How to Know When to Time a Wedding Shower

Although bridal showers are traditionally held at a set time in relation to the wedding, you may have to try an unconventional approach if important guests - or the bride - live out of town.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Wedding Shower Invitations
• Bridal Registries
• Guest Lists
• Candles
• Fresh-cut Flowers
• Champagne
• Sparkling Cider
• Champagne Glasses
• Champagne Buckets
• Postage Stamps
• Personal Organizers

1. Hold the shower four to six weeks before the wedding if you're using the traditional approach. If you hold a shower closer to the wedding, the bride and her family will be busy with wedding details.
2. Forgo tradition if the bride or her closest relatives live out of town. Hold the shower when everyone will be in town, even if this date falls close to the wedding or even after the honeymoon.
3. Choose a date and time for the shower. The possibilities are endless here, from a Saturday afternoon to a mid-week evening to a Friday night. Your choice should depend on the preferences of the bride and important guests, as well as on the type of shower you are hosting.
4. Send invitations up to a month before the shower. If the shower is to be held close to the wedding date, send shower invitations after the wedding invitations have gone out.
5. See the Related eHows for ideas on how to host and choose themes for a successful shower.

Who Can Help:

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Tips & Warnings

• If you hold the shower after the wedding or honeymoon, be sure that guests invited to the shower were also invited to the wedding. You might hurt some feelings otherwise.
• Always consult the bride about dates and times that would be most convenient for her before planning a shower.
• Couples showers are best held on a weekend day or evening. A work-related shower is perfect on a weekday lunch hour. A women-only shower might be a luncheon or afternoon tea.
• Remember to consider guests who work when you plan the shower. Those with full-time jobs won't be able to attend a midday affair on a weekday, for example.
• Although it is not improper to hold a shower after the wedding, especially if this time works best for the bride, some guests may not be inclined to spring for another gift - especially if they've just given an expensive wedding gift. A group gift could be a solution to this problem.