There’s so much to consider and so many decisions to make when prepping for your wedding day. Bridal showers and bachelorette parties are an integral part of the bridal experience, and most brides know they want to have at least one - but should you opt to have both? Many brides find themselves asking this question at some point, and there are a lot of factors to consider in deciding whether you’re more suited to a bridal shower, a bachelorette party, or both! Read on to learn a little more about your options, and how you can ultimately achieve the best of both worlds.
The Difference Between a Bridal Shower and a Bachelorette Party
There are so many events that take place before the actual wedding day itself. So what exactly is a bridal shower? And how does a bachelorette party differ? To sum it up simply, a bridal shower is meant to prepare the bride-to-be for life as a married woman, when friends and family of the bride bring gifts that often relate to preparing a home or married life itself. A bachelorette party, on the other hand, is meant for the bride to celebrate, de-stress and enjoy the last moments of her pre-married life! While bridal showers are usually paid for by the host, bachelorette parties are often hosted by friends of the bride. Additionally, while gifts are expected at a bridal shower, a bachelorette party is usually a weekend away or a night out where gifts are not the focus.
Another primary difference lies in these events’ attendees. While a bridal shower includes many guests of all ages (often primarily women) including close friends and family members of the bride, a bachelorette party is most often a smaller group of only the wedding party and the bride’s closest friends.
The Benefits of Throwing Both Events
Getting married is a huge deal, and you want to savor every moment of that pre-bridal bliss with all of your closest friends, family, and loved ones as you anticipate your big day. Choosing to throw both a bachelorette party and a bridal shower can help you do just that!
One great reason to host both a bridal shower and bachelorette is to have the chance to celebrate your upcoming marriage with not only your closest friends, but your extended family, close coworkers, and community members as well. While your bachelorette is a once-in-a-lifetime party with your besties, bridal showers feature a wider range of guests who will absolutely appreciate being invited to spend time with you and celebrate before your big day.
Yet another great reason to throw both events — more cute outfits! As the bride, you’ll have the opportunity to wear an array of bridal-themed outfits. From cute mini-length wedding dresses to bridal-style jumpsuits, you’ll get to soak up that bridal feeling, take tons of photos, and feel gorgeous at both events!
.
.
@Blushfashion
.
.
If you think that choosing just one party will be the best option for you, be sure to carefully consider the major differences between a bridal shower and a bachelorette party to be sure you choose the right one!
Considering an all-in-one Event
Are you sold on throwing both a bridal shower and a bachelorette party, but aren’t sure how to coordinate effectively? Some brides opt to throw both bashes over the same weekend or within one getaway! An all-in-one event is a great solution if you have guests coming from around the country or across the world. These out-of-town loved ones will appreciate the reduced travel obligations!
.
.
@Blushfashion
.
.
Consider the themes and goals of your bachelorette party, and arrange your days to optimize the fun. If your bachelorette party is a spa day, cooking class, or similar chill event, enjoy it on a Saturday followed by a Sunday bridal shower brunch. Looking forward to a more rowdy bachelorette? Consider enjoying your bridal shower on a Saturday morning, before changing into a cute mini wedding dress with matching accessories and continuing the bridal festivities into the night for your bachelorette!
Gifting Galore
Tips for Guests
This is the time to shower your bride-to-be loved one with gifts to celebrate her big day. Stuck on what to gift your bride bestie? A bride can never have too many white bridal-style dresses! Gift her a cute, lacy white mini dress at her bridal shower, and she’ll be able to enjoy wearing it during her bachelorette party or for pre-wedding bridal photos. If the bride-to-be has a tropical honeymoon in her near future, consider gifting her with a bohemian style white mini dress to keep the bridal vibes alive even after the wedding!
Bridal jewelry is another great gift option. Whether you select a piece of bridal jewelry to gift your bride bestie on your own or go in on a jewelry purchase together with other members of the bridal party, the bride-to-be is sure to love this thoughtful gift.
Tips for Brides
Your best friends are by your side for every major occasion in your life, especially your wedding! It’s fun to show gratitude through gift-giving, but It can be difficult to decide what to gift your bridal party members at various points amidst your pre-wedding events. One great place to begin is to consider the theme and season of your wedding itself and choose corresponding gifts. If you’re having a summer destination wedding, gift personalized passport covers or beach bags! Alternatively, bridal party gifts for a cozy winter wedding can include personalized insulated tumblers or scarves!
To take your bachelorette weekend to the next level, and gift your besties while you’re at it, consider ordering custom-made wedding party shirts for your bride squad. They’ll love the memento, and the cute photos you’ll take in matching outfits!
Feeling a bit more prepared to make the best decision for you and your pre-wedding process? We hope this blog has helped you to decide if having both a bachelorette and bridal shower is the right option. Regardless of your choice, be sure to soak up all of that bridal bliss!
Written by guest author Tess DiNapoli
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and world of fitness."