The Modern Wedding Shower
Photo Courtesy of Heidi Ryder Photo via Almost Makes Perfect
I can’t tell you the number of times I get asked about Wedding Showers from Brides! It’s a topic of hot debate!
Who Do I Invite? Who Do I NOT invite? Can I host my own? Can I veer away from the traditional Sunday afternoon with games?
Well, I decided to take all of your questions into account, and share with you some insider tips and tricks to make planning/hosting a Modern Day wedding shower. Ladies, let’s be serious, times are changing - and with that, comes the opportunity to do unique and fun things in every avenue of the wedding planning process.
Can I Host My Own Shower?
100%! Traditionally, the shower was hosted by the Maid of Honor, Wedding Party, or even the Soon-To-Be In-Laws. But in today’s society, more and more Brides are planning their own showers to allow them to have a say in the planning process. Thanks to all of the adorable ideas on Pinterest, and across social media, Brides just don’t want to miss out! And I don’t blame them! I, myself, helped plan my own shower (perhaps my OCD came into play a little here) but it allowed me the opportunity to fine-tune the details, the guest list, and ensure it was exactly what I was hoping to project for my Big Day.
The Big Debate - Who is In, and Who Doesn’t Make The Cut
Ok, that header sounded a little harsh, but it’s time to make some decisions. Tradition said that any woman invited to the wedding, should be on the guest list for the shower. But what about Uncle Rob’s new girlfriend that I’ve never met? Or my fiancees female co-worker that I’ve only spoken to a few times?
This is where to begin with the inviting - your Wedding Party, immediate family and closest friends. From there, you can choose to break it down into categories - extended family, co-workers, friends who are close (and coming to the wedding) but perhaps not ones you speak to on a regular basis.
Once this list is complete, you can consult with your parents to see if there was anyone else they had in mind, and consult with your fiancee to see how they feel about the list. Go with your gut feeling on this one!
The rule of thumb: Never invite someone to the shower, if they are not invited to the wedding.
How Do I Make My Shower Unique
This might be the most questioned one of them all! Veering away from the stuffy Sunday shower has become a main mission for many of my Brides, and I am applauding you all!
I have been seeing a lot more Friday evening showers - perhaps a Wine & Cheese Night, or Saturday evening Open-House styled shower where couples are welcomed to come. I’m also not going to lie - I love this shift in tradition!
Here are a few other great Shower Ideas to keep things unique
Cooking Class Shower - Either at your home (this one depends on guest list size + the size of your home) or by renting out a space and hiring a Chef to come in and work through some meal prep with you and your gals! This is something that is not only fun, but informative and useful!
Cocktail Hour Shower - This one can work perfectly for a Friday After-work “Kick-off the Weekend” event. You can look into Renting out a Private Room at a local bar, to have a Mixologist mix up some fabulous cocktails, to keep things fun and anything but stuffy!
Mexican Fiesta - Whether you are deciding to host at your home, a parent’s home, or out at a local space, who doesn’t love a fiesta!? Ask guests to dress to impress, and let the Margarita’s flow! This is also a great and fun way for people to learn to Salsa Dance, or provide some other unique entertainment. It’s all about the experience!
What Can I Register For? And Can I Register For The Dyson?
Another very common question when it comes to showers, is the registry. In today’s society, many couples already live together and have homes. So what do I register for now you might ask?
Well if you are anything like me, I had one of my Mom’s old Crockpots (Hello disaster if you are a This Is Us fan), some of my Grandparents old dishes and a lot of mis-matched utensils to complete the set. We also did not have any tools to help with home improvements, or a viable vacuum that would actually pick up all the dog hair!
A shower is a great opportunity to polish off your sets and create a kitchen and home that is a little more “adult.” There is nothing wrong with those mismatched plates and utensils, don’t get me wrong, but when you host your first Thanksgiving as a married couple, it might be nice that everyone can eat off of the same looking dinner set.
Avid Baker? Register for some great baking equipment that will last you for years.
New Home Owner? Hello Home Depot! You can certainly also put Gift Cards on your Registry, to work towards that tool bench you need for your basement.
And about that Dyson….. put it on the list! I always recommend putting on a couple larger ticketed items, as sometimes a group of ladies would like to go in on something together. So thank your co-workers when they show up with that Dyson, because you will love them forever!
For more Wedding Shower Tips, be sure to head back to our previous post about Wedding Shower Planning 101. and for more information, head to Wedding Wire for even more wonderful Planning Resources.