Bridal Shower Invitations: Not Just a Detail
07/22/09
Once upon a time bridal showers were informal, impromptu affairs, but no more. Increasingly style conscious brides welcome showers as a chance to entertain their friends in their own style, without compromising as they have had to do when planning their wedding, making the bridal shower a celebration in its own right. Throwing a stylish bridal shower starts right at the beginning, with the bridal shower invitations.
Bridal shower invitations set the tone for the party. Silly or serious, girlish or sophisticated, the second guests open the envelope, the invitation will tell them that this bridal shower will be memorable. For a truly different kind of shower, guests can wear outfits and bring gifts chosen to suit the theme. If you have excellent graphic design skills, there are software and stationery packages that will make creating custom invitations easy for you, but if you do not have design skills or would rather spend your energies on other parts of the planning, bridal sites offer beautiful professionally designed shower invitations. You can find invitations to suit every taste, including the most finicky bride's.
If you are low on ideas, or you have five planning "helpers" and six ideas, consider using bridal shower invitations for inspiration or for homing in on an idea. Find a few bridal invitation sites and search their catalogs for inspiration, or pick out a few of the best designs and ask your friends to vote for the one they think the bride would like best. When you have chosen an invitation you like that you think the bride will love, select accessories to match the invitation. You will end up with a coordinated color scheme and an artfully integrated theme worthy of any professional party planner.
Although stationery stores offer bridal shower invitations, buying your invitations online is an excellent option. Not only do online stores have a wider selection and let you choose, customize, and order invitations without leaving the house, you will also save money. Even after you factor in shipping, invitations from online bridal shops frequently cost less than those from stationery stores. Comparison shop before you order. You may be surprised!
Always remember the small touches. Coordinating envelopes, address labels, specialty stamps, and even finishing touches like envelope seals add to the effect of the bridal shower invitation. Why send your carefully designed and chosen invitations in plain white envelopes when you could use eye catching parchment envelopes with wax seals, or silver paper with a raised pattern, or even envelopes embossed with the motif of your bride's shower?
As you can see, bridal shower invitations are not merely a detail, they are an important scene setter in any bridal shower. If you choose invitations carefully, they can even be a great help in planning the party. So find a style that expresses the bride's personality perfectly, and get ready to throw a fantastic shower.