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Bridal shower etiquette 101: The who, where, when and what of throwing a bridal shower

A group of women holding out their hands showing off bridal shower temporary tattoos.

Here comes the bride—almost! As the bride-to-be counts down the days until her big day, planning a memorable bridal shower for her is a great way to harness all the excitement and celebrate her new chapter. Plus, she’s probably knee-deep in wedding planning, so a fun day planned totally for her is definitely gonna be appreciated! 

Whether you’re a bridal shower host or guest (or even a bride-to-be!), this crash course on bridal shower etiquette is here to answer any questions you may have about these sweet and sentimental events. Wondering who to invite or what to wear? Read on!

For even more planning help, our free and printable bridal shower checklist has everything you’ll need to consider when planning a bridal shower so you can rest assured that nothing slips through the cracks! We also put together this comprehensive guide about how to throw a bridal shower which covers everything from decor ideas to activity suggestions. 

What is a bridal shower?

A bridal shower is a pre-wedding celebration in honor of the bride-to-be, focusing on showering her with gifts, love and well wishes. It's a great way to bring together the bride's closest friends and family, celebrate her upcoming nuptials and help her prep for her new chapter!

Who should you invite to a bridal shower?

The guest list for a bridal shower typically includes the bride-to-be's closest friends, female family members and close, female relatives of her betrothed. It's a more intimate affair, so think quality over quantity to keep the celebration personal and meaningful.

Who throws the bridal shower?

Traditionally, the bridal shower is organized by the maid of honor, bridesmaids or a close relative of the bride. It can be a solo mission or a team effort depending on the circumstances and size of the event!

Who pays for the bridal shower?

The host or hosts typically cover the costs of the bridal shower. Whether it's the maid of honor, the entire bridal party or a generous family member, the expenses are usually shared among those throwing the shower to keep it manageable for everyone involved.

When should you have a bridal shower?

A bridal shower is best held anywhere between a couple months to a few weeks before the wedding, with invitations being sent 4–6 weeks before the bridal shower. This sweet spot allows the bride-to-be to enjoy the festivities without the stress of the looming big day and gives her time to organize gifts and send out thank you notes

For even more information about when to send what, check out our guide on when to send wedding invitations. We’ve even included a stationery timeline for seamless planning.

What do you wear to a bridal shower?

Attire for a bridal shower can vary depending on the theme and venue, ranging from formal to semi-formal to casual. Make sure to consult the host regarding dress code if you are uncertain. 

Outfits options may include maxi dresses, sundresses, skirt-and-shirt combos and fun jumpsuits depending on the specific bridal shower—though floral dresses are super classic for this event! 

While it’s a known faux pas to wear white to the wedding, it’s also generally recommended that guests avoid wearing white to other wedding-related events, too.

Do you bring a gift to a bridal shower?

A “shower,” whether it’s a bridal or baby shower, is specifically a gift-giving event, so gifts are definitely a cornerstone of bridal showers! Occasionally, a bride-to-be may request a no-gifts event, but unless otherwise specified, it is polite to bring a gift!

Guests typically bring something to help the bride-to-be set up her new home or life. Whether you choose something off the registry or go for a more personal gift, it's the thoughtfulness that counts!

Common gifts include appliances, cutlery sets, towels and sheets, framed pictures and other kitchenware and home goods. For more bridal shower gift inspo, check out our wedding and bridal shower gift guide on Amazon.

What do you write in a bridal shower card?

A bridal shower card is the perfect place to share heartfelt congratulations, personal anecdotes or well wishes for the bride-to-be. To help with any writer’s block, we’ve put together a few options below, including sentimental options and humorous options!

Bridal shower card ideas:

  • I am so incredibly happy for you. You found your perfect match and I am thrilled to see what comes next for you two.
  • Let’s shower you with love! You deserve all the happiness in the world. I am overjoyed for you and so excited to celebrate.
  • I have never been happier to be gifting someone a cutlery set. 
  • My fave couple is getting hitched! It has been such a pleasure to be a part of your love story and I can’t wait for your big day.
  • To the beautiful bride-to-be, I am so excited to watch you embark on this new chapter of your life.
  • I am overwhelmed with emotions and so excited for your big day. If you see me ugly crying at the ceremony, no you didn’t.
  • Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness with your soulmate. 
  • The love you and [spouse’s name] share is truly special and I am so excited for you!
  • Congratulations on finding your forever love! May today be just a taste of the joy and excitement that awaits you on your wedding day.

Browse Wedding & Bridal eCards here

What do you do at a bridal shower?

Bridal showers are filled with activities like games, gift opening and toasts to the bride-to-be. Our list of fun bridal shower games is a great place to get inspired as you plan your event. We even included a free, downloadable bridal bingo board to print out for the shower!

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What makes Evite SignUp Sheets different from SignUpGenius?

