Guest Post by Lilly Lynn Events
Please enjoy this guest post from Kim Hunke of Lilly Lynn Events and the Lilly Lynn Wedding Blog. Below Kim shares her expert tips and time line for planning a Bridal Shower. We appreciate this great advice and hope you will visit her blog to learn more on all things wedding related.
To Do List For Planning a Bridal Shower
3+ Months Before
- Talk to the bride. Does she want all women or co-ed? Afternoon tea or Saturday night soiree? Does she want the shower to center around a particular theme style, or color? Does she want to gather at a Chinese restaurant, a quaint tea salon, her grandmother’s house, a spa, your apartment? Does she want to serve cocktails? While most of the shower details and decisions will be up to you, make sure you plan according to her input.
- Set the date — shoot for a month or two before the wedding. (If certain maids and important family and friends can’t convene until a few days before, hold off until then).
- If the shower will take place at a tea salon, private dining room, restaurant, or nightclub, make the reservations.
- Create the guest list. (Knot Note: Anyone you invite must also be invited to the wedding).
2 Months Before
- Send out casual “save the date” email and/or call important guests such as the bride’s best friend from high school, her favorite cousin, the groom’s mother, etc. to see if there are any scheduling conflicts.
- As a courtesy, call any guests who will have to travel some distance to attend — they’ll appreciate the advance notice.
- Confer with the bridesmaids to establish a budget.
- Purchase invitations or materials to make them.
- Hold a brainstorming session to finalize decisions about table linens, menu, decorations, favors, music, and activities.
- Order special menu items through the bakery/caterer and linens, coffee urns, and other equipment from a rental company, if necessary.
- Compile addresses for the guest list.
- Make a detailed to-do list and assign tasks.
1 Month Before
- Assemble and address invitations. (Include information about the couple’s registries. And, if it’s a theme party, make sure to provide proper gift-giving instructions.)
- Mail invitations.
- Shop for decorations, paper goods, and other party props.
- Purchase favors.
- If guests have offered to bring desserts and other treats, call to confirm what they plan to bring — adjust your recipe plans accordingly.
2+ Weeks Before
- Place flower order.
- Buy your shower gift for the bride.
- Figure out what you’re going to wear to the shower. Why not treat yourself to a slick new outfit or dress (you’re the hostess, after all)?
- Make a shopping list for the food and drinks. Buy any hard-to-find ingredients.
- Purchase spirits, if you’re having cocktails.
- Pick up any baskets, CDs, cake stands, punch bowls, tea services, stereo equipment, or serving platters that friends or neighbors have offered to lend.
1 Week Before
- Confirm reservations.
- Confirm orders and delivery times.
- Confirm RSVPs.
- Assemble and/or gift-wrap favors.
- Buy groceries.
- Create a mental floor plan to facilitate decorating and setting up.
- Prepare shower games and activities.
1 Day Before
- Prepare any menu items that can be made in advance (or just do prep work).
- Receive and set up equipment, assemble decorations and favors, set table(s).
- Touch base with the bridesmaids — confirm who’s bringing what and ask them to arrive early to help.
- Run last-minute errands.
- Kim Hunke In her words. . .
- I am a wedding freak who is addicted to any show, movie, or magazine that is based on weddings! I love all event planning especially baby showers, birthdays and weddings.
Kim Hunke has a great eye for design and loves sharing what’s hot. Plus – she knows weddings! Visit her blog at http://lillylynnevents.blogspot.com/.
