The Ultimate Bridal Shower Planning Timeline and Checklist

Though planning a bridal shower—an event during which the bride's family members and close friends gather to shower her with love, presents, and good wishes ahead of the wedding—is undoubtably more laid-back than a ceremony and reception, organizing all the details of this pre-wedding party is still a big undertaking. With numerous details to coordinate, a guest list to wrangle, and games to plan, it can be easy for a hostess to feel overwhelmed by all she has to do in the lead up to a bridal shower. The easiest way to make sense of all the to-dos on your list? To make a comprehensive bridal shower timeline and checklist with all the tasks you need to complete.

And that's exactly where we come in: To ensure that you organize a perfect event—with as few hiccups as possible—we put together a complete bridal shower planning timeline and checklist that you can reference along the way. Here, everything you need to do to plan an incredible bridal shower, starting at three months out.

Three Months Before

Decide on a theme.

A bridal shower theme can tie the day's décor and food together while adding a personal touch to the event. It can be simple like a garden or tea party, and it can also be reflective of the bride. While there's nothing wrong with a tried-and-true theme, it's nice to personalize this event to speak to the bride's personal preferences.

Get a guest list from the bride.

Whether you're the bride's mother, sister, or a close friend, it's important to work on the guest list for this event with her—not on her behalf. The bridal shower is a time when she gets to celebrate with her close family and friends, so let her decide who should—and shouldn't—be there.

Choose a location.

Bridal showers can be as formal or relaxed as you want. They can be held in a chandelier-filled event space or in someone’s backyard. Your venue should comfortably accommodate all your guests and match the theme.

Make sure the couple has a registry.

Guests traditionally bring gifts to a bridal shower, and many like to choose from the couple’s registry. Make sure it is ready to go before you send out bridal shower invitations.

Two Months Before

Send out invitations.

Bridal shower invitations can be printed and mailed or sent electronically. Invitations set the tone for the event, so make sure they reflect the theme or mood. The invitation should include all the necessary details, including the date, time, location, and the couple's registry information. If you have any special requests for guests—like a specific dress code you want everyone to follow or that gifts should be brought unwrapped—be sure to note that information on a small insert card.

Hire vendors.

If you’re hiring vendors such as a caterer, florist, or photographer, now is the time to do so. It's important to give yourself enough time to interview prospective vendors, discuss what you're looking for, and receive quotes back.

You can also opt to have friends and family help out during the bridal shower instead of hiring professional staff. If you're going this route, you should use this time to confirm who wants to pitch in and the roles they will play.

Purchase décor.

Whether you're hosting a bridal shower at home, at a restaurant, or in an event space, you'll need to add some level of decoration to make this event feel celebratory and special. For some, it's as simple as bringing in flowers and a few balloons; others want to add signage, candles, balloons, photo backdrops, and more. Either way, now is the time to start thinking about and purchasing these items.

And if you are buying decorations for the bridal shower, be mindful about how much you're actually purchasing. One of the most common mistakes people make is ordering far more than they actually need, or else ordering items that don't complement each other or the party's overarching theme.

One Month Before

Finalize details and confirm vendors.

Now is the time to check in with the venue and vendors to make sure contracts have been signed, menu items have been chosen, and all the logistical details are set. You should know exactly what time you and the vendor team are able to arrive, what everyone is responsible for, and who your point people are.

Purchase favors.

Though wedding favors have started to fall out of fashion, bridal shower favors are very much so still expected and appreciated. That being said, you can send guests home with anything you deem appropriate—treats, like cookies or candies, small bottles of champagne, or mini flower bouquets are popular bridal shower favor options, but you can feel free to think outside the box if these items don't speak to the bride-to-be.

Come up with game ideas.

A fun part of any bridal shower is playing games. After all, they encourage guests to mingle and always get the room laughing. Figure out which types of games you (and the bride!) want attendees to play at the shower. If the bride plans to open gifts during the event, bridal shower bingo is a great option. Does her partner plan to come at the end of the party? The nearlywed game is always a hit.

Once you know what types of games your group will be playing, you can start gathering the necessary supplies. For the nearlywed game, for example, you'll need to come up with questions and provide the bride and groom with dry erase boards or mini chalkboards to write their answers.

Two Weeks Before

Confirm attendees and create the seating chart.

Follow up with guests who haven’t RSVPed and finalize the total number of attendees with any applicable vendors. Your caterer or rental team will need these numbers to ensure there will be enough food and seats for everyone in attendance.

Once you know who is coming, you can also create the seating chart. Just be sure to run the plan by the bride before formalizing it in the form of a printed seating chart or escort cards—she might have preferences around who she sits near.

Take stock of your décor.

Ensure all the decorations have arrived and you have everything you need to make the venue look gorgeous. In the event that anything is missing or that you feel like you're short on essentials, you still have time to purchase more.

Create a playlist.

Make a fun bridal shower playlist to set the tone for the party. Consider incorporating the bride’s favorite tunes and artists or songs that match the theme. 

One Week Before

Prep any remaining decorations or details.

Do you still need to print your bridal shower games or tie ribbons onto the favors? Now is a great time to get these seemingly small tasks done—they end up taking more time than you'd think.

Create a checklist of to-dos.

To eliminate stress on the day of the bridal shower, make sure you have a game plan. An important trick to help you stay calm? Delegate tasks to those willing to help. That way no one has an overwhelming amount to do.

One Day Before

Cook and clean, if necessary.

If the event is at someone’s house, make sure the setting is clean and ready to welcome guests. Prep any food that you are making, and if other people are making items, check in on them to see if they need anything.

Decorate the space.

If you have access to the venue the day before the bridal shower, consider decorating early to alleviate some stress on the day-of. If you can't decorate the room early, do as much prep work as possible at home—blow up balloons, cut out any labels or signage, and gather everything into clearly marked boxes to make decorating that much more efficient tomorrow. And be sure to leave ample time on the morning of the shower to get it all ready.

Wrap your gift.

You may be the bridal shower hostess, but you still need to give the bride-to-be a gift. Make sure to wrap your present today (and fill out a card for the bride!) so you have one less thing to do tomorrow morning.

Check things off the list.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement and forget important tasks. Consult your checklist to make sure you have all tasks completed.