When Should You Have Your Bridal Shower?

By Jennifer Pickering•Published On: June 21, 2024•

The months leading up to your wedding are filled with events and planning, and the bridal shower is one of the most exciting events leading up to the big day. It’s an event where the bride-to-be can celebrate with all the women in her life, and it’s a great way to include the younger (flower girl, nieces, cousins,) and the older (moms, aunts, grandmas) generations all in one place. It’s the time to eat, drink, play games and exchange gifts while honoring the bride. While there really is no bad time to have a bridal shower, there are some things to take into consideration. Throwing the party too early can decrease the excitement leading up to the wedding. And having it too close to the wedding can make it feel rushed. So when should you have your bridal shower?

Planning the bridal shower too early can be difficult if you don’t have your guest list ready. Planning a shower too late could result in not being able to find a venue or vendors. It can also take away focus from the wedding day. Below are some important things to consider when selecting a date for your shower.

Photo sourced from David’s Bridal

Timing

Generally, bridal showers should be held three weeks to three months before the wedding. It is also a good idea to have the bridal shower a minimum of two weeks before the bachelorette party. This gives everyone invited — including the bride — enough time in between events. Finding the right time is important. The final date comes down to the bride’s preference, venue availability and any scheduling conflicts. Pick a date that accommodates the bride, bridal party and as many guests as possible. Plan early if you have guests who need to travel for the event so they can make travel arrangements.

The best way to pick a date is to talk to the bride-to-be to decide. If you are the bride, you will need to determine who is hosting the bridal shower. Normally, it is the maid of honor or another bridesmaid. Sometimes it’s the mother of the bride, future mother-in-law, or close friends and family members. It can also be a combination of a few people. Figure out who is hosting, but the bride should have the final say on the date.

Photo sourced from Modern Wedding

Consider Guests

Keep your guests in mind too. When deciding on a date, double-check with the guests who you absolutely want to be there. If you aren’t part of the planning, make sure your mom and/or maid of honor know your must-invite list in case they throw a surprise shower.

It is important to inform your guests about the date as soon as possible. Preferably, bridal shower invitations should be sent out four to six weeks before the event so guests who need to travel can make arrangements for requesting days off, booking accommodations and flights, etc. Giving sufficient notice also gives guests enough time to purchase gifts off the registry.

If location is an issue for many guests — for example, the couple has relatives on the other side of the country — it could be a good idea to have two bridal showers so everyone can attend at least one of them. If you are having two showers, make sure to spread out enough time between events to give the bride time to relax and focus on other wedding planning tasks. Some people even livestream their bridal showers so no one will feel left out if they are unable to travel to attend.

Photo sourced from Blanche Paperie

Whether you are the bride-to-be or the one hosting the bridal shower, there are some things to consider when planning. You want this event to be memorable so don’t have it too early or too close to the weddings. As a general rule: