The Complete Bridal Shower Checklist & Timeline: A Month-by-Month Guide

Once you get the date for the wedding, you can start planning your bridal shower checklist. Naturally, you’ll start with the basics, and all the details will follow later. You must have a strong team by your side as they’ll help you with everything along the way and will make planning much easier.

Look for the Bride's preferences

Since the bridal shower is all about the bride, it needs to be planned according to her wishes. That said, ask whether she has any preferences like a tea party or an elegant dining experience. In some cases, the bride may even be open to a surprise! However, if the entirety of bridal planning falls into your hands from the initial start, think of what the bride will like. This is still her day, after all!

Build your team

When you have an idea, you need a solid group of people who will make it come to life. Even though you may think you can do everything by yourself, the experience is much easier when you have people to lean on for support. With that in mind, contact bridesmaids, family members, and closest friends and see if anyone is willing to lend a helping hand. You may even snag a person in your team with valuable connections!

Venue & Vendors

Once you know the bride's expectations, the next step on your bridal shower checklist should be booking the venue and the vendors accordingly. You may tour a few places to see what works best based on theme and number of guests. 

Meanwhile, think of the games, decor, catering ideas, and activities and how to tie it up with a potential venue. 

Date & Time

The date and time of the bridal shower will be solely determined by the bride. Since she already has her hands full with wedding planning, squeezing in a bridal shower won’t make her feel any more relaxed. So, before you start planning the shower, ask which date she’d be most comfortable with. After that, you can jump into specifics.

Prepare the final guest list

Bridal showers are supposed to be intimate, meaning the guestlist needs to be as tight as possible. In other words, you should only invite family members and close friends of the bride. Also, contact them to see whether they’ll be available on the selected date - this will help you streamline the bridal shower checklist.

One month before the big show! Stress and jitters may occur, but don’t let this get you down! If the basics are covered, you’ll have nothing to worry about. After all, this is the time when all the fun happens!

Send Invitations

After the guestlist has been finalized, you should extend invitations to everyone included. If you’re stumped on design ideas, think of the bridal shower’s vibe and theme. This will lead you in the right direction and help you pick invitations that provide the perfect teaser of what’s to happen.

Plan Bridal Shower Games & Activities

Despite their formal nature, bridal showers can be a lot of fun - and it’s your job to make that happen! Ensure to include activities in your wedding shower checklist. Again, the event’s theme will dictate which route to go for but always go for activities that will bring the guests together.

The Menu

One of the many reasons why people love bridal showers is because of the tasty food and drinks. Knowing this, it’s time to grant the guests’ wishes! Create a versatile menu, including dishes that will honor the bride uniquely. You can do this with customized desserts or a special dining experience, designed solely for her.

Prepare a list of things and coordinate with vendors

When your bridal shower checklist is established, don’t rush through it. Instead, ensure every point is covered correctly and see if everything is in the way it should be. This especially applies to vendor coordination. Take the time to contact each one separately and go at your own pace without rushing anything. Even if you feel like you’re dragging behind, you still have more than enough time to make everything perfect!

Just seven days until the best bridal shower the world has ever seen! Here are the final things you need to take care of on the wedding shower checklist.

• Confirm RSVPs

With everyone receiving their pretty invitations, see if they have responded to them. For those who haven’t, check with them to avoid any last-minute surprises.

• Vendor Arrangements

Even though the plans are already set in place, it’s a good idea to call up all your vendors and see whether everything’s working like a well-oiled machine. Let your assertive side shine during this time - this way, everyone will know you mean business!

• Party Favors
  

It is always advisable to prepare the party favors and have them packed once you have the guest count ready. Choose the party favors that match your theme, or stick to something sweet and simple like a cupcake or sweets.

• Gift for Bride-to-be

Let’s find the perfect bridal event gift for your guest of honor. Choose something thoughtful and that the bride can remember fondly. However, there’s no need for extravagance. Even the softest piece of jewelry can go a long way!

With one day left on the agenda, here’s what you’ll need to cross off your bridal shower checklist:

• Go to the event venue to see whether everything is set up in the right order. For any tardiness, contact the vendors ASAP.
  
• If you’re going the DIY route, food and drinks should be prepared the day before.
  
• Ensure everyone is in good spirits!

It's perfectly okay to be nervous. After all, it's a big special moment for you and the guest of honor. So settle and calm down those nerves by running through the schedule so you are confident of what is going to happen. You may finalize a rough plan for the occasion with milestones. You will check the venue when guests will arrive and schedule the main activities.

With this, we conclude the bridal shower timeline and checklist leading up to the big occasion. So let’s party. Hopefully, using our bridal shower checklist will help you plan a memorable and joyous celebration. If you need more ideas on how to make your bridal shower truly epic, check out the rest of our blogs!