Bridal Shower or Hen Party

Pre-wedding parties like Bridal Shower, Stag and Hen/Bachelorette Parties should be organized one month before the wedding date to allow enough time for the couple to adjust their tight schedules, staging a pre-wedding party closer to the wedding date is already inappropriate and inconsiderate to the roller-coaster anxiety felt by the future bride and groom, it suggests inconvenience, so plan ahead and get on with the party a month before the big day.

Pre-wedding parties are always organized by the couple's friends and family members. No bride in her correct senses should ever organize her own bridal shower nor suggest to her friends that she desperately want to have one.

Here's what everybody must know and understand when hosting or organizing a pre-wedding party for the bride-to-be. 

Contrary to a common belief that a bridal shower and a hen or bachelorette party are just the same, wedding etiquette books say that these two parties are different. Though wrap with the same meaning, each party reflects a different concept, purpose and manners.

Hen Party is a term commonly used in Great Britain and Ireland while a Bachelorette Party is the one used in the United States, these two differ in concept with Bridal Shower.

Bridal Shower's purpose is to "shower" the bride with simple household gifts and advises on married life. It is more formal and themed-focus while Hen/Bachelorette Party is more hilarious and naughty meant to reduce the bride-to-be into bits with gag gifts.

Bridal Shower has no restriction on age for female guests but Hen Party is exclusive for adult participants bringing gag gifts. The party is more wild with dancing and loud fun games while a Bridal Shower is more decent and formal consists only of sharing goodluck messages, though there are laughter, fun and taunting with friends, Bridal Shower is organized with consideration to young attendees.

Whatever type of party you decide on to organize, remember to maintain simplicity all through out. Food can be as simple as canapes or picnic staples.

As with most social gatherings and events, Bridal Shower or Hen Party has manners and good etiquette to be observed by participants and organizers.

Bride-to-be should never organize her own bridal shower or hen party it is totally inappropriate. Her closest friends are the one coordinating with this party and talk among themselves how to create a fulfilling pre-wedding party adventure.

Read more here about these pre-wedding parties.

For the organizers:

• Decide what type of party to organize--Bridal Shower or Hen Party.
• Plan a party that suits the personality of the bride.
• Coordinate with some closest friends what type of party to organize.
• Prepare a guest list.
• Think of a theme.
• Keep it simple
• Scout for a venue
• Determine the type of food to be served.
• Prepare the invitation and include the basic information the guests must know.
• Do not include your name at the invitation that you are the one organizing the event.
• Put an R.S.V.P card and specify that a confirmation of their attendance is a must in order to determine the venue and the food.
• Avoid preparing games that would embarrass the participants, it is always impolite and rude.
• Avoid unfavorable comments and words that would hurt the bride-to-be or guests.
• Prepare a program that will lift the spirits of the attendees.

For the participants:

• Confirm your attendance as soon as you receive the invitation.
• Follow the theme and other important request specified in the invitation.
• Prepare a simple and less-than expensive gift according to the party theme.
• At a party, respect the organizers by avoiding too many nonsense comments about food and the venue.
• Avoid expressing indecent and stupid comments 
• Avoid suggesting ridiculous games and activity while the party is going on.
• Never complain badly about the food and the event.
• Do not embarrass the bride-to-be with your nonsense comments and sharing.
• Stupidity is not an entertainment, so learn not to cross that barrier.
• Avoid expressing rude comments and messages to the bride-to-be.
• Mingle with friends and share fun and laughter with them.

Now, take your pick what style and concept you are going to organize for your friend's pre-wedding parties.