Traditionally, bridal showers have been put together by the maid-of-honor, but times they are a-changing! These days, the entire bridal party typically pitches in, and oftentimes other close friends and family members become involved as well. This is great because it divides the responsibilities and costs among many people, and makes for a better bridal shower experience! The most important part of putting together a successful bridal shower is planning ahead and operating on a timeline…here is a loose schedule to follow to ensure a stress-free party planning experience!
Eight Weeks Before the Shower
Bridal showers typically take place four to six weeks before the wedding. About eight weeks before the anticipated shower date, start putting together a checklist of what needs to be done for the party. This will help you keep track of budget, who’s taking care of what, and miscellaneous tasks that will need to get done. At this time, you should also set an exact time and date for the shower. Consult with the bride about who she would like to invite, and try to get some insight into where she would like the shower to take place.
Six Weeks Before the Shower
Contact a caterer (this site is a good resource to check out) and plan the menu…showers typically include an informal brunch or lunch buffet of small finger foods that allow your guests to eat easily while mingling. A fun, budget-friendly idea is to ask guests to make their favorite dishes for the buffet and bring the recipe along for the bride’s recipe box! At this time, invitations should be sent out, and the location should also be booked.
Two to Three Weeks Before the Shower
Call your vendors to confirm the party reservations…this includes the venue, caterer, and musicians. If your guests are bringing food, confirm what they are bringing to make sure that there will be an even spread of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Pick up any beverages that you anticipate having at the party, and don’t forget champagne for the toasts! If the shower will be taking place in someone’s home, ensure that there are enough dishes and utensils available, or pick up paper plates and disposable utensils. This is also the time to purchase decorations, bridal shower games, and bridal shower favors…all of these things are available from online retailers like American Bridal. One fun idea is to buy a disposable camera for each table at the shower, and allow the guests to take pictures at the party. Have all of the photos developed and put them together in an album for the bride, as a supplement to her wedding album.
The Day Before the Shower
Get to the venue EARLY. You’ll need at least two hours to decorate, set up tables and chairs, and set out the food and favors. Remember to bring a pen and notepad for documenting who brought which shower gift, and don’t forget your camera. Also, keep in mind that showers are supposed to be casual and fun! If something doesn’t go as planned, remember that this day is about celebrating the bride, and no one will notice if the spinach and artichoke dip gets lost along the way!
This guest post was written by Leslie. She likes to explore popular trends and creative ideas for every stage of planning a wedding. Along the way, she has picked up many tricks of the trade, and enjoys sharing them in freelance articles that she writes for various wedding blogs.