Toasting to the bride. Photo by Perez Photography.
You’ve been there for her since the first date. You’ve hugged her through the tears. You’ve laughed with her during the good times. Now it’s time to be there for her wedding day. Being a bridesmaid is no small task, but with our weekly tips you will be the shining star of the bridal party. Visit us every Wednesday for the lowdown on how to be a bridesmaid.
First thing’s first: Does a maid of honor or bridesmaid have to plan a shower? Well, no. According to the Emily Post Institute, a bridesmaid or maid of honor is not required to host a shower, but it is certainly a nice gesture.
If you and the girls choose to do so, planning a bridal shower can seem like a daunting task. From the location, the date, food, activities, decorations, and the guest list; it’s a mini marathon of planning. Here are some guidelines if you and the girls choose to fete the bride.
Date
You need to decide on the date. The time frame of when to have the shower is usually six months to a week before the wedding. Look at your schedule for the next few months and start by seeing the possible days that you are available to host the party. Once you have a couple of dates in mind, get in touch with the bride. You can’t have a bridal shower without the her, so make sure she agrees to the date you have in mind. If you want the shower to be a surprise for the bride, ask her mother, sister or a close friend, to see their availability on that day. Lastly, look at the timeline of the wedding. You don’t want to jam-pack the bridal shower amidst a busy time with the rest of the wedding. Make sure people don’t feel overwhelmed with events to attend; after all there is life outside of all the wedding madness!
Location
There are a slew of places to throw a bridal shower in Dallas, from hotels, to restaurants, and even your own home. There are pros and cons with every location, so weigh the benefits of each option. With hosting in your own home, there is more freedom to control the party, with food, décor, and activities. Also it can be easier to mingle and meet people in this more relaxed setting. Hosting at a location though, means less preparation and no cleanup.
Guest List
You might not be able to invite all the women attending the wedding to the bridal shower, but you don’t want to leave out anyone important! Sometimes the groom’s side will throw the bride a shower, so check with the bride. If so, you might be able to narrow down or split the guest list. Traditionally those who are invited to the bridal shower are close female relatives and close friends of the bride and groom. And yes, every single bridal shower invitee must also be invited to the wedding. (Brides, make sure to make your wedding guest list before the shower list!)
Invitations
Once you have the date, location, and guest list settled, it’s time to mail out invites a month to six weeks in advance. Start looking at designs for invitations even if you haven’t decided on the when and where. You’ll have an idea of what you want the invitations to look like by the time you do decide on a place and time.
Food
If you decide to host the shower at a restaurant, there might not be a need to predetermine the food that will be provided. Hosting at home though you should provide some sort of food, even if just snacks and drinks. Set up a “make it yourself” station from mimosas, to yogurt, fruit kabobs, and even s’mores! Or have the bride’s favorite restaurant cater to your home. You’d be surprised at restaurants that are available for catering (Chick fil A anyone?), so there is something for every taste bud.
Activities
There doesn’t need to be any activities set to take place, but they never hurt! Having a photo booth is always fun and a great way to capture moments. You can do your own, or rent one! Little games that revolve around the bride are a good way to break the ice with a group of women who might not know each other. Have each guest fill out a quiz about the bride, and whoever scores the highest, gets a prize!
Décor
Décor is a great way for the celebration to come alive! You don’t have to go overboard, but a few decorative pieces will help cement the idea of a bridal shower. Banners, streamers, ribbons, all are easy things to brighten up a room!
Cheyenne Roundtree is a D Home and D Weddings intern.
The post The Bridesmaid Guide: Planning the Bridal Shower appeared first on D Weddings.