The Difference between a Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party

Your best friend is getting married and you are in charge of planning the pre-wedding activities, you are getting confused with all the wedding language, you keep hearing bridal shower, bachelorette party, you are trying to figure out the difference between a bridal shower and bachelorette party, which to have, when to host, who to invite.

Here’s some useful definition along with answers to questions you might have about hosting the bridal shower or bachelorette party, themes, venue, gift ideas and more.

What is a Bridal Shower?

A bridal shower is a pre-wedding party thrown to celebrate the bride-to-be and shower her with gifts and words of encouragement that will help her start her new life as a married woman.

This bridal shower is normally held during the day and is usually fun and girly.

What is the Difference between a Bridal Shower and Kitchen Tea?

Bridal Showers and Kitchen Teas are very similar events with the difference being the locale. Bridal Showers are more common in US, Belgium, Netherlands, UK and other parts of Europe whereas kitchen teas are exclusively held in Australia and New Zealand.

Both events are held during the day.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bridal Shower

Who Hosts the Bridal Shower?

Traditionally the bridal shower is organized by the Maid of Honor. The maid of honor might ask the bridesmaids to co-host the shower.

The bridal shower can also be hosted by a relative of the bride.

Who Pays for the Bridal Shower?

The person hosting the bridal shower is responsible for paying for the bridal shower. If the bridesmaids are co-hosting the shower, the cost should be split between the bridesmaids.

When to Host the Bridal Shower?

The bridal shower is usually held between three months and two weeks before the wedding.

Make sure to consult with the bride and the guests to choose a date that is convenient for both the bride and the guests.

Who to Invite to the Bridal Shower?

The bridal shower should be attended by the bride’s close friends, mother, grandmother, aunts, and her female in-laws.

To ensure that the bride’s nearest and dearest are there, you can ask the bride for a list of guests she would like to invite.

The maid of honor and mother of the bride can also come up with a guest list. The guest list should be limited to those invited for the wedding. The bride should be kept out of the rest of the planning apart from supplying the guest list.

When to Send Invites?

Invites should be sent to guests 6-8 weeks before the bridal shower to give everyone time to sort out any travel details.

Where Should You Hold the Bridal Shower?

Bridal showers are most often held at the home of the bridal shower host. They can also be held at a hotel, park restaurant or somewhere more specific if the shower has a theme or anywhere you like.

What Happens at a Bridal Shower?

Usually a bridal shower follows this outline; Food and drinks, play games and the bride opening her gifts.

Some people choose to have an activity-oriented shower such as a spa day, crafting class etc.

How Long Should a Bridal Shower Be?

Bridal showers should be kept short so guests won’t get bored but not so short that guests won’t have fun and spend enough time with the bride.

Bridal Shower should last between two to four hours

What to Wear to a Bridal Shower?

The bridal shower is a more formal event, compared to the bachelorette party.

The bride can be dressed in a beautiful white or floral dress or jumpsuit depending on her preference.

Guests don’t have to dress to a theme, although this decision is up to the organizers of the bridal shower.

Should the Bridal Shower have a Theme?

This decision is totally up to you. You can decide to either have a themed shower or not. Here are popular bridal shower themes you can choose from.

Bridal Shower Gift Ideas

At the bridal shower it is mandatory for guests to bring a gift for the bride. The gift given is dependent on the theme chosen for the shower.

Here are some gifts that can be given at the shower kitchen equipment (such as cooking gadgets, toasters, cooking utensils), lingerie, bedclothes, beauty products, general house items.

Bridal Shower Games and Activities

Games are part of bridal shower tradition. There are many fun and unique games you can play at the bridal shower.

You can play the Who Knows the Bride Best Game where everyone gets to answer question concerning the bride.

The Bridal Emoji Pictionary Game is also a winner any day; in this game guests guess wedding related words or phrases written with emojis. 

You can also hand out Advice Cards and ask guest to share their advice for a happy marriage. Guests’ advice can range from a poem or funny story, and so on.

They can also share their best recipes with the card. Here are more fun games and shower activities for the bridal shower.

Remember to have game prizes for winners at the end of the games.

What is a Bachelorette Party?

The bachelorette party is held to mark the bride-to-be’s last night as a single woman. This event tends to feature naughty humor and alcohol.

