Wedding Shower Etiquette for Wording an Invitation

Wedding shower invitation etiquette can be as modern or traditional as you want to make it.

Bridal wedding showers are first and foremost a party for the bride (or sometimes the bride and groom) and her closest friends and relatives. Shower invitation etiquette is not as rigid as the formal style of a wedding invitation. Shower invitations should clearly describe the theme and intention of the event as well as provide all of the critical information to help the guest plan better and feel welcome.

Opening Line

Bridal showers are often informal events; therefore the tone of the invitation is not as formal as the wording of wedding invitations. Wording can be as fun and playful as you like, after all, the purpose of the shower is to have fun and show love, support and celebration for the bride. Possible invitation wording include "The bridesmaids of Sierra Jones invite you to a garden party shower for our bride-to-be", "Please help us shower our bride with love!" or "Things grow best with a proper shower, so help us in honoring Julie Ley before she walks down the aisle." More formal and traditional lines include, "You are cordially invited to the wedding shower in honor of Sandy Jefferson" or "Please join us for a bridal shower for the bride-to-be." Showers are usually reserved for the bride's girlfriends and female relatives; therefore base the appropriateness on who will be receiving an invite.

Critical Information

Though a catchy phrase may be the biggest thing on the mind when formulating the invitations, the critical information is undoubtedly the most important part of the card. Make sure all of the information is correct, such as numbers, dates and location. Make sure to include who is throwing the shower, the date, time, location and where to RSVP. This will ensure that at the very least, the guest will show up at the right place at the right time.

Gifts

It is proper etiquette to include gift theme and gift registry information on the invitation. Noting the theme of the gifts, such as asking for kitchen gifts, round-the-clock gifts, lingerie and the like will help make the gift giving more enjoyable for bride and guests. Leave out any mention of gifts if you prefer the guests to bring only what they choose, or if you prefer the bride doesn't see the gift information, include a separate card for just the guests.

Additional Information

Any additional information that is crucial for the guest to be aware of should be placed at the end. For example, "Don't forget to bring a bathing suit and towel," "Come dressed in purple and white only," "Remember to park your car across the street," etc. However if it's a surprise, you may want to put that information at the top, front and center so people don't forget, such as "Shh! It's a surprise! Chloe is not to know!"

RSVP

You should include either the RSVP number of the host, or a separate reply card already stamped, addressed and in an open envelope. If you are writing the RSVP in the invitation itself, put the information at the bottom such as "Please RSVP to Vicki at [phone]."

References

• Piece of Cake Wedding Showers: Perfect Bridal Shower Invitation Wording
• Invitation Consultants: Sample Wording: Bridal Shower