The months and days leading up to a wedding are filled with gatherings of loved ones to celebrate an engaged couple’s love and lifelong commitment to each other. One of the most important events for a bride-to-be is her bridal shower, which takes place about 1-2 months before the big day and offers friends and family who are not part of the wedding party a chance to give personal well wishes to their beloved.
This article provides an overview of all things bridal and answers commonly asked questions about the event. We’ll cover the basics, such as who is invited to a bridal shower and what should you bring, as well as more specifics like bridal shower games and traditions and how to make sure your bridal shower is an affair to remember.
Bridal (noun)
A bridal gown or other outfit worn by a bride before her wedding.
A bridal shower is an occasion for the bride-to-be’s female friends and family members to come together to celebrate her upcoming nuptials. Traditionally, a maid of honor is responsible for planning and hosting the bridal shower, however, this is not always the case, and the bride may choose to throw her own or have another friend do it. The bridal shower is usually held about 1-2 months before the wedding and serves as the final opportunity for friends and family to shower the bride-to-be with gifts and their love and support before her big day.
The word “bridal” is derived from the Old English brydealo (“wedding ale”). As such, it’s not uncommon for the bridal shower to serve a variety of drinks and light appetizers. These can range from simple finger foods to a themed scavenger hunt, or even a spa day for the bride-to-be! The goal is to have fun and show the bride-to-be how much she means to her friends and family.
In addition to food and drink, it’s common for a bridal shower to include various games. These can be as simple as guessing the price of a bride-to-be’s dress to creating a paper wedding dress. There are also often more intimate activities, such as tarot readings or cooking classes. The best way to determine what type of activities your bridal shower should have is to talk with the bride-to-be and find out what she would like.
It’s a good idea to send out the invitations about four to six weeks prior to the bridal shower. This will allow guests plenty of time to purchase a gift and makes it possible for those with dietary restrictions to let the host know ahead of time. The guest list should typically be limited to about 50 people, though the number of attendees can be more or less intimate depending on the bride’s preference.