What is the purpose of bridal shower?

A bridal shower is a party specifically for the bride. No men allowed. The main purpose of the party is for all your lady friends to come over (or go out to a restaurant or some other destination), and shower you with gifts in anticipation for your new life as a married woman.

Is a bridal shower necessary?

Bridal showers aren't required, so if you're not interested, here's how to spread the word. Not every to-be-wed wants a bridal shower, and that's totally their call. While saying "no" to having a bridal shower should be simple in theory, declining a friend or family member's offer to throw you one can be tricky.

What do you do during a bridal shower?

What do You do at a Bridal Shower? Most bridal shower guests spend time mingling, eating, playing games, and honoring the bride-to-be. As a guest, you'll want to remember the celebration is all about the bride and her special day ahead, so most activities during the day will reflect this.

Who pays for a bridal shower?

Often, the maid of honor and her fellow bridesmaids throw the bridal shower and pay for it, and the mother of the bride contributes. With this model, the bridal party pays for the bridal shower for the most part and split the price, but the parents of the bride may contribute some part of the expenses.

Does the bride do anything for the bridal shower?

The bride plays a relatively hands-off role in her bridal shower. The bride does not help plan the shower, as the shower is a sort of gift to the bride. Whoever plans the shower can choose to make it as much of a surprise as they wish.

6 Things Brides Should Know About Bridal Showers.

Does the groom attend the bridal shower?

Unless you're having a Jack and Jill bridal shower, the groom does not need to attend the bridal shower. However, it's not uncommon for the fiancé to make an appearance towards the end of the event to say thank you.

What kind of food do you serve at a bridal shower?

What kind of food do you serve at a bridal shower brunch? For a brunch, serve quiche, petite sandwiches, simple salads, fruit, artisan cheese, seasoned nuts, muffins, scones, tarts, cakes, and specialty drinks.

Do bridal showers have cakes?

Like weddings, bridal showers often include cake. But because they're not weddings, don't feel the need to offer something big day-ready, like a traditional white confection. If you do want to slice into a cake, play with creative colors and flavors to fit the vibe of your celebration.

What are the mother of the bride duties?

The mother of the bride plays the role of hostess, meaning you should spend some time greeting guests during the reception. Although there are exceptions, other wedding-day duties may include sitting at the parents' table and dancing with the father of the bride to help warm up the dance floor.

Do you open gifts at a bridal shower?

It's a tradition.

There are still plenty of guests who look forward to seeing the bride's spontaneous reactions to the gifts, as well as see what everyone else brought. If your bridal shower guest list has a number of older guests, they may be upset if you don't open each wrapped present.

How long do bridal showers last?

Weichelt says bridal showers should ideally last between two and four hours. Anything shorter and guests will feel like they didn't have a chance to spend time with the bride; anything longer and they'll be itching to head home. Three hours might just be the sweet spot, then.

Do you buy a gift for a bridal shower?

In short, yes. If you're attending a bridal shower, you should always bring a gift with you to congratulate the bride. This is considered a good bridal shower etiquette. Even if you're a part of the bridal party or wedding party, a gift is still necessary.

When should a bridal shower be held?

So when's the best time to throw a bridal shower? Tradition (and Emily Post) states that the bridal shower should take place between two weeks and two months before the wedding.

What should you not do at a bridal shower?

What can I do instead of a bridal shower?

Who Walks mother of bride down aisle?

2. Mother of the bride. The mother of the bride is the last person seated before the officiant, groom and best man take their places at the altar. She can walk alone or be escorted by her son, son-in-law or another relative.

Which mother walks down the aisle first?

A. The groom's parents precede the bride's mother during the processional. Here's a rundown: After the ushers have seated all of the guests, the grandparents start up the aisle, followed by the groom's parents. Then the bride's mother takes her turn.

What color should a bride's mother wear?

There's not one specific color the mother of the bride should wear. It's generally best to steer clear of white, ivory or champagne hues as to not take attention away from the bride.

How much should a bridal shower cost?

According to the consumer information site CostHelper.com, a typical bridal shower costs $15 to $40 per person.

How should a bridal shower flow?

1:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.: The bride and guests arrive at the party, enjoy hors d'oeuvres, and mingle. 1:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.: Serve the main meal (if applicable) and bring out dessert, or continue mingling. 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.: Guests gather and play bridal shower games, like wedding mad libs, bridal bingo, or couples' trivia.

How many desserts should you have at a bridal shower?

For a group of 20 to 30, Auble recommends three bites per guest and four different dessert types. For larger groups, she'll often up the number of dessert types to 5 or 6.

Is alcohol served at bridal shower?

Do you serve alcohol at a bridal shower? It is perfectly fine to serve alcohol at a bridal shower. It's all depends n the preferences of the bride. There are some signature cocktails that are common drinks for bridal shower such as mimosas or champagne.

Do bridal showers have food?

In the past, wedding showers were traditionally daytime events, so hosts often opted for light lunch spreads or finger foods. Today, though, there are virtually no rules that dictate what you should serve.

What do you serve at a 1 pm bridal shower?

What do groom's parents pay for?

What Does the Groom's Family Pay For, Traditionally? The groom's family is responsible for corsages and boutonnieres for immediate members of both families, the lodging of the groom's attendants (if you have offered to help pay for this expense), and sometimes the costs of the rehearsal dinner.