Nimanto

Guide

Bridal shower invitation wording and examples

By Nimanto · · 5 min read

The short answer

A bridal shower invitation names the bride-to-be, says who is hosting, and gives the date, time and address, with a reply-by date and the registry where guests can find it. Keep the bride's name the largest thing on the card and the tone warm. The groom is named only on a couples' shower, and the wedding date is not needed at all.

What should a bridal shower invitation say?

The bride's name, who is hosting, the date and time, the address, the reply-by date and who to reply to, and a registry line. Add a theme or dress note if there is one (a tea, a garden party, wear florals) and the fiancé's name only when the shower is for both.

  • Hosts are usually the maid of honour and bridesmaids, or an aunt or close friend; the bride's mother can host too, which is now common.
  • Replies go to a host, not the bride, so name the host and give a number or e-mail.
  • Write "Please join us for a bridal shower honoring" or "in honor of"; both are correct.
  • No wedding date or venue: the shower is its own event.

Classic bridal shower invitation wording

Please join us for a bridal shower honoring Emily Carter. Saturday, April 10, 2027 at 11 am. The home of Linda Carter, 14 Willow Drive, Naperville. Hosted by the bridesmaids. Kindly reply to Jess by April 1 at 555-0142. Emily is registered at Crate & Barrel and Target.

A shower of love for the bride-to-be. Join us to celebrate Hannah Park on Sunday, March 21, 2027 at 1 pm. The Rose Room, Hotel Alder. Hosted with love by her mother and sisters. RSVP by March 12.

Brunch, tea and garden shower wording

When the shower has a shape, say so in the first line: a brunch, a tea, an afternoon in the garden. It tells guests the dress and the time of day, and it makes a nicer sentence than "bridal shower" alone.

Mimosas and a morning with the bride. Please join us for a bridal brunch honoring Zoe Martin. Sunday, May 2, 2027 at 10:30 am. Juniper Café, private room. Hosted by Kate and Nora. Reply by April 23.

Tea for the bride-to-be. You're invited to an afternoon tea in honor of Grace Liu. Saturday, June 5 at 3 pm. The Carter garden, 9 Linden Lane. Florals and sunhats welcome. RSVP to Amy by May 28.

Love is in bloom. A garden shower for Sarah Okafor. Saturday, April 24, 2027, 2 pm. 31 Meadow Road, Austin. Hosted by her bridesmaids. Please reply by April 15.

Couples' shower and co-ed wording

A couples' shower names both partners and drops the word "bridal". Keep the hosts' names and the reply line, and say it is for everyone, so partners and friends of the groom know they are expected. The tone can be more relaxed: a barbecue, a cocktail hour, a backyard afternoon.

Join us for a couples' shower celebrating Mia and Jordan. Saturday, May 15, 2027 at 4 pm. The Rivera backyard, 22 Oak Hill Road. Burgers, drinks and games. Hosted by the wedding party. Reply by May 6.

Stock the bar. A cocktail shower for Anna and Luis. Friday, June 4, 7 pm. The Loft on Main. Bring a bottle for the couple's bar if you like. RSVP by May 27 to Carla.

How do you mention the registry on a bridal shower invitation?

A shower is the one invitation where a registry line is expected, since the point of a shower is gifts. One line at the foot of the card is enough: the shops or the registry site. Do not list the wedding registry on the wedding invitation; this is where it belongs.

Emily is registered at Williams Sonoma and Amazon.

Gifts are not expected, but if you'd like, the couple is registered at Zola.

Display shower: please bring your gift unwrapped, so we can see them all without the mess.

  • On Nimanto, the registry is a page of the invitation with each gift and a link to buy it: see the gift registry.

Surprise shower and virtual shower wording

Shh, it's a surprise! A bridal shower for Chloe Adams. Please arrive by 1:45 pm; Chloe thinks it's a lunch at 2. Saturday, April 17, 2027. 18 Pine Street. RSVP to Leah by April 10 and keep it quiet.

A virtual shower for Maya. Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 2 pm Eastern on Zoom; the link follows your reply. Games, cake at your end, and a toast to the bride. Hosted by her sisters. Reply by March 7.

When should bridal shower invitations go out?

Send them four to six weeks before the shower, which itself falls two to three months before the wedding. Ask for replies two weeks before the day. Only invite people who are invited to the wedding; a shower guest expects a wedding invitation to follow.

  • A shower with guests travelling in: six to eight weeks.
  • Put the bride's registry on the invitation, not the wedding date.
  • Nimanto sends the reminders for you a few days before the reply date: see reminders.

Questions people ask

Who hosts a bridal shower, and does their name go on the invitation?

The maid of honour and bridesmaids usually host, sometimes an aunt or close friend, and today the bride's mother or future mother-in-law can too. The hosts' names go on the invitation, usually in a line near the foot, and replies go to one of them rather than to the bride.

Is it OK to put the registry on a bridal shower invitation?

Yes. A shower exists to give the bride gifts, so one registry line at the foot of the invitation is expected and helpful. Keep it to the shop names or the registry site. The wedding invitation is different: the registry does not go on that one.

Do you put the groom's name on a bridal shower invitation?

Not on a traditional bridal shower, which honours the bride alone. Name both partners on a couples' or co-ed shower, and drop the word "bridal" so guests know everyone is welcome. Either way, the wedding date and venue are not needed on the shower invitation.

How far in advance do you send bridal shower invitations?

Four to six weeks before the shower, and six to eight when guests are travelling. The shower itself is usually held two to three months before the wedding. Set the reply-by date about two weeks before the shower so the hosts can plan the food and favours.

Can you invite someone to the shower who is not invited to the wedding?

No, with one exception: a workplace shower hosted by colleagues, where everyone understands they are not all coming to the wedding. Otherwise a shower invitation is read as a promise of a wedding invitation, so keep the shower list within the wedding list.