Pre-wedding parties are fun times that lead up to your big day. It’s when you’re good friends and your family join together to start the celebration of your upcoming marriage.
Bridal Showers
Shower FAQs
Who will host the party? Traditionally the maid of honor hosts the party, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be someone else (except for the bride and groom). Co-hosting works well for many people!
How much will it cost? Ask the bride what her preferences are (i.e. her favorite foods, does she want to play games, etc.) and how many guests she’d like to invite. And then set your budget accordingly. The size of your guest list and venue will affect the amount of money you will spend. Couple showers can add more expense to the festivities.
Where? A bridal shower party can be held anywhere, but hosting it at someone’s home is a popular choice. By recruiting family and friends to pitch in with food, decorating, music, etc. can take a lot of pressure off of one individual!
When? The shower is generally held one to two months ahead of the wedding, and invitations should be sent four to six weeks before the shower date.

Charm Weddings Shower Planning Tips:
- Choosing a theme can help streamline the decorating and simplify the planning.
- Ladies only? They typically enjoy light food at showers. Serve finger sandwiches, salads, deli platters and hors d’oeuvres.
- Play fun bridal shower games that you create or download from the Internet. Buy cute prizes at discount and specialty stores.
- Serve punch or champagne or wine, and supply soft drinks and water as well.
- If you hold the shower in between mealtimes, you can serve lighter fare. Have a coffee and dessert shower, or wine and cheese shower.
- DIY your own décor for a more personal touch!
Bridal shower party flow:
- Set up appetizers, food and drinks before guests arrive.
- Welcome your guests and supply nametags.
- Introduce guests to one another or play an icebreaker game.
- Enjoy your food and drinks.
- Keep things moving and make sure everyone is having a good time!
- As the meal winds down, have the bride-to-be open gifts.
- Assign someone to write down each gift and whom it is from.
- Cut the cake or serve dessert.
- Play another game or two.
- As your guests leave, give out favors if this is part of your plan.
Other Wedding Parties

Engagement Party:
Don’t invite anyone that won’t be invited to the wedding. That would be a big NO NO!
An engagement party can be given by anyone and be anywhere! A cocktail party with simple hors d’oeuvres would be fine. A dinner at home for close family and friends is beautiful. Announce at a BBQ or picnic! Anything Goes!
Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties:
In the past has been a kind of “sow your wild oats” type party. It’s all well and good to have a great time, but we suggest you don’t get carried away. Have the party well before the wedding. The groom doesn’t want to be hung- over on the wedding day. A bachelor party can include favorite activities like a Poker Night, Golf Weekend, or to attend a big sporting event.
The best man and the groomsmen usually foot the bill for whatever the entertainment is going to be.
The Bachelorette Party can be a great time for some girl bonding! Plan a relaxing spa weekend, a night out including artsy activities, a day cruise or a culinary tour!
Rehearsal Dinner:
A rehearsal dinner is generally planned to immediately follow the wedding rehearsal. It can be held at a home or a restaurant or any place that works for you! The people attending should be the bride’s attendants, the best man and groomsmen, both sets of parents, the bride and groom, of course and any out of town guests.
This is a good time to give your gifts to the bride’s attendants, groomsmen, ring bearer, flower girl, parents and each other.