A bridal shower is an occasion to publicly congratulate a bride-to-be.
It’s a time to eat and drink bubbly, share advice and anecdotes, and lavish extra attention on the special lady.
The bridesmaids and/or the mother of the bride or prospective mother-in-law generally host this intimate celebration, which will have a significantly lower guest list than the main wedding reception.
You might have overlooked the guest list in the midst of all the preparation that goes into organizing the ideal bridal shower.
So who exactly gets invited to a bridal shower? And who doesn’t quite make the cut?
We’re breaking it down group by group and responding to the most frequently asked questions about bridal shower guest list etiquette to help you decide who does (and does not) get an invite.
Who Gets A Bridal Shower Invite?
The following are the three key groups that should be invited to the bridal shower:
The Bridal Party
The maid of honor and bridesmaids are at the top of the guest list, especially since they will almost certainly be throwing the shower.
If the bride is fine with children attending her bridal shower, this group may also include the flower girl and any junior bridesmaids.
Immediate And Close Female Relatives
The bride’s immediate female family members are also at the top of the guest list, just after the bridal party. This includes her mother, sisters (if they aren’t already bridesmaids), and any bride and/or groom’s children.
Following the bride’s immediate family are her close female relatives such as grandmothers, aunts, and cousins. Again, if the bride invites children to her bridal shower, this group may include nieces as well.
Included in this group are the bride’s future inlaws, which include the groom’s mother, sisters, grandmothers, and any close aunts and cousins.
As with the bride’s family, the groom’s nieces may be included.
Close Female Friends
Close female friends of both the bride and groom round out the bridal shower guest list. Pals from childhood, college, and any additional pals in the couple’s close social circle are included.
Who Does Not Get Invited to the Bridal Shower?
Except in exceptional circumstances, the following three groups do not receive a wedding shower invitation:
Coworkers
This can usually be a confusing one, coworkers themselves are frequently confused about whether they should be invited to the bridal shower, although this group typically does not make the guest list.
The bride’s coworkers with whom she socializes outside of work and/or those she deems close friends would be an exception.
Friends Of Relatives
Friends of the bride’s relatives should not be invited to the bridal shower because it is intended to be a private intimate event. Friends who are considered family, such as the bride’s childhood best friend, or the bride’s mom’s close friend who is like an aunt would be an exemption to this rule.
Non-Family Significant Others And Plus Ones
Plus ones or non-family significant others are the final group who do not require an invitation to the bridal shower.
In other words, the groomsmen’s wedding dates or the bride’s brother’s one-month girlfriend.
Bridal Shower Guest List Etiquette FAQS
Now that you’ve decided who to invite and who not to invite, here are some frequently asked questions about the bridal shower guest list to help you through:
Should I Host Multiple Bridal Showers?
Many brides today elect to give more than one wedding shower to make the guest list more manageable and simpler for everyone to attend, and it’s entirely OK to do so.
Brides are frequently placed in situations where numerous individuals want to throw her a bridal shower. Furthermore, many guests may find it difficult to get to a bridal shower.
If half of the visitors live in another part of the country, it is quite fine to hold a second shower in that location to celebrate with those friends and family.
A second shower is also an excellent choice for brides who like to have a family-only shower followed by a friends-only event at a later date.
While planning the remainder of your big day, many showers may seem overkill, but they allow you to invite more people, especially if you have a large family and group of friends.
How Many People Do You Invite To A Bridal Shower?
The answer depends on a number of factors, including the size of the bride’s social circle, her bridal party, and, of course, the size of the wedding guest list.
Someone throwing a 100-person wedding, for example, will have to invite more bridal shower guests than someone hosting a wedding half the size.
That being said, in my experience, the average number of guests at a bridal shower is roughly 25, with the usual range being 20-40. The bride and bridal shower host must ultimately make the final selection.
Can You Invite Someone To The Bridal Shower And Not The Wedding?
No, according to bridal shower guest list etiquette, you should never invite someone to the bridal shower without also inviting them to the wedding. This is regarded as exceedingly tacky and impolite.
It is only permitted to have a guest who is not attending the wedding attend the bridal shower if the guest was invited but is unable to attend the wedding due to personal circumstances.
Should Every Woman On The Wedding Guest List Be On The Bridal Shower Guest List?
You do not have to (and should not) invite every lady to the bridal shower unless you are having a tiny, intimate wedding.
Again, the bridal shower is a celebration for close friends and family members, the same goes for the bachelorette party, whereas the wedding is the primary event.
Does The Groom Attend The Bridal Shower?
The husband is not traditionally invited to the wedding shower. The only exception is if the couple is throwing a coed shower.
Having said that, it is customary for the groom to attend at the end of the bridal shower to greet visitors and assist the bride in transporting her gifts home.
When Should You Send Out Bridal Shower Invitations?
Invites should go out 6-8 weeks before the event. You want to give guests time to plan for travel.
Make sure all guests RSVP to only one person. If the maid of honor is hosting the shower, all RSVPs should go back to her. That way everything stays organized.
Should I Send Invitations to People Who Live Out of Town?
It’s wonderful to extend invitations to out-of-town close friends and family. They are unlikely to regard this as a gift-giving tactic, but rather as a gesture to make them feel valued and included.
Where To Buy Bridal Shower Invitations
Once you decide on your bridal shower guest list, start shopping for invitations to mail.
You can shop unique bridal shower invites on Amazon, like the designs shown in this article. There are many more designs to choose from, here are 3 of my favorites:
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The invitations you send for the bridal shower don’t necessarily need to reflect the wedding, its colors, or its theme. Have fun with it.
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