A bridal shower is not only lots of fun for the bride and her entourage (and sometimes the groom too!), but it’s also a great way to practice organising an event that can be just as busy as the wedding itself.
Make no mistake — there are a lot of details to consider when planning a bridal shower, beginning with your invitations. Like wedding invites and save-the-dates, bridal shower invitations have rules and etiquette guidelines. For example, a good rule of thumb is to send your party invitations four to six weeks in advance to give your guests plenty of time to RSVP and check their schedules.
How to Word Your Bridal Shower Invitations
Another detail to watch out for is your invitations’ wording. There are no hard and fast rules here and you can be as creative as you want to be. However, your bridal shower invitations should have certain essential details.
Essential Information to Include in Your Invites
- The bride’s name as the guest of honour — You can also include the groom’s if you are hosting a co-ed wedding shower. If it’s a ladies-only affair, keep the groom’s name off the invite to avoid confusing your guests.
- The date and time of your shower — It’s a good idea to spell out the month rather than using numerals to prevent any confusion (e.g., write out “1 December” instead of “1-12”).
- The venue or location of the party — In today’s world of Google Maps, it’s perfectly acceptable to state the venue’s name. If the shower’s venue is at a private residence, you’ll need to include the street address.
- A contact number/email address and the deadline for guests to RSVP — You’d be surprised how many people forget this important detail.
Additional Information to Consider
- The bridal shower’s theme and dress code (if any).
- The wedding date.
- The host’s name(s).
- Whether the bridal shower is a surprise.
- A URL or QR code to an online group or server on Facebook or Discord for further updates.
- Where the bride is registered.
Bridal Shower Invitation Samples
Now for the fun part. We’ve put together some wording samples to inspire your bridal shower invitations.
Simple and Traditional Wording
This invitation lays out the party’s most important details:
The one below includes details about the dress code and games at the party:
Wording for a Slumber Party-Themed Shower
Planning a slumber party-themed shower? Here’s an invitation for the occasion.
Cooking-Themed Bridal Shower Wording
Here’s how you can word an invitation to a cooking or kitchen-themed bridal shower.
Surprise Bridal Shower Wording
Planning a secret bridal shower? Here’s how to word your secret party’s invitations.
Couple's Wedding Shower Wording
Take inspiration from this invitation to a wedding shower, where the soon-to-be-married couple wishes to celebrate together with friends and family.
Over to You
Whether you’re the bride or the maid of honour in charge of planning the bridal shower, making sure your invitations are on point is great practice for your actual wedding invites and general wedding stationery. Again, you’re free to be as creative as you like — just make sure your shower invitations have all the information your guests need.
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FAQs
The date: People want to mark their calendars to make sure they're free for this bridal shower. The time: Tell guests if this is a morning event, an afternoon brunch, or an evening soirée. Venue: Whether it's happening at a swanky restaurant downtown or your cozy home, include the venue's name and street address.
How early should I send out bridal shower invites? ›
Bridal shower invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks before the event. This time frame gives guests plenty of time to RSVP, mark their calendars, plan for the shower, and make arrangements if need be. This timeline is especially good for those guests that may be traveling to attend the shower.
What is the average number of people to invite to a bridal shower? ›
How Many People Do You Invite to a Bridal Shower? Inviting between 30 and 40 people to the bridal shower is the sweet spot, with the understanding that some people probably won't be able to attend.
How to word dress code for bridal shower? ›
To make things easy for your guests, you might want to include something like “Dress Code: Casual” or “Dress Code: Formal.” Some other dress code wording for invitations might be: A formal dress code is requested. Please dress in your best! Dress to impress!
Who pays for the bridal shower etiquette? ›
According to standard etiquette practice, a bridal shower is paid for by the person hosting the event, who, in most cases, is the maid of honor.
What information should be included on all invitations? ›
Formal invitation Components
- Name of host.
- Invitational (requests the pleasure of your company, cordially invites you to)
- Event type/name/purpose (e.g., luncheon, dinner, reception, lecture)
- Date.
- Hour.
- Place.
- Reply instructions (e.g., reply card or phone number)
- Disabled instructions (e.g., fax or email)
The Traditional Bridal Shower Host
The maid of honor traditionally takes on the role of chief shower planner. But she isn't a one-woman show: She relies on the bridesmaids to help her with planning logistics. On the day of, the girls run the party, making sure everything goes smoothly and that guests are taken care of.
Who usually gets invited to a bridal shower? ›
A bridal shower guest list will be mostly the bride's closest friends, bridal party, and family. If the groom's mom is helping with the organizing, she may ask to invite the groom's sisters and aunties, so you can count on including the groom's close family too.
How many prizes do you get for a bridal shower? ›
How many shower prizes should you have? You'll need one grand prize for each of the bridal shower games you're playing during the party. If there's room in your budget, you can include optional second- and third-place prizes for each game, or reward all the players with small prizes for participating.
What color to wear for a bridal shower? ›
Basic Rules for Bridal Shower Fashion
Wear pastels, neutrals and bright colors to match the celebratory tone of the occasion. Floral prints are a great go-to. Wear something comfortable in case there are bridal shower games. Accentuate a neutral dress or top with bold shoes or accessories.
It's traditional for the bride, or the couple, to wear white at the bridal shower. This also includes pastel shades, like blush or soft blue, that can be photographed as looking white. All other colors—like bold, bright colors and prints—are fair game.
How do I ask for gifts on a bridal shower invitation? ›
When wording your invitation, keep it simple and classy. You might say, "Your presence is the greatest gift, but if you feel so inclined, a gift card would be appreciated." Add a touch of humor with something like, "Help us start our life together, one shopping spree at a time!"
What is a good number of guests for a bridal shower? ›
I'm often asked how many guests should be invited to a shower, and I usually recommend keeping it to around 25 guests if possible.
What is the average size of a bridal shower party? ›
Traditionally, a shower is an intimate affair with only the future spouse's (or spouses') closest friends and family in attendance. For some people, however, bigger is better, and the guest list becomes more extensive (and therefore more costly). In 2023, the average bridal shower size is 30 guests.
How many people do you invite to a 100 person wedding? ›
The number of people you should invite to your wedding depends on a few factors: your budget, venue, and vibe. Generally, it's best to split the guest list between both you and your partner. So, if you want to invite a total of 100 people to your wedding, plan on doing 50 invitations each.
Is $50 enough for a bridal shower? ›
The standard amount to spend on a bridal shower gift is around $50-$75. If you're invited to a bridal shower but not particularly close with the bride, expect to spend at least $25.
