This is by far the most common pre-wedding party- make sure you don’t miss out!     One of the most fun parts about being a bride is being the center of attention at the bridal shower. The bridal shower is a great place to hang out with your female family and friends (as well as future family). Everyone brings a gift at this party- which makes it even more fun because you can open all the gifts in front of everyone. The party is usually held at the most two months from the wedding. This means you can have it any time between the day before and two months before the wedding.

The bridal shower is typically hosted by the maid of honor. Of course, it can also be hosted by your mom, sister, aunt, or whoever else you (or your maid of honor) would like. Generally, whoever hosts the party pays for the party. However, it is not uncommon for all of the bridesmaids to pitch in if it is going to be a particularly expensive occasion. Remember, the shower can be anything from a picnic at the park, to a day at a beauty spa, to a formal dinner at a banquet hall.

One of the best things about the bridal shower is that it typically has a theme, and hence the presents you get will have a theme. This theme will usually coordinate with wherever you decided to hold the party, and is usually associated with the brides personality and tastes. As for the gifts- it is etiquette-ly okay to describe on the invitation what the guest should bring. For example, if you were to have a garden theme, you may ask the guests to give gardening tools, seeds, or garden decorations as gifts.

Typically, you’ll want to invite only those people who you are really close with (and who your fiance is really close with). If the shower is going to be a surprise, you can always consult with your maid of honor (or alternative hostess) as to who you want invited. Make sure you give them a list of addresses as well so that they don’t have to track them down. Some people think it is good to send invitations to those who you know will not be able to make it (because of distance), however, it is completely up to you who to invite, and if you think those out-of-towners will feel bad getting an invitation to something they can’t go to- don’t send it.

Some people are starting to get into having couple showers instead of a bridal shower. This is where the fiance is invited and the guests list consists of both male and female friends and family. No matter which way you choose to do it, make sure you have fun and enjoy the attention you’ll be getting!