According to AJ Williams, founder and creative director of AJ Events, the responsibility of hosting and paying for the bridal shower these days tends to fall on the maid of honor and bridal party, though she has seen an increase in the number of bridal showers handled by a male best friend or a close friend of the ...
Does the mother of the bride pay for the bridal shower? Short answer: no. She can help financially if she wants to, but she isn't usually the host of the shower.
Who pays? Today it's the maid of honor and bridal party or the bride or groom's mother who throws the bridal shower. Typically, whoever throws the event is the one must cover the costs. Often, the maid of honor and her fellow bridesmaids throw the bridal shower and pay for it, and the mother of the bride contributes.
Typically, whoever is hosting the bridal shower or couple's shower will pay for the celebration. It's poor etiquette to ask shower guests to contribute to the costs of the event, so avoid doing so.
That works out at $300 to $800 for a 20-person party but can go as high as $150 per person or $3,000 for a 20-person shower. Based on these estimates and an average bridal shower guest list of 35-50 people, a reasonable budget for a bridal shower is between $350 and $7,500.
First, keep in mind that bridal shower gifts tend to be less costly than wedding gifts. The average you should spend on a bridal shower gift is around $50 to $75. If you're especially close to the bride, you may spend upwards of $100. But no matter what, the amount you want to spend is up to you!
The Average Cost of a Bridal Shower Gift
"Many people spend around $50 to $75, whereas closer friends and family may spend upwards of $100," she says. "However, the amount you want to spend is up to you."
Traditional etiquette dictates that the maid of honor—not the mother of the bride—should host the shower. Nancy is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com.
With that being said, our experience shows us that the average number of guests at a bridal shower is about 25, with 20-30 being the average range. Ultimately, it's up to the bride and bridal shower host to make the final decision.
What does the Maid of Honor Pay for? As the main event planner and bride's right-hand gal or guy, the MOH is often the one who covers some of the bachelorette party expenses — extra fun additions like decorations, a stocked fridge, or first-class upgrade for the bride's flight (if you're feeling extra generous).
The bride's parents should cover venue hire and entertainment if applicable, and the cost of the food. Guests typically pay for their own drinks if there is a bar. Note that the engagement party is entirely separate from the hen night and stag night. The attendants share the cost of these.
The bride's side of the family traditionally pays for the bride's wedding dress and the bridesmaids' dresses. Increasingly, however, bridesmaids are paying for their own dresses.
The difference between bridal and wedding showers is pretty simple. The bridal shower is designed for just you and the girls while the wedding shower is a co-ed party where the bride and groom both get showered with gifts and love.
It would not be appropriate to ask your bridesmaids to share in the expenses, but give them a chance, they may surprise you and offer to host or contribute. While it would be nice if they shared the expenses of a bridal shower, you should not, and cannot dictate that.
The mother of the bride should avoid trying to control every aspect of the wedding, criticizing the bride's decisions, or creating unnecessary drama.
The mother of the bride is traditionally escorted by her son if she has one. Otherwise, any close male relative, the best man, or a groomsman walks with the mother of the bride during the procession.
A bridal shower is a more intimate gathering than a wedding and the guest list usually consists of the bride-to-be's closest female friends and relatives, including close relatives of the soon-to-be-bride's spouse.
Bridal Shower Guest List Size. An intimate bridal shower for 15 people is perfectly normal, as is a 50-person coed shower that feels more like a cocktail party. A variety of factors can influence the size of the guest list, such as: the shower location.
Technically, these are two separate events, and traditionally, it is proper etiquette for guests to show up to the bridal shower with a gift, and also purchase a gift for the wedding (this is typically done via a wedding registry, but it's also fine to bring a present in-person to the wedding).
Tradition dictates that the groom's family pays for the full cost of the rehearsal dinner, even though the bride's family and friends attend the event as well. That includes food, drink, venue fees, entertainment, and transportation. Often the groom's family cherishes this responsibility.
What Not to Wear to a Bridal Shower. As mentioned, avoid wearing black and somber colors. While it's not wrong to wear them per se, it doesn't really match the mood of the day. It's also good to avoid wearing pure white, as it distracts from the wedding festivities and the bride herself.
Gifts given at traditional bridal showers should have a focus on what the bride likes, wants, or needs. Common gift ideas include vases, cookware, champagne glasses, sleepwear, fine linens, picture frames, and home decor items. Any items specified on a bridal shower registry fall under this category.
The typical range for a bridal shower gift is a value between $25 and $75. Your personal budget and how important the bride is to you will guide how much you are able or willing to spend. Close members of the bride's family often spend a little more for the perfect gift.
Yes, if you are invited to a shower in addition to the wedding, you're expected to bring a gift to the shower as well as send a wedding gift. You shouldn't spend more than you're comfortable with, however (see the next answer), and can split your budget between both gifts.