Arguably one of the funnest wedding events, your bridal shower is where so many memories are made! Bridal showers are the perfect opportunity for all the important women in your life to come together and celebrate you. Planning a bridal shower is no small feat, and the task can be daunting to some. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of the biggest tips to remember when planning your bridal shower.
1. Host your bridal shower about 3 months before your wedding day
Some brides like to host their showers closer to their dates, and some prefer their showers earlier in the wedding process, but we recommend about a 3 month break between your bridal shower and wedding. Your guests won’t feel like all they’re doing is going to your events, and you will have given yourself 3 months of exclusively focusing on last-minute wedding details once your shower is out of the way. Set yourself up for planning success!
2. Bridal shower food can’t be overlooked
No, your guests aren’t expecting a 5 course meal with the most expensive food, but they are expecting to be fed, and if your event lasts longer than an hour (which most do!), you’ll want to feed your guests a proper meal. And if you’re planning to serve alcohol, like the bridal shower favourites: mimosas or sangrias, then you’ll absolutely need to remember to serve more than just snacks at your event. Don’t underestimate how hungry your guests will be!
3. Decide who’s responsible for planning the shower ASAP
In some traditions, the mother of the bride plans her daughter’s bridal shower, in others the bridal party is responsible for the whole day, and we’ve recently been seeing more brides taking charge of their own bridal showers. Whichever way you decide to go, make sure you’ve all come to an agreement early on to avoid confusion and frustration the closer your bridal shower date nears. And don’t forget that though the bridal shower may be thrown by someone who is not the bride, the day is still about the bride, so focus on what she would like.
4. Consider booking your shower at the same venue as your wedding
Before you dismiss this idea, hear us out. Booking the same venue for all your wedding-related events is a great way to keep your events within a similar theme, get your guests familiar with the grounds, and give you the chance to see the service and menus in action before your big day! Booking the same venue does not mean booking the exact same room, so you don’t need to worry that your bridal shower will be too similar to your wedding day. You can work with your event coordinator to ensure that each event feels unique and separate. You may even get a little extra thrown in by booking all your events at one venue!
5. Don’t skip the games
While some may feel that bridal shower games can be cheesy and overplayed, no one can deny that it’s the best way to get your guests interacting with one another, and the best way to entertain them on a Sunday afternoon bridal shower. Check out our blog post on 5 games to play at your bridal shower for some inspiration!
We love bridal showers here at St. Joseph’s Banquet & Conference Centre, and love how unique each and every one is! If you’re ready to book your shower, inquire with our social events department. We can’t wait to work with you!