If you’ve been asked to help plan a pre-wedding celebration for the bride-to-be, you might wonder what a bridal shower is and how it differs from a wedding shower. While both events are typically hosted by the bride’s close friends or family members, there are some key distinctions between the two. Here’s everything you need to know about bridal showers and wedding showers.
What is a shower?
A bridal shower is a party held in honor of the bride-to-be, typically hosted by her maid of honor or close friends. The purpose of a bridal shower is to help the bride-to-be feel more prepared and excited for her wedding day. Guests will often bring gifts to make her new house a home, such as kitchen supplies or home decor. Bridal showers are usually held a few months before the wedding and include fun games and activities centered around marriage advice.
On the other hand, wedding showers are parties thrown for the soon to be married couple. They are typically hosted by family members and close friends whose primary purpose is to help the couple settle into their new life together. Wedding showers often include gifts that the couple can use in their new home, such as furniture or appliances. They are usually held shortly after the wedding and sometimes include lighthearted games or activities centered around marriage advice.
The difference between a bridal shower and wedding shower
When it comes to wedding-related events, there is often confusion surrounding the differences between a bridal shower and wedding shower. To help clear things up, here is a breakdown of each event and what you can expect:
Bridal Shower:
A bridal shower is typically hosted by the bride’s close friends or family members and takes place several weeks or months before the wedding. The purpose of a bridal shower is to help the bride-to-be feel special and loved as she prepares for her big day. Guests will bring gifts for the bride, from household items to lingerie. The event is usually held at someone’s home, a local restaurant, or event center.
Wedding Shower:
On the other hand, a wedding shower is usually hosted by either sides family and takes place closer to the wedding date (usually 1-2 months before). A wedding shower focuses more on helping the couple with their new life rather than just celebrating the bride. Thus, guests will bring gifts geared towards household items or items for the couple’s new home. The event is usually held at a local restaurant, banquet hall, or someone’s home.
Who throws a bridal shower/wedding shower?
A bridal shower is usually hosted by the bride’s mother, sister, or close friends. A wedding shower is typically hosted by the maid of honor or best man or entire wedding party.
When is the best time to have a bridal shower/wedding shower?
There is no right or wrong answer regarding the best time to have a bridal or wedding shower. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when making your decision.
If you have a lot of family and friends who live out of state, you may want to have your shower the same week as your wedding ensuring more people can come. If most of your friends and family are local then it’s typically better to space out all the wedding activities and have the shower a few months before the big day.
What games are played at bridal showers/wedding showers?
Bridal and wedding showers are great occasions to celebrate the upcoming nuptials. While they may seem similar, the two events have some critical differences. One key difference is the type of games that are played.
You might find games like toilet paper dress-up or charades at a bridal shower. These games are about having fun and getting to know the bride better. On the other hand, wedding showers generally have more serious games like trivia about the couple or advice for the newlyweds. Check out the list of our favorite shower games from our friends over at HGTV. If you’re not traditional, you can opt out of games altogether. It’s your day, you should do whatever it is you enjoy the most.