A wedding shower or a bridal shower is a get together organized to give gifts to the couple prior to their wedding. Primarily followed in North America it is organized by the bridesmaids and the gifts are generally for the couples home. In earlier times when the father of the bride refused or could not pay dowry the brides friends were sent wedding shower invitations to gather gifts and from this the tradition the concept of a wedding shower grew. A wedding shower is also thrown to honor the start of a new household by the bride and to give gifts which support her in the same.
The maid of honor is generally required to host the shower and send out the wedding shower invitations. Though if the maid of honor is a part of the brides immediate family she generally does not host the wedding shower. A wedding shower is generally conducted 4 to 6 weeks prior to the wedding. For convenience of the outstation guests a bridal shower should be conducted close to the wedding. The number of wedding shower invitations sent and the relatives who should be invited is subjective and is decided by the couple or the host.
Firstly to start invitations you require a guest list which can be arranged from the bride, but if it is a surprise the same should be arranged from the mother or fiance. Generally to avoid awkward situations it is preferred if the people called to the bridal shower are also called to the wedding. Around 4 weeks before the shower the wedding shower invitations should be sent so they are not too far in advance or too late.
If you are considering a themed bridal shower then it is preferred if special instructions for the same are sent with the wedding shower invitation. Directions to the shower and contact numbers are generally provided in the wedding shower invitation for an additional information which is required. Generally people known personally to the bride are invited to the wedding shower.
General tradition is to send one invite per person and not one invite for two people unless it is a couple shower where couples are invited. If there is more than one wedding shower organized, avoid inviting the same person again who will be burdened with arranging another gift. The wedding shower invitations are issued either by mail, telephone or in person.
Though a personal touch to invites such as hand written invites is considered charming, generally to avoid confusion and for the convenience of the host professional help is available for wedding shower invites. Professionals in this field are responsible for the whole process of inviting right from the designing the wedding shower invitation to the distribution.
Before the wedding the bride is required to send "thank you" cards to all the guests who attended the wedding shower. It should in the brides maiden name as before the wedding, stationary with the married name should not be used. Reference Wedding crashers --

View PDF | Print View
by: ginathompson
Total views: 78
Word Count: 525