Etiquette for addressing bridal shower invitations

It's interesting:
"You'd think I'd know better than to be out drinking in the early hours of the morning the night before a big wedding - but Paul's a mate and he needed some ..."

Bridal shower invitations, like many aspects of the wedding, have certain rules of etiquette that should be followed at all times. Even if the wedding will be non-traditional, the rules of etiquette for the bridal shower invitations show good taste and manners, and should not be overlooked.

1. Mailing the Invitations

   • Mail the bridal shower invitations approximately four weeks before the bridal shower. This gives the guests enough time to plan to attend, but it is not so far off that the guest is likely to forget about the bridal shower.

     When mailing the invitations, be sure to give each guest their own invitation, even if two or more invited guests live in the same household. Exceptions to this etiquette rule are when couples and children are invited. In that case, they can be included on one invitation.

   Multiple Showers

   • If the bride is having more than one bridal shower, keep a close watch on the guest lists for each party. It is bad taste to invite a guest to more than one shower because it appears as if the guest will be expected to bring a gift to each shower.

   Who to Invite

   • Traditionally, bridal showers are attended by only close friends and family members of the bride. It is also acceptable to invite the groom's family members as this will give them a chance to get better acquainted with the bride and her friends and family.

     Only invite people to the bridal shower who will be invited to the actual wedding. Since it is expected that guests will bring a gift to the bridal shower, it would appear tacky to invite a guest to the bridal shower when they will not be receiving an invitation to the wedding.

   Bridal Registration

   • While opinions may vary on whether it is acceptable to include a place of gift registration on a bridal shower invitation, it is best to err on the side of caution and omit it from the invitation. If a guest would like to know if and where the bride is registered, she can ask when she calls to R.S.V.P. This information should be included with the other information on the bridal shower invitation.

Source: www.ehow.com

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