Planning a pre-wedding party can be one of the most enjoyable parts of wedding planning, but there are so many choices to be made it can be hard to know where to start!
Should you go the traditional route with a couple’s shower, or just do a bridal shower?
Or should you mix it up by having one big pre-wedding shower instead?
Both types of events are common, but they each serve a different purpose. Keep reading to learn more about the difference between couple’s showers and bridal showers so that you can decide what’s right for you.
1) What’s the difference between a bridal shower and a couple’s shower?
Couple’s showers are meant for the bride and the groom. Bridal showers exclusively celebrate the bride.
A couple’s shower is a relatively new tradition that is essentially a gift-giving party for the happy couple. Guests will bring gifts that the couple can use together in their new life, such as kitchen appliances, towels, or other household items. It’s a great way for family and friends on both sides to get to know one another if they haven’t yet had a chance to meet.
A bridal shower, on the other hand, is a party for the bride only. Guests will bring her gifts to help her set up her new household. It’s an opportunity for her closest friends and family to come together to show their love and support as she prepares to begin a new chapter in her life.
Bridal Showers
Young smiling woman opening a present at her bridal showere n her home. Pink bride balloons in background
2) Who do you invite to a bridal shower?
The guest list usually includes the bride’s closest friends, female relatives, and other important women in her life, since a bridal shower is typically a party hosted by the bride’s close friends or family members. However, anyone can technically host a shower.
3) What do people do at a bridal shower?
Guests mingle, eat, relax, and celebrate the bride-to-be. The guest of honor usually opens her gifts at the shower, and guests often play games that focus on making the bride the center or attention.
4) What games are best for a bridal shower?
Common bridal shower games include “toilet paper wedding dress,” “how well do you know the bride,” and “gift Bingo.” The exact activities will depend on the theme and style of the shower, but they should be geared toward helping the guests get to know each other.
Toilet Paper Wedding Dress
Toilet Paper Wedding Dress is a classic bridal shower game that is sure to get a few laughs. The goal of the game is to see who can create the best wedding dress out of toilet paper in a limited amount of time.
To play, divide the guests into teams of two or three. Then, give each team a roll of toilet paper and a pair of scissors. The teams have to create a wedding dress for the bride out of toilet paper. Whichever comes up with the best creation wins!
How Well Do You Know the Bride?
This is a fun game that tests how well the guests know the bride. To play, prepare a list of questions about the bride-to-be in advance. The questions can be about her childhood, her relationship with the groom, her favorite things, etc.
At the shower, divide the guests into teams and give each team a copy of the quiz. The team with the most correct answers wins a prize!
Gift Bingo
Gift bingo is a great way to keep track of the gifts as they are opened. To play, give each guest a bingo card with different gifts listed. As the bride opens her gifts, guests mark off the items on their cards. The winner is whoever gets 5 in a row first!!
Couple’s Showers
Engaged couple open wedding gifts at home
5) Who do you invite to a couple’s shower?
For a couple’s shower, invite guests who are close to both the bride and groom.
This could include the couple’s friends, family members, and co-workers.
6) What do people do at a couple’s shower?
At a couple’s shower, guests mingle and celebrate the happy couple. Gifts can be addressed to one or both of them, and they are typically opened at the shower. Of course, there is often a game or two played just like at a bridal shower.
7) What games are best for a couple’s shower?
Typical couple’s shower games include variations of bridal shower games like “who knows the groom best,” and other games like “match the couple,” and ” advice for the bride and groom.”
We’ve outlined how to play each below. You can get creative and choose others too, but whichever you decide to play, remember that each game should always encourage guests to get to know each other better!
Where Were We
This game is great for couples who want to share their love story in photos, and challenge guests to know where certain photos were taken! To set it up, gather 10 photographs and create a sheet with 10 fillable lines. Remember to give each photo a number. The person who guesses the most correct locations wins!
Match The Couple
This game is all about matching the couple up with how well they know each other. To play, prepare a list of questions about the couple in advance. At the shower, have the guests answer the questions individually. Then, have the groom answer the questions too. See how many of the guests’ answers match up with the groom’s answers! The couple with the most matching answers wins a prize.
Find The Guest
Inviting a lot of people to a couple’s shower who don’t know each other should try this fun couple’s wedding shower game. Similar to a workshop icebreaker, guests have to mingle to learn a bit about each other and find things they have in common. This game is especially great for people who have a lot of extroverted friends and family. You’ll have to create a sheet with interesting facts about your guests, such as “find someone who was born in the same month as you”, or “find someone who traveled more than 50 miles to be here”. The first person to fill out the entire sheet wins!
8) When is the best time to have a couple’s shower or bridal shower?
Traditionally, a bridal shower is held between six weeks and up to the day before the wedding. This gives the bride enough time to thank her guests for their gifts and helps to ensure that all of the gifts arrive before the big day. A couple’s shower can be held at any time, although it is also usually close to the wedding date. This allows guests to give the couple practical gifts that they can use for their new life together.
9) Should I have just a couple’s shower, just a bridal shower, or both?
It’s up to the happy couple to decide whether they want to have just a bridal shower, just a couple’s shower, or both. If you’re not sure what to do, consider the following factors:
- Do you want a more intimate gathering or a large party?
- Do you want all of your guests to meet each other before the wedding?
- Do you want to have a separate shower for the bride and her closest friends and family?
Answering these questions will help you determine what you want to get out of your pre-wedding shower(s). Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what will make you and your spouse-to-be the happiest!
10) Who should organize a bridal shower?
Traditionally, the maid of honor is responsible for organizing the bridal shower. However, anyone can be tasked with this job! If you’re not sure who to ask, consider who has the time and energy to put into planning a shower. Keep in mind that you can always hire a professional planner if you want someone else to handle all of the details.
11) Who should plan a couple’s shower?
The best person to plan a couple’s shower is someone who knows both the bride and groom well. This could be a friend, family member, or even a professional planner, but traditionally, there isn’t a rule here.
Whoever you choose, make sure that they are organized and have the time to commit to planning the shower.
12) Where can I find inspiration when planning a couple’s shower or bridal shower?
Many great resources are available to help you plan the perfect couple’s shower or bridal shower. Check out magazines or wedding blogs (like our own) for inspiration. Alternatively, try searching for “couple’s shower ideas” or “bridal shower themes” online.
Finally, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for their input if you’re feeling stuck! They might have some great ideas that you haven’t thought of yet.
Great variety of different multicolored snacks on the wedding buffet.
Host Your Bridal Shower And Your Couple’s Shower At Dallas Oasis
So in conclusion, should you have both a couple’s shower and a bridal shower before your wedding? We say yes!
With so many things to think about before your wedding day, it’s easy to forget about pre-wedding parties like the bridal shower and couple’s shower. But these parties make great opportunities for your loved ones to get to know one another before the big day. Plus, they can be just as fun as your actual wedding day (and informative too)!
Now that you know the difference between these two types of showers, contact Dallas Oasis to schedule a tour and start planning your wedding parties today! Our multiacre estate offers various indoor and outdoor accommodations perfect for hosting everything from your pre-wedding showers to your ceremony.
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