Developed hand-in-hand with community organizers, PTA presidents, parents and teachers, Evite's signup sheets are designed to make organizing volunteers a breeze. Here are a few ways SignUp Sheets are different than SignUpGenius:

  • 100% free: SignUp Sheets are free to use.
  • Ad-free: No popup ads ever! Our signup sheets remain clutter-free, keeping your volunteers focused on signing up.
  • No extra login required: Seamlessly use your Evite account to create and manage your signup sheets, keeping all your events in one convenient location.
  • Automatic reminders and notifications: Stay on top of your event with automated reminders and notifications for you and your participants. Perfect for busy parents, teachers and anyone juggling multiple commitments.
  • Customization options: Tailor your signup sheets to your specific event, whether it's a school fundraiser, potluck, volunteer opportunity or team activity. Add custom tasks, time slots and requirements for smooth coordination.
  • User-friendly experience: Our intuitive interface makes creating and sharing signup sheets simple for everyone, regardless of tech experience.
  • Real-time updates: Get instant notifications whenever someone signs up or makes a change, so you always know where things stand.

Choose Evite SignUp Sheets for the easiest, most streamlined way to get volunteers and signups for your next event!

What is a signup sheet?

Signup sheets are the perfect way to streamline scheduling, volunteer recruitment, class parties, snack duty, potluck organization, parent-teacher conferences and more! You can think of them as your digital assistant for coordinating events and tasks and ensuring that your event is a success.

Evite SignUp Sheets offers parents, teachers and event planners customizable online forms that organizers and volunteers can access and update effortlessly. Volunteers can choose their preferred time slots, sign up for tasks or indicate what they'll bring to the event. It only takes organizers a few minutes to create a signup sheet and send it out with a shareable link, so they can get the word out via text, email or social media—whichever way they prefer! 

Long story short, signup sheets save everyone involved tons of time, avoid scheduling headaches and ensure everything runs smoothly before and during the event.

How do I create a signup sheet?

Creating a signup sheet has never been easier than with Evite! Here’s how to create a sheet that’s sure to make your event an absolute success:

  1. Go to Evite SignUp Sheets and choose the template that best fits your needs. Evite offers multiple signup sheet templates perfect for every occasion, including:some text
    • Signup sheets for standalone events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a class party, potluck or end-of-season party.
    • Signup sheets for recurring or multi-day events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a meal train, post-game snack duty or during appreciation week.
    • Signup sheets for single or multiple day events (with time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing concession stand volunteers, fundraisers and parent-teacher conferences.
  1. After selecting your sheet template, create a title for your signup sheet and add the date, the location, the time (if applicable), who the organizer is, the organizer’s phone number or email and an optional note describing the event to your volunteers. You can also change your signup sheet background and title image if you wish!
  1. Next, create slots for your signup sheet. If you aren’t logged into your account, you will need to do so at this point, but luckily, you can use your existing Evite account (no need to create yet another login!). What you’ll include here will depend on what your event needs, but you can include a list of what’s needed (along with optional descriptions), how many volunteers are needed, and dates and times.
  1. After creating your slots, you can then add a wish list from any retailer or include supply suggestions from Evite’s retailer partners. These are to help your volunteers find and purchase supplies quickly and easily.
  1. Finally, review your sheet, copy your shareable link and send it out to everyone on your list! Every time a volunteer signs up for a slot on your signup sheet, Evite will email you. We will also send reminders to you and your volunteers before your event so no one will forget about it, and we’ll even let volunteers know if you remove their slot or cancel your event sheet so you don’t have to!

What information should be included on a signup sheet?

When it comes to signup sheet information, there are some essentials to include regardless of what you’re organizing:

  1. A title for your signup sheet. Tip: Aim to keep your signup sheet title concise but clear. You want volunteers to read it and have a general understanding of what your event is about, and also make it easy for them to look for later if they need to reference your sheet again. You have the option to include a more descriptive note in a different field about your event, so save the more in-depth details for that!
  1. When and where the event is taking place. 
  1. The organizer’s name and phone number.
  1. Slots for volunteers to choose from. Once you choose the SignUp Sheets template that fits the occasion, the slots you’ll need for your sheet will be right there and ready for you to add the relevant info, such as dates, times, items to bring and tasks to complete. 

When adding your slot information, clearly define what people are signing up for, especially for a what-to-bring list or role assignments. If you want someone to bring healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after a game, specify that. You want your volunteers to feel confident in what they’re bringing and to make it easy for them to know what’s expected of them. It will save them time and stress (and you, too!). That being said, if you make your ask too specific (for example, asking for a hard-to-source item or something expensive), you may not end up with a volunteer for it. So be clear about what you expect, but also be reasonable!

Aside from providing the basic signup information, you can also add optional descriptions to both your entire signup sheet and individual slots. While not required, they can help guide your volunteers further and provide more information. You can add information about allergies, preferences and general info about the event. You can also add a wish list to make it easier for your volunteers to bring exactly what you need!

What are the benefits of using a signup sheet template?

Signup sheet templates offer a ton of advantages for both organizers and volunteers and with Evite SignUp Sheets, you'll enjoy even more benefits than other digital and paper signup sheets! Some benefits our signup sheet templates offer include:

  • A 100% free experience (no subscriptions required!).
  • Shareable links for quick and easy sharing.
  • No need to create another login—you can use your existing Evite account.
  • The option to add a wish list to help your volunteers out.
  • Automatic reminders—we’ll remind everyone on your behalf.
  • An easy-to-use experience with eye-catching guided templates.
  • Clean, modern designs with no pop-up ads.

With Evite SignUp Sheets, you can enjoy organizing and coordinating all your events with ease. Signup sheets streamline the signup process for everyone involved, ensuring that everything will go to plan on the day of your event while saving you precious time in the process.

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