It's one of the few agreed upon duties of being a maid of honour -- you need to throw a party for the bride! Whether it's a traditional bridal shower, a wild bachelorette party or a little bit of both, as a bridesmaid it's your job to give the bride an event she'll remember and treasure. At OneWed.com we know that balancing the needs of the bride, her guests, and your pocketbook can be tricky so we have some steps for you to follow to put on a great party.
- Talk to the bride
You may be thinking of a classy lunch at a country club, the bride may be thinking tequila shots at a bar. Get together with your bride and find out what she has in mind. Ask her if anyone else is throwing a party for her. It may be that a friend of her mother's might want to take the traditional bridal shower while you take care of the girls gone wild night out.
- Talk to your fellow bridesmaids
Although the maid or matron of honor generally takes the lead in planning the shower, the other bridesmaids usually serve as co-hosts. Planning a party with a group can be more difficult then doing it single-handedly, especially if you don't know the other girls all that well. Once you know what the bride wants, set up a group chat and involve the rest.
- Set a budget
As co-hosts, you and the other bridesmaids are responsible for paying for the party. It's likely that you and the other bridesmaids will all have different financial situations. Find out approximately what each host can contribute, and make a budget. Knowing your budget will help you decide if the party should be held in someone's home or at a venue, and what food should be served.
- Pick a Theme
If you're having a traditional bridal shower, having a theme can help you organize the event and make decisions about food and decorations easier. It can also help guests decide what gifts to buy.
- Get a Guest List, Send out Invitations
Unless the party is a surprise, the guest list is set by the bride. For a bridal shower, the guest list should include her mother and future mother in law as well as any in-town female relatives. Sisters of the groom or other close female relatives should also be invited. Only people who are invited to the wedding should be invited to the shower.
- Think about the guests
Mandatory costs should always be kept reasonable. If you know that the guests have different financial situations, you may want to make a two-tiered event. Start off with drinks and appetisers or dinner in someone's house, then move on to optional dinner and/or bar hopping.
If you're having a more traditional bridal shower, consider creating some icebreaker games to get everyone more comfortable.
- Have fun
All the hard work of planning the bridal shower or bachelorette party boils down to one thing: fun. It's the whole point, so don't hold back.
We have a selected a few ideas and inspiration by Nigerian planners.
See pictures below.
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@partyfully_yours
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