Bridal Shower Guest of Honor Responsibilities

Etiquette of the Gracious Bride at Her Wedding Showers

Nov 15, 2009

As the guest of honor, the bride is the center of attention. She needs to keep a few rules of wedding shower etiquette in mind.

There is more to being the guest of honor at the bridal shower than just showing up and opening gifts. The bride should be gracious at all times, knowing all eyes are on her. If anything needs to be dealt with, she should immediately defer to her host or hostess in a kind and helpful manner.

Organizing the Wedding Shower

The bride should be consulted about the day and time of the shower. The shower host may ask for a guest list. The bride should find out how many people the host wants to invite and stay within the limit.

Stick to the Plan

Once that is set, she should honor her word and not change the plans. Arriving on time is critical to being a good guest of honor. The host may even want the bride to be there early to greet guests. It’s never good form to bring uninvited guests without consulting the host before the event.

Formal or Informal

The guest of honor should stick to the decision of formal or informal for dress style. Since she is the reason for the event and the focus of the party, it’s always a good idea to look her best within the parameters of the style.

Hostess Gift

To show her gratitude, the bride should give the host or hostess a thank you gift. This may be done in advance if it’s an item that needs to be delivered, such as flowers that can be used as a centerpiece or a serving bowl for the shower. Or it may be a gift that gets the party started.

Mix and Mingle

As the guest of honor, it’s always a good idea to mix and mingle with other guests. Even if the party drags, the bride should do everything in her power to keep the conversation flowing.

Opening Shower Gifts

Before the bride begins opening gifts, she should make sure someone is jotting down the giver and item so she’ll be able to send personalized thank you notes. As each gift is opened, give everyone a chance to see what it is. Hold it up and pass it around. This makes everyone feel appreciated.

Graciously Accept the Toast

Not all bridal showers include toasts. However, if one is included, the guest of honor should smile and show gratitude for each nice thing someone says. A speech isn’t necessary, but if she wants to make one after everyone offers a toast, that’s fine.

Thank You to the Host

After the party, thank the host personally. The next day, send a written thank you note and mail it right away.

The copyright of the article Bridal Shower Guest of Honor Responsibilities in Wedding Traditions & Etiquette is owned by Debby Mayne. Permission to republish Bridal Shower Guest of Honor Responsibilities in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.