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What Is a Bridal Shower? Bridal Shower Ideas and Customs

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Dec 20, 2022 • 3 min read

A bridal shower is a pre-wedding event celebrating the bride-to-be before her big day. Learn about the history of bridal showers and proper bridal shower etiquette.

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What Is a Bridal Shower?

A bridal shower is a pre-wedding event in which close friends and family of the bride-to-be gather to shower her with gifts. A bridal shower typically takes place in the daytime, from six months to two months before the wedding. The bride’s maid of honor, bridesmaids, and relatives usually host and cover the costs of the celebratory event. Hostesses can incorporate several games, activities, and traditions of bridal showers into the gathering.

What Is the Purpose of a Bridal Shower?

A bridal shower is a special event to celebrate the bride and shower her with household gifts to help build her home as a married woman. The bridal shower has its origins in Holland in the sixteenth century. When the bride’s family disapproved of her fiancé and did not provide a dowry, the community would throw her a bridal shower to supply her with gifts for the dowry.

Bridal showers became common in the United States in the 1890s, particularly among upper-middle-class brides in urban areas. Today, bridal showers are common pre-wedding events, along with engagement parties and bachelorette parties.

Bridal Shower vs. Wedding Shower

A bridal shower and a wedding shower are both pre-wedding events involving gifts. Bridal showers focus on the bride, and attendees typically include women friends and family. Wedding showers are more inclusive and honor the couple. At wedding showers, friends and families gather to celebrate the couple and give gifts to mark their new life together.

Who Hosts a Bridal Shower?

A bridesmaid, typically the maid of honor or matron of honor, hosts the bridal shower. The mother of the bride, the mother of the groom, or a close family member can also host the bridal shower and support shower planning duties. The person hosting the shower typically covers the cost of the event. Bridesmaids and close relatives of the bride often contribute to the costs.

8 Bridal Shower Customs

When planning a bridal shower, consider the following bridal shower customs and rules of etiquette:

  1. 1. Attendees: Bridal shower guests typically include close friends and family members who are wedding invitees. The party size can be intimate or large, depending on the wedding guest list size.
  2. 2. Costs: The bridal party usually splits the cost of hosting the bridal shower, though the bride’s mother and the mother of the groom can contribute.
  3. 3. Dress code: The bride can consult on the dress code and bridal shower theme, ranging from a casual lunch to a whimsical tea party to a formal garden party.
  4. 4. Games: A traditional shower involves a meal, then attendees often participate in group activities and games. Bridal shower games include trivia about the couple, gift bingo, and wedding-themed charades for prizes. A popular game pairs attendees to create a wedding dress using toilet paper.
  5. 5. Gifts: A bride might create a registry for bridal shower gifts. A traditional bridal shower gift is a household item. Today, bridal shower gifts can focus on the bride and include bridal accessories, like lingerie or wedding garters. While it is tradition for the bride to open gifts at the party, it is unnecessary.
  6. 6. Groom: It is customary for the groom-to-be to attend the end of the event and help pack up the gifts. Usually, the groom-to-be presents the bride-to-be with a bouquet.
  7. 7. Invitations: Hostesses should send bridal shower invitations four to six weeks before the event so guests can mark their calendars and buy gifts. The invitation should include registry information.
  8. 8. Timing: Bridal showers usually take place six months to two months before the wedding, on the weekend. Bridal showers are typically daytime events, like brunch or afternoon tea. Brides might choose to have a spa day or a wine tasting instead of a traditional bridal shower meal.

Ring the Wedding Bells

Have a wedding to plan? Learn how to take on the process strategically. Discover Mindy Weiss’s approach to setting a budget, choosing a theme, and sending invitations when you sign up for the MasterClass Annual Membership.