How to Plan a Great Bridal Shower

A well-organized bridal shower can be a fun and relaxing time for friends.

If you are the maid of honor for a friend's wedding, the planning of the bridal shower falls to you. If you are a friend of someone who is having a less formal wedding and you don't think anyone has planned a bridal shower, offer to be the person to make a bridal shower happen. A bridal shower is a great time for friends to get together and help the new bride celebrate her coming wedding and marriage.

Things You'll Need

• Invitations
• Centerpieces and decorations
• Party food
• Supplies for activities
• Large trash bag

Instructions

1. 

   Choose a date about 6 weeks before the wedding.

   Choose a date for the bridal shower. Traditionally, bridal showers are held about six weeks before the wedding. Check with the bride and her closest friends to make sure that the chosen date is convenient for them.

2. 

   Homes are ideal locations for bridal showers.

   Determine the location for the bridal shower. Homes are comfortable, intimate places for bridal showers. If you don't have access to a home that is large enough to host a shower, look for alternative locations such as park pavilions, apartment clubhouses, and restaurants.

3. Keeping your location's limitations in mind, compile a guest list. Ask the bride to give you a list of friends she would like to attend the shower, and have her provide addresses so you can mail invitations. Expect that 5-10% of the guests will be unable to attend, and adjust your list accordingly.

4. 

   Paper invitations are a nice touch to a bridal shower.

   Make or buy invitations. Invitations should be sent out about 3 weeks before the shower. You can make invitations using a desktop publishing program, or you can buy invitations and write in the details by hand. Avoid sending invitations via email or the phone.

5. 

   Decorations don't have to be elaborate to be beautiful.

   Make or buy decorations and centerpieces. Flowers are always perfect for bridal shower decorations, but you can get more creative if you like. If you have a buffet table, don't forget to place some flowers or other decorations on the table as a backdrop for the food.

6. 

   Set the food out on a buffet table for a nice informal lunch.

   Plan and prepare the food yourself or hire a caterer. The food you choose will depend on the time of day. For a mid-day bridal shower, plan to serve a couple of salads, finger sandwiches, fruit, and a light dessert. For afternoon bridal showers, dessert and a complementary drink will suffice.

7. 

   An activity helps to break the ice.

   Prepare an activity. To break the ice, you can divide the guests into two teams and have each team design a wedding dress out of toilet paper. You can have guests sign a large picture frame for future wedding pictures as a memento.

8. 

   Help the bride to keep track of gifts.

   Help with gifts. When guests arrive, have a designated area where they can place their gifts. Keep track of the givers of the gifts so the bride can easily write thank you notes after the shower. Place a large trash bag next to the bride's seat, so she has somewhere to put wrapping paper as she opens gifts.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to incorporate the wedding colors into the bridal shower invitations and decorations for a unified look.

• Introduce guests to each other upon arrival.

• Don't ask the bride or her family to help with the shower. They will be overwhelmed with plans for the wedding.

References

• Bridal Shower: Planning Timeline
• Real Simple: Bridal Shower Planning Checklist
• Good Housekeeping: Bridal Shower Planning Guide