Tips For Making Bridal Shower Invitations

Ladies, planning a bridal shower is tricky. They're a unique kind of event—like a wedding, you're juggling the needs of multiple families and friends. That said, bridal showers don't have the kind of ceremonial rules that provide structure to the wedding planning process! For example, there are guidelines about wording your wedding invitation. However, when you're planning a bridal shower, how do you write an invitation that conveys all the info guests need while acknowledging the hosts, establishing the theme, and still get the invitations where they need to be on time?

First, don't panic. Creating bridal shower invitations isn't too challenging once you break it down. Ladies, you will even be able to make some cheap bridal shower invitations! Whether you want rustic bridal shower invitations or bridal shower brunch invitations, breaking down the process into simple steps is the first thing to do. Review the advice here, and you will have the perfect bridal shower invitations before you know it! Once you know these tips, ladies, it's time to search online for what you need to make the invitations.

Wording Should Match Tone Of The Event

Once upon a time, ladies, bridal showers were highly formal affairs! These days, that's not always the case anymore. The solution? Make sure to give guests an idea of what to expect before they even RSVP! The invitations are a great way to do that—not only with what you say, but how you say it. The wording should match the tone of the event. Ladies, it should match the theme to the level of formality! For example, requesting 'the pleasure of your company' is fine for a formal afternoon gathering. This doesn't work for everything. Yes, something like 'we'd love you to join us' works better if it's a barbeque at home!

Even the name of the event—wedding shower vs. bridal shower—can help you indicate to your guests what to expect. Is this event just for the bride and female friends and family? Or is it geared toward a wider audience? It's easy to make this clear, ladies, with the wording on the bridal shower invitations. Yes, this includes specifying the guest of honor!

Feature The Date And Time

It may seem obvious, ladies, but it's surprisingly easy to overlook something as simple as ensuring your invitations feature the date and time! Double-check that everything is correct before you print. It's not fun to have to contact all 50 guests to let them know you really meant 7:30, not 6:30! With any invitation, it's generally a good idea to write out the name of the month to avoid any confusion. Given the date 12/3/2021, European guests might presume the event was to be held March 12th, while Americans would assume December 3rd! You don't need to spell out everything, ladies, but for the sake of clarity, spelling out the month is a good idea. This goes for both the shower itself and for any 'RSVP by' date.

Don't Forget The Location

The when is important, but so is the where! Ladies, always provide an address. You should have more info on the location if necessary too. For example, if you booked a banquet hall at an event center, you need both the main address and the location of your specific hall! If your event has multiple locations, list both. This means when you have one spot for cocktails and another for dinner! That way, guests who arrive later can catch up at the right location.

For unique venues like an independent restaurant, you can probably get away with not listing the complete street address. Ladies, here's an example: 'Join us for dinner at the bride's favorite restaurant, Tony's Bistro in Elwood.' Guests who aren't familiar with the location can look it up without much issue! However, leaving out specific address information doesn't save much space. Including it can prevent guests from turning up at, say, Tony's Steakhouse by accident! Erring on the side of caution is a good idea when it comes to bridal shower invitations.

Include RSVP Details

RSVP details are critical for the host of the bridal shower! Ladies, you need to figure out how much food and drink to order, how many tables to rent or reserve, how many party favors you'll need, and more. It all depends on roughly how many people will be in attendance. The solution? Be specific in your RSVP instructions!

Typically, invitations for bridal showers do not include RSVP details on a returnable card. Instead, list a phone number or an email address to where guests should send their RSVP to. Ladies, also say if they need to text or call the number! It's also a great idea to say what info they need to include when they send their RSVP! For example: 'RSVP via text or call to 111-222-3333 by April 18th. Send us your name, whether you're able to make it, and one of your favorite memories of the bride!'

Don't Forget Registry Information

The bridal shower is a celebration of the upcoming wedding, but it's also a chance for some guests to present their gifts! Ladies, that's why you don't want to forget registry information on the bridal shower invitation! If you (or the couple) are using a wedding website, direct guests to that website. Of course, double-check that the registry portion is set up first. It's also a good idea to list the names of the stores at which they're registered. However, there's more!

Some couples aren't using traditional registries for things like home goods. Instead, they're often asking for contributions to a fund for their honeymoon, a new house, or even for charities! These are great to encourage practical and enjoyable gifts. That said, it's a good idea to have at least a small traditional registry listed for the bridal shower. If Aunt Maude is going to insist on bringing a physical gift, it may as well be something the couple chose!