A bridal shower is a festive pre-wedding celebration with close friends and family of the bride-to-be, intended to pamper her and express our affection.
Send invites either digitally or by postal mail; create the final guest list; collect RSVPs that haven’t come yet and follow up on those that may still owe you one; and finalize any RSVPs that are overdue.
Start Early
Be proactive in your planning efforts for an ideal bridal party experience. First, sit down with the bride/couple to discuss expectations for the event, agree upon dates/times/locations that won’t conflict with other events, and notify important guests early so they can clear their schedules.
At this meeting, it’s also a good idea to go over the bridal shower gift registry and solicit input on whether the bride and groom want this information included on their invitations. You could also use this meeting as an opportunity to brainstorm wedding day tasks like asking guests for pictures of both parties from childhood for use on a timeline slide presentation, flower arrangements or DIY favors – or anything else the couple might need help with on wedding day!
Subsequently, it will be necessary to finalize and send out bridal shower invitations (and bachelorette party invites if applicable) at least six to eight weeks in advance to give guests ample time to arrange travel arrangements if required.
Your next task will be deciding the details and location for a bridal shower party, from how formal to casual it should be and whether food and drinks will be provided as well as purchasing any necessary supplies (i.e. serving ware, audio equipment or extra tables and chairs).
An important step to creating an enjoyable wedding day timeline for the bridal party is creating an agenda of tasks they must complete to avoid miscommunication among team members or any misunderstandings between team members.
As with any event, it’s wise to provide copies of your timeline for photographers, venue staff, maid of honor and ushers so they know what to expect at every point in time. And don’t forget a special pampering session with bride or bridesmaids – an opportunity for them to bond while showing your gratitude and showing how much you value their contribution!
Get Organized
Couples often underestimate how much time and effort is put into compiling an ideal guest list for their wedding. A successful guest list is essential to the overall success of any event from catering costs to budgetary concerns and more. If you need help creating one or just need someone else’s perspective on it, don’t be afraid to seek assistance; professional planners or even your wedding party may make the process more manageable!
Consider how involved you want your bridesmaids and groomsmen to be both before and during your wedding, including family obligations or geographical distance. They might not be able to contribute as much before, during, or even post-wedding events such as engagement parties or bachelorette parties.
No bride wants an overly-large or under-sized bridal party, so be sure to ask for assistance when needed! Your maid of honor, best man and other willing parents or friends may all provide invaluable assistance – from dealing with vendors directly to stamping envelopes quickly! All of these people can help make the planning process much less daunting!
Setting out clear expectations of your bridesmaids and groomsmen will save you both time and stress. Use Google Docs’ multi-edit feature so multiple people can edit it simultaneously – this way your bridal party is sure to remain up-to-date! Creating a spreadsheet detailing everything from dress sizes, gift ideas, tasks that must be completed as well as tasks for the bridal party can save a great deal of time in trying to keep everyone informed. Once created, share this spreadsheet with them all so they stay informed – especially since editing is faster this way than other methods!
At your party, decide if and which favors will be given as gifts to guests. If spending money, opt for luxurious and memorable items, like Diptyque candles or floral sachets from Ritchie. Otherwise, focus on creating an experience your guests will remember instead; maybe have a signature cocktail, have the bridesmaids decorate guest tables with vegetables bearing guests’ names (as seen here at a farmer’s market-themed shower), etc. Attendees will remember these gestures of affection most fondly as an impressive demonstration from you and your bridesmaids!
Have Fun
A bridal party is an intimate group of individuals trusted by the bride to assist in her wedding planning journey. They serve as support, provide advice, and ensure everything runs smoothly on wedding day. Although assisting can be hard work, having such an exciting role can actually make for great fun if approached properly!
One way of doing so is by having an unforgettable bridal shower experience. Doing so will set the scene for all subsequent festivities and provide your bride-to-be with memories they’ll never forget.
Make the bridal shower memorable by personalizing it to reflect the bride-to-be’s character and interests. If you are hosting or planning, conduct research about what matters most to her – explore her interests, hobbies and passions as sources for event themes or use her attire as guidance when selecting decor and menu options.
Engaging guests at a bridal shower through games can also help the bride-to-be have an enjoyable time. One such game is “Don’t Say It”, in which guests must not say certain words (such as bride, groom or wedding). If anyone utters it they are eliminated. A fun game for all bridal party members could include filling a jar or basket with date ideas for her to draw out whenever it suits her best.
Your bridal shower could even feature a food competition! Encourage guests to bring dishes related to the bride-to-be’s interests or your event’s theme; then have a tasting session with her to determine who created her favorite dishes.
If assigning seating is part of your event plan, preparing ahead by creating a seating chart and place cards may help make things run more smoothly. Or have your guests sign their names onto fruit slices that can serve as their seats at the table.
Stick to the Plan
No matter your excitement over an engagement, it’s essential not to let yourself become overwhelmed by all of the details involved with wedding planning. While it might be tempting to put some tedious tasks off until later, it’s best to deal with them immediately so you can focus on enjoying more exciting parts of wedding planning!
One of the key steps you can take to remain organized is creating lists. Create an overview list with all your big to-do items and total cost, then break each task down into more manageable tasks to help ensure nothing slips by unnoticed. Check in regularly and reassess any items which have yet to be completed on the list.
Keep a running spreadsheet of all of your bookings, such as wedding planner/coordination team members, photographers, videographers, DJ/musicians, caterers, caterers and any other vendors onsite for more than five hours. This way you’ll know who and when they have been booked.
When choosing your bridal party, don’t be intimidated to ask people outside your immediate circle for assistance. Finding an even number can sometimes prove challenging; in order to fill it up you may end up asking people who weren’t your top choices in order to even out numbers and achieve balance.
Consider how your bridesmaids and groomsmen will support you leading up to and during your ceremony. If they have full-time jobs or children, they may not have as much time for helping with preparations; similarly if they live far away or tend their own families it could make attending your hen’s and bachelorette parties or coming to the ceremony difficult.
When selecting bridesmaid dresses, be mindful to take into account each person’s personal style. Avoid forcing people into tight, form-fitting strapless gowns; give them options instead from among a range of colors and styles that best suit them. Allow them to choose their own hair and makeup styles or hire professionals if necessary.
