Shower season will be upon us in a matter of months (or even weeks), so if you’re planning a special celebration for a future bride or mom-to-be, here are some suggestions for making the honouree happy, while simultaneously keeping yourself sane.
Bridal Showers:
- Don’t invite anyone to the shower that is not included on the wedding guest list. The only exception to this rule is a workplace shower in which a group collects contributions and purchases a gift for the bride or groom to be on behalf of the office.
- It used to be considered a social faux pas for the bride’s mother or sister to host a shower (it might look as though they were petitioning for gifts), but now it’s more common and widely considered acceptable.
- The ideal timing of a shower is two to eight weeks before the wedding. Invites for the shower should be sent out four to six weeks before the date of the event.
- Invitations should still be sent by snail mail, but it’s perfectly acceptable to send save-the-dates via email or a Facebook group.
- It’s okay for a bride-to-be to have multiple showers, but a different set of guests should be invited to each one.
- It’s okay to throw a shower for a second-time bride, although with the exception of very close friends and relatives you shouldn’t invite people who went to the first wedding shower.
- As the hostess, feel free to include registry information on the invitation; the invitees will appreciate it.
Baby Showers:
- Showers should be given four to six weeks before the baby’s due date. Invitations should be sent out three to four weeks before the date of the shower.
- The host is in charge of deciding how many people are invited to a baby shower because they bear the expense of the event.
- A shower should be an intimate affair and include close friends and family.
- Unlike wedding shower invitations, registry information doesn’t have to be included in a baby shower invitation. Guests often prefer to pick out adorable clothing and beloved books when choosing a gift for a new baby.
- It’s becoming more and more common to include the dad-to-be and a few of his friends on the guest list, but it definitely does change the dynamic of the day. Before you create a list of people you’d like to invite, determine if you’d like a ladies-only afternoon or more of a co-ed experience.
- Showers can be given for second and even third babies, although they are less common. The main purpose of a shower is to help new parents acquire the items they will need for the baby. If you choose to host a shower for someone who already has a child, considering coming up with a unique theme for this one. ‘Stocking the freezer’ and ‘Building a bookcase’ are both popular options.
Have you hosted a baby or wedding shower recently? Do you have any etiquette tips to add?
Image of shower from Shutterstock.
Tagged under: Baby shower,wedding shower,A Simple Etiquette Guide for Hosting Baby and Wedding Showers,how to host a shower,baby shower etiquette,wedding show etiquette
Category: baby-showers
