Bridal shower planning, start to finish.
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Planning Timeline
Set the foundations
- Confirm the host team and how costs will be split
- Get the guest list from the bride or her mum, shower guests must be wedding guests
- Pick a date the bride, her mum and the bridal party can all make
- Choose the style: high tea, brunch, garden party or cocktail evening
Book and invite
- Book the venue or plan the home setup
- Send invitations with registry details and an RSVP date
- Plan the menu around the time of day, grazing tables suit almost every shower
- Order or DIY the decorations in the wedding colour palette
Fill in the detail
- Choose two or three games maximum, and make one of them about the couple
- Organise a keepsake moment, a guest book, advice cards or a photo backdrop
- Confirm RSVPs and chase the quiet ones
- Assign day of jobs across the host team
Shower week
- Confirm final numbers with the caterer or finalise the shopping list
- Make a gift log plan so thank you notes are easy for the bride
- Set up the space the night before if you can
- Brief someone to photograph the bride arriving
Expert Planning Tips
The bride sets the vibe, not the games
A shy bride does not want to model toilet paper dresses in front of her fiancés aunties. Match the activities to her personality and the room will follow.
Split costs early and in writing
Money strains more bridal parties than dresses do. Agree the budget and the split before anything is booked, and keep a shared tally as you spend.
Two hours is the sweet spot
A shower that runs 2 to 3 hours leaves everyone wanting more. Open with food and mingling, run the structured moments in the middle, end on gifts or a toast.
Log every gift as it opens
Assign one bridesmaid to write down each gift and giver during the opening. The bride will thank you when the thank you notes take twenty minutes instead of a weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a bridal shower cost?
A typical Australian bridal shower costs $800 to $2,500 for 20 to 35 guests, usually split across the bridal party. High tea venues charge $40 to $70 per head, while a hosted garden or home shower with a grazing table lands closer to $25 per head. Agree the per person split before booking anything.
Who pays for the bridal shower?
Traditionally the maid of honour and bridesmaids host and share the cost, often with help from the mothers. The bride pays for nothing. Modern showers are flexible, but whoever hosts should agree the split in writing before spending starts.
When should a bridal shower be held?
One to three months before the wedding is the standard window. Earlier than three months feels disconnected from the wedding, later than a month collides with final wedding logistics and the hens celebrations.
Who gets invited to a bridal shower?
Only people who are also invited to the wedding, this is the one hard etiquette rule. Beyond that, the list is usually the bridal party, close family on both sides and the brides close friends, commonly 15 to 35 guests.
Can you have a bridal shower and a hens party?
Yes, and most Australian brides do both. The shower is the daytime, all generations event with gifts and games. The hens is the friends only celebration. Keep them separate, a fortnight or more apart, and expect a slightly different guest list for each.
How long should a bridal shower go for?
Two to three hours. Long enough for food, a couple of games and gift opening, short enough that the grandmothers and the busy guests leave on a high.