Do I have to invite everyone to the bridal shower?
Nope, it's not necessary to invite all the women on your wedding guest list. However, the opposite has to be true. It would be poor etiquette to invite someone to your shower and not to your wedding.
How many people should you invite to a bridal shower? The typical shower is between 15-50 people. Definitely ask the bride and the mother of the bride for a list of guests who are a must. Then go from there.
The bridal party, including the maid of honor and bridesmaids generally make the top of the guest list, followed by immediate family members from both sides of the aisle. If the bride welcomes children at her shower, guests may also include nieces, the flower girl and junior bridesmaids.
Don't Invite Anyone Who Isn't Invited to the Wedding
This may seem obvious, but inviting people who aren't invited to the wedding is inappropriate. It will likely offend them, and like you're pandering for gifts. The only exception is an office shower, where coworkers want to impart good wishes to the betrothed.
Remember, it doesn't break any etiquette rules to not attend a bridal shower or bachelorette party but still attend the wedding, provided that you RSVP separately for each.
It's common for a bride to have more than one shower; when this happens, the hosts should consult one another about guest lists to avoid duplication (though bridesmaids are typically invited, though not expected, to attend both).
How much money should you give for a wedding shower? The appropriate amount of money to give as a bridal shower gift is the same as the amount you would spend on a tangible present: $50–$75. Give the couple as much as you can comfortably afford within that range.
The Average Cost of a Bridal Shower Gift
According to Opperman, bridal shower gifts tend to be less expensive than wedding gifts. "Many people spend around $50 to $75, whereas closer friends and family may spend upwards of $100," she says.
Traditional etiquette dictates that the maid of honor—not the mother of the bride—should host the shower.
Weichelt says bridal showers should ideally last between two and four hours. Anything shorter and guests will feel like they didn't have a chance to spend time with the bride; anything longer and they'll be itching to head home. Three hours might just be the sweet spot, then.
What is supposed to happen at a bridal shower?
The bride will open her gifts in front of the guests and often express her gratitude with a short speech. And opening gifts isn't the only thing the bride does at this event. In addition to gift giving, bridal showers may also involve playing games, eating great food, and having the bride's favorite drinks.
It's absolutely appropriate for the host to list your registry information on your bridal shower invitations. The scoop on where you're registered will naturally spread from your shower guests to your wedding guests, trust us!
While there are certain situations that make it acceptable to invite some guests to the ceremony and reception and others to just the reception alone, you should never do the opposite. Inviting someone to your ceremony and not to the reception would most likely hurt their feelings, so you shouldn't even consider it.
It is common for Bridesmaids, mom and mother-in-laws to be invited to all showers.
- Stick With Your Clique. ...
- Overdo the Beverages. ...
- Go Overboard With Social Media. ...
- Turn Your Nose Up at Games or Activities. ...
- Be Critical. ...
- Show Any Sign of Disappointment or Confusion During the Gift Opening. ...
- Forget to Say "Thank You"—A Lot.
Attend Bridal Shower
Traditionally, the mother of the bride doesn't throw a bridal shower in her daughter's honor unless the bride wants her to; that's usually the duty of the maid/matron of honor. However, it is perfectly acceptable for her to attend the shower.
Can You Wear Jeans To A Bridal Shower? In conclusion, you can wear jeans to a bridal shower as long as there are no holes or rips in the jeans. Pairing jeans with a nice blouse and heels can make for an elegant, simple, and ideal outfit for a bridal shower.
It's totally up to you and your fiancé to decide whether he will attend the bridal shower. Modern etiquette suggests that he show up toward the end of the shower to say hello and help stock up the car full of gifts. Some men even drop in for a few fun games.
If you're going all out with an elaborate bridal shower, you could be talking $40 to $150 or more (gasp!) per person. Even a small, elaborate bridal shower (think 15 guests) could cost between $600 and $2,250—and that's before invitations, decorations and cake.
Standard etiquette dictates the person hosting the shower would be the one who pays for it. However, if multiple people are hosting the shower (or if multiple people want to contribute to the event), that's absolutely fine too. From decor to food, all the ideas you need to shower the nearly-newlywed.
Who pays for bridal shower costs?
Who pays? Today it's the maid of honor and bridal party or the bride or groom's mother who throws the bridal shower. Typically, whoever throws the event is the one must cover the costs. Often, the maid of honor and her fellow bridesmaids throw the bridal shower and pay for it, and the mother of the bride contributes.
You may have heard the terms "bridal shower" and "wedding shower" tossed around, but is there a difference between the two? Turns out, yes! Simply put, a bridal shower is a party thrown for the bride, while a wedding shower is for the couple.
A typical cash wedding gift could range from $50 to $500, depending on the same factors listed above. Even then, aiming for the $100 mark is generally sufficient and will be comparable to the average cost of a physical wedding gift.
A bridal shower is a fun, celebratory occasion that allows the bride's close friends and family members to spend time together before the big day. It's also a practical opportunity for guests to "shower" the bride-to-be with gifts to help the couple establish a home.
How many people can be invited? It's up to the host to decide the number of guests. A shower should be an intimate party—not a gathering that rivals the wedding—so the guest list is usually made up of the couple's close friends, family, and attendants.
If many guests will be local, aim to send the invites four to six weeks before the event. A bridal shower involving many out-of-towners, on the other hand, requires more advanced notice. Six or eight weeks should be sufficient time for long-distance guests to make transportation and lodging arrangements.
