Basic Bridal Shower Etiquette

Brush up on your basic bridal shower etiquette with this helpful guide. If you are hosting or attending a bridal shower, you will want to check out these great tips, before planning or attending. From creating the beautiful invitations to post party thank you notes, we have you covered! So get reading and Emily Post will be pround of your dedication to proper etiquette!

Bridal Shower Invitations

Traditionally, the host of the bridal shower was not part of the bride's immediate family. However, it is becoming more and more acceptable for sisters, mothers and future mothers-in-law to host the shower.

If someone is invited to the bridal shower, they should also be invited to the wedding. The only exception should be coworkers who know they are not invited but wish to throw an office bridal shower.

The bridal shower guest list should be comprised of close friends, the bridal party and family. Not every female guest attending the wedding should be invited, unless the wedding itself is extremely small.

Bridal shower guest lists can be made up of both men and women. Gone are the days of female-only gatherings; many couples are opting for a co-ed friendly couples shower in lieu of a bridal shower.

Finally, although holding multiple showers has become quite popular, try to limit the number of bridal showers to two maximum. Unless each shower has an entirely different group of people, it is inconsiderate to ask that guests attend multiple showers and buy multiple presents.

Bridal Shower Gift Etiquette

Bridal registry information can be included with the invitation for the bridal shower, but it should not be written on the invitation itself. Etiquette dictates that the registry information can be printed separately on a card included within the invitation envelope. However, if you were to break one bridal shower etiquette rule, this is one that few would blink an eye at since the difference is so subtle.

Gifts are very much expected at a bridal shower. Also, if a guest gives a gift at the bridal shower it often serves the purpose of their wedding gift to the couple as well. Some guests choose to give a smaller gift at the shower and still send another present for the wedding, although this is by no means necessary or expected.

Themed bridal showers dictate that guests should bring a present in line with the theme of the wedding. Although guests do not have to bring something off the couple's registry, it is recommended that they do unless they know the couple very well and have something unique and fitting in mind.

For family-hosted bridal showers, refrain from buying the bride naughty' gifts or lingerie, and save it for her bachelorette party. Of course, if the theme of the shower is a lingerie shower then you can go wild with lacy underthings.

Bridal Shower Thank You Etiquette

Bridal showers are an outpouring of love and generosity. Many guests travel to attend the shower in addition to bringing a gift, devoting a lot of their time, energy and money for the future couple. Because of this, bridal shower thank yous have etiquette as well.
The most important rule is to send each and every guest who brought a gift a thank you card. Also, it's not polite to ask guests to address their own cards at the shower, as is sometimes done to save time on sending thank you cards.

When sending thank you cards, don't use stationery that is monogrammed with your married name until after the wedding. For a bridal shower, you can use stationery that has the bride and groom's first name (if it's personalized stationery). Otherwise, a simple thank you card is appropriate.

Finally, thank the hostess who threw the bridal shower. A lot of time, energy and money go into hosting a bridal shower, so a heartfelt thank you present or flowers, along with a note and follow-up call after the shower is an ideal way to thank the hostess.