Bridal Shower 101: Recipe for a Party
By:
Vanessa Greaves
The question was popped, the date is set, and now it's time to shower the people you love with love. And toasters.
Like many time-honored customs, the bridal shower is rooted in romantic legend and down-to-earth practicality. Some say it began as a Dutch village's generous response when a farmer refused to let his daughter marry an impoverished suitor. Others whisper of a conspiracy by the fondue pot industry. Whatever its origins, the upside of a bridal shower is the sense of tradition, community, and genuine well-wishes involved in helping a bride-to-be gear up for a new life. The downside is the anxiety of pulling together such an important prenuptial pageant. Relax. We can help you with sensible advice and simple recipes for a perfectly lovely bridal shower.
Basic Elements
Party planning is like a recipe and the tasks are the ingredients. Make a list that includes invitations and follow up, menu, setup, cleanup, photos, decorations, ice-runs, etc. Add details as needed, but hang on to your sanity by keeping things simple.
- Bridal showers take place six to eight weeks before the wedding, usually on a weekend afternoon. It's traditional for the maid or matron of honor to lead the charge, with support from the rest of the bridesmaids. This means the cost of the party is borne by the party-givers, making it essential that you establish and stick to a budget. Having multiple bridesmaids enables you to split up the party tasks, and gives you a potentially larger pot of money to work with.
- The guest list is compiled by the bride, usually with input from the groom's family. When addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail information have been gathered, send out invitations six weeks before the shower date; send invitations several months ahead if you have guests who have to travel. (It's always nice to be asked, even if you can't make the trip.) Include the date, start and end times--two hours should do it--event address, contact information, and gift registry rundown. If the party is organized around a theme--kitchen, new home, pamper-the-bride, or other special interests--let the invitees know.
- The length of the guest list and the depth of the budget bear a direct relationship to the breadth of the shower. A long guest list might mean you rent a space; a more intimate gathering could be held at a private home. In any case, plan for adequate seating, eating, and mingling. Decorations can be simple or elaborate; classic or themed. If there's room in the budget, hire someone to help set up, serve, and clean up afterwards.
- Showers can be girls-only or coed. You can gather at a spa, park, or craft studio; or break out and take a cooking lesson, go rock-climbing or bird watching. Just take into account the age, interests, and abilities of all the guests.
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