What is the Difference between a Bachelorette Party and Hen’s Night?

The term bachelorette party is popular in the United States, while the term hens’ party or hens’ night is more common in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bachelorette Party

Who Hosts the Bachelorette Party?

The bachelorette party is hosted by either the maid of honor or by one or more members of the wedding party.

Who Pays for the Bachelorette Party?

Usually guests pay for their own food and drinks. Entertainment costs should be covered by the hosts, and this includes the transport to your next venue.

The bride’s tab is split between everyone as the bride should never have to pay for herself.

When to Host the Bachelorette Party?

This depends on the time that’s best for everyone. Ideally you can host the bachelorette party about a month before the wedding, especially when it involves travelling so as not to over stress the bride and guests.

Whatever time you choose to have the bachelorette party, try not to host the bachelorette party close to the wedding so as not to stress the bride.

Who to Invite to the Bachelorette Party?

The bride’s closest girlfriends plus all bridesmaids and the bride’s sisters are usually invited to the bachelorette party. The bride’s other relatives aren’t always invited to the party.

When to Send Invites?

Invites should be sent 3-4 weeks before the bachelorette party.

If the bachelorette party involves travelling or celebrating for more than one night invites should be sent at least 8 weeks before the party so as to give time to people to plan ahead.

Where Should You Hold the Bachelorette Party?

Bachelorette parties are typically held at pubs, clubs or anywhere that serves alcohol, although in recent years, more women are transitioning from naughty nights and choosing classy bachelorette ideas like spa weekends or tropical retreats.

What Happens at a Bachelorette Party?

Bachelorette parties vary according to what the bride likes. You may choose to have a classic bachelorette party by having a fun girl’s night out or spend the day at a spa, having a beach bachelorette party or even have a weekend camping trip.

If you choose to have the classic bachelorette party, the typical order is to start with dinner, a small activity/games afterwards if you like, then a night at a club or bar.

To throw a bachelorette party the bride would love have a discussion with the bride about the type of bachelorette party she wants, the things the bride will love to do and things she doesn’t want.

Apart from asking the bride about what she wants and communicating the bachelorette party date to the bride should be kept out of all other bachelorette party planning.

How Long Should a Bachelorette Party Be?

This depends on you and the activities planned up for bachelorette party. A bachelorette party can last anywhere from just a night to a weekend or an entire week.

What to Wear to a Bachelorette Party?

You can have everyone dress up in fun outfits like playboy bunny outfits, feather boas etc. The bride is always dressed up in fun outfit too with a tiara or veil.

Should the Bachelorette Party have a Theme?

You can choose to have a themed bachelorette party or not, this decision is totally up to you.

Here are popular bachelorette party themes you can choose from Naughty Bachelorette Theme, Lingerie Bachelorette Theme, Bachelorette Brunch, Tropical Bachelorette Theme, Final Fiesta, Bohemian Bachelorette Theme, Nautical Bachelorette Theme, Game Night, No Boys Allowed Slumber Party, Backyard BBQ.

Bachelorette Party Gift Ideas

It is not mandatory to give the bride gifts at the bachelorette party but you can still go ahead and give the gifts to the bride.

Here are bachelorette party gift ideas the bride will love; sexy lingerie, Mrs. hat, personalized jewelry, personalized pair of underwear.

Remember to give her the gifts before heading out to the club

Bachelorette Party Games and Activities

Bachelorette parties are always about having fun. You can expand the fun by playing games at the party.

Bachelorette scavenger hunt game is a winner any day at any bachelorette bash, you can also choose to play the panty game or porn or polish game. If you prefer to play games that are not naughty the how well do you know the bride game is just the game to play.

If you would rather not play games at the bachelorette bash, you can go to the spa during the day and head out to the club at night.

Now you know the difference between a bridal shower and a bachelorette party.

Some people ask if they can have both bridal shower and a bachelorette party. Our answer to that is yes. You can have both bridal shower and bachelorette party as long as you understand the costs involved in having both events.

Some people that have both bridal shower and bachelorette party choose to have both the bridal shower and bachelorette party on the same day to save costs. The bridal shower is held during the day while the bachelorette party is held at night.

Whatever the case maybe make sure to throw parties the bride would love as both parties are about her.

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