Shower Invitations

With the variety of wedding showers to be had, figuring out how to address invitations can be a bit nerve-wracking.

Shower invitations may be printed and sent, given by word of mouth, or sent via electronic means. Online invitation sites are becoming more and more popular as they give guests an easy way to respond and can provide very colorful, and sometimes animated, invitations as well as instant directions.

If paper invitations are being sent, clear directions to the shower site should be included in the envelope with the invitation. If the shower recipient is registered for shower gifts, this information may also be included on an insert within the envelope.

Bridal Showers

Bridal showers are traditional parties given in order to honor the bride only. Groom events are addressed further down the page. Depending on the kind of bridal shower and whom the bride would like to see there, there are different ways of wording invitations.

Female Only Showers

The most common and traditional form of bridal shower is one where only females are invited. Generally, the women in the wedding party are invited along with female family members on both sides, and close friends of the bride. If the bride wishes, wives and girfriends of the groom's attendants or friends are also invited.

If the shower is themed, the invitations and wording should follow the theme. For instance, a lingerie shower may have a dressing gown on the invitation. For all invitations, the following information is traditionally included:

If the shower is a themed shower, the invitation may also want to include a sentence giving the theme. If the bride is registered for bridal shower gifts, an insert may be placed within the invitation to indicate this. It is not generally considered good etiquette to put registration information on the paper itself.

Males and Females Attending

If there will be both males and females attending the shower, the party may still be themed but more feminine themes will most likely be inappropriate. It is traditional for the guests at mixed gender showers to be able to bring a guest. However, as with wedding invitations, it is not polite for a bride wishing a small celebration to only invite the intended guest.

If the groom is not attending this shower, the shower does not need to be held in his honor as well. However, the couple should be consulted as this as some modern couples wish for the groom to be listed regardless if he attends or not so that they may receive gifts they would both like (rather than only receiving gifts for the bride.) Some grooms decide to hold their own separate showers.

Groom Showers

Some grooms enjoy having their own showers so that their friends can honor them specifically as well. Most groom showers are not themed, however this is becoming more popular in modern times. If the shower is themed, the invitation should follow the shower theme.

The groom's name should be listed as the person honored, and the wording should be similar to a bridal shower invitation.

Wedding Showers

If both the bride and the groom wish to have a shower together, wedding shower invitations are sent. In the invitation, the shower is said to be held in honor of both the bride and the groom.

An example of wording:

If the bride and the groom are hosting the wedding shower themselves, the wording may be changed as follows:

If the couple does not co-habitate, then either the bride or the groom lists his or her respective contact information on the RSVP line.

External Links

• Evite - free online invitations