How to Plan a Simple Bridal Shower

A bridal shower celebrates a bride and her forthcoming nuptials. It is typically thrown by the maid or matron of honor. The bride's mother may or may not participate in the organization of the event, but she generally attends.Typically, a bridal shower is considered the female equivalent of the bachelor party, except that the bridal shower provides gifts specifically for the bride as she prepares to get married, and it is usually held at least a month before the wedding.

Things You'll Need

• Invitations Guest list Party favors Gift book Thank you notes Decorations

Instructions

1. Plan the bridal shower so that it takes place at least one month prior to the wedding. Choosing the date and the location of the bridal shower will be key to getting the invitations out in time. As the maid of honor you will automatically invite all the women in the bridal party (mother of the bride, mother of the groom, bridesmaids), close female relatives if they are not in the bridal party and close female friends. If you are uncertain, clear the guest list with the bride. You should mail the invitations at least three weeks before the event and request RSVP by phone, email or regular post. Keep at least one invitation as a keepsake for the bride.

2. Plan the theme of the bridal shower. If you are planning an evening bridal shower, you may make it a night out on the town where the guests travel to favored night spots. An afternoon bridal shower may be hosted in a restaurant or a home. Food is traditionally served, so be sure to match your food planning with the theme for the bridal shower.

3. If the bride is registered at individual locations for her wedding, be sure to note that for guests, so they can pick up bridal shower gifts.

4. Choose a bridal shower favor that the guests will receive for attending, for example, candles, soaps or glass slippers with chocolates in them. These favors will be your way of thanking the guests for attending the shower.

5. Prepare party activities. If you're hosting the bridal shower at home, then you want to plan some simple activities that the ladies can engage in while celebrating the bride's special day. For example, have each guest write down a piece of marriage advice and place them in a jar to present her with wisdom to carry into her marriage. Another fun activity is to sit in a circle and have each guest relate a favorite story of the bride, and then of the couple.

6. Provide the bride with a special hat, veil or tiara to set her apart from the other guests. Remember, the day is designed to be joyful. By this point, the bride is deeply immersed in her wedding planning and likely very stressed, your job is to give her a day to relax and enjoy herself.

7. Record all the presents the bride receives. You'll want to note the item, who gave it and what she might use it for. If the bride makes any fun remarks, include those in the notes. You'll be able to give the bride the gift book later for her memories. You'll also need it to send out thank you cards for her. A good rule of thumb is to have the thank you cards sent within a week of the party. It's a little extra work for you, but the bride and all of her guests will really appreciate the effort. Be sure to store some of the pretty wrapping. You may use it to create a gift for the bride later.

8. Place party favors on a table near the door so that you can give them to guests as they are leaving. Make an effort to walk each guest out unless the bride is already doing it.

9. Help the bride pack up her gifts. If anything is too large, make arrangements to have it taken to her. Clean up after the bridal party and stay with the bride until the last guest departs. If you took the time to personalize any items (napkins, cups, place settings) be sure to pack an extra set aside for the bride's scrapbook or album.

Tips & Warnings

• While it's alright to have bridal shower guests reply by email or phone, you should send out formal, paper invitations by mail. Personalizing napkins, plates and cups is a nice touch for a bridal shower. Party favors can be simple or elaborate, but often have the wedding couple's name and their wedding date engraved when appropriate. It's the little things that count--decorate the bridal shower to the bride's tastes, not your own.