friend (yes this happens quite often), tell her no, but do it nicely. You might offer an explanation that the guest would feel out of place. Be sure to have a camera and take lots of pictures. The bride will treasure memories of her enjoying the company of friends and family and can make a beautiful photo album.
Article Source: http://www.orbitaloc.com/
Holly Clandon is the owner of FT Bridal, the best place on the internet for information about Bridal, For more articles on Bridal why not visit: www.ftbridal.com/articles
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