Bridal Showers vs. Bachelorette Parties
Are Bridal Showers and Bachelorette Parties the Same Thing?
No, bachelorette parties and bridal showers are not the same thing. A bridal shower is meant to prepare the bride-to-be for marriage, while a bachelorette party is a celebration of singleness and a time to relax. Bridal showers are also typically shorter and the guest list includes more family, while the bachelorette is close friends and can be a over a weekend or a few days. We’re breaking down all the differences below:
The Differences Between Bridal Showers and Bachelorette Parties:
| |
Bridal Shower | Bachelorette |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose |
To prepare the bride for marriage and shower the bride with wisdom from wiser women and gifts |
To celebrate the bride-to-be, the end of her singleness, and the excitement of the upcoming wedding |
| Length of Time |
Bridal showers are typically just a few hours |
Bachelorette parties can be one night to a week long |
| Who’s Invited |
Female relatives, family friends, friends, bridal party |
Bridal party and close friends |
| Size |
Anywhere from 10-50 people |
Typically 5-12 people |
| Food / Drink |
Brunch or appetizers, mimosas (optional), lemonade, snacks |
Can be all meals, plus (typically) alcoholic beverages |
| Gifts |
Traditionally guests bring gifts off of the wedding registry, and sometimes lingerie |
Traditionally attendees bring lingerie or fun surprise for the bride |
| Activities |
Bridal shower activities vary, but are typically low-key in nature such as sharing stories or wisdom, opening gifts, and playing trivia games about the bride and groom |
Bachelorette activities vary, but are typically more fun and celebratory, and are geared more towards the bride’s personality and hobbies. Oftentimes, alcohol is involved, but not required. The activities can be as mellow or as wild as the bride would like. |
| Time of Day |
Typically late morning or early afternoon (brunch time) |
Anytime of day, with emphasis on evening and nighttime outings |
| Location |
Can be anywhere, but common locations are a close friend or relative’s home, a vineyard, or a restaurant |
Locations vary for bachelorette parties. Oftentimes, the attendees will travel to a fun destination, while others will stay local. The attendees typically stay together in a house, hotel, or rental of some sort while attending the bachelorette if it is longer than a day. |
Bachelorette vs. Bridal Shower FAQs:
Do I Have the Bachelorette Party or Bridal Shower First?
Whether you have the bridal shower or bachelorette party first completely depends on everyone’s schedules, especially the bride’s. Typically, you have to send out bridal shower invitations further in advance because more people are attending. However, bridal showers and bachelorette parties can take place anywhere within three months of the wedding, to days before the wedding. Consider who is attending, where they are traveling from, and what will cause the least stress when picking dates for both of these pre-wedding events.
Who to Invite to the Bridal Shower vs. Bachelorette
Typically, bridal showers are more family-oriented, with a wider range of invitees, especially older family members and family friends, while the bachelorette invite list is focused on close friends and the bridal party. The wedding party and close friends are invited to both the bridal shower and bachelorette. If you’re comfortable having your family at your bachelorette, it has become more popular to have older siblings or even parents at your bachelorette. It totally just depends on your party plans, and what everyone would be comfortable with.
Do you Have a Bridal Shower and a Bachelorette Party?
Yes, you do typically have a bridal shower as well as a bachelorette party. You can have your bridal shower on a different day than your bachelorette, or combine your bachelorette party and bridal shower.
Can you Combine Your Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party?
You can combine your bachelorette party and bridal shower by starting your festivities with a bridal shower brunch that includes an extended guest list and low-key activities. Once your bridal shower is over, you can go directly to the bachelorette activities with the smaller group of guests — typically your bridesmaids and close friends. This works really well if you have out-of-town guests who will only be around for a limited amount of time.
What is the difference between a wedding shower vs. a bridal shower?
Wedding showers and bridal showers are the same thing. “Bridal showers” are the traditional term that refers to a typically all-female guest list, while a “wedding shower” refers to guests of all genders. The terms can be interchangeable, and just depends on who you are inviting to the party.
Do I Have to Have a Bridal Shower?
No, you don’t have to have a bridal shower. This is totally up to the bride, and how she wants to celebrate. While bridal showers are a good way to include older and younger family members in pre-wedding celebrations, don’t feel the pressure to have a bridal shower if you don’t want one. A couple of reasons you may not want to have a bridal shower are:
You already have most of the things on your wedding registry already
You don’t want your guests to have to spend more money
You aren’t comfortable being the center of attention (again)
You don’t have time to have a bridal shower
You just don’t want one
Do I Have to Have a Bachelorette Party?
No, you don’t have to have a bachelorette party. While the traditional sense of the term “bachelorette party” can be wild, you can opt for more mellow activities with your closest friends and bridal party, or not have one at all. You can do a luncheon, spa day, or fun day of hanging out, and call it anything you want, including (or not including) a bachelorette party. We still encourage you to celebrate your upcoming wedding, but that can be in any way that you want!
bridal shower vs bachelorette party gifts
Should I Bring Lingerie for the Bridal Shower?
Traditionally, bridal shower gifts are chosen off of the wedding registry, but sometimes guests choose to bring lingerie, or the bride asks that lingerie is an option for gifts. Always ask the bride, or someone who knows the bride well, before bringing something off of the registry like lingerie. Consider the type of guests that will be there, or if the bride might be embarrassed to open up underwear in front of her grandma. When it doubt, it is safer to bring something from the wedding registry than bring a cheetah print bra.
Should I Bring Lingerie for the Bachelorette Party?
Lingerie is the typical gift for bachelorette parties, but it is still a good idea to check in with the bride or someone close to the bride before buying lingerie as a gift. Oftentimes, bachelorette parties have a theme of what type of lingerie to bring to the party — such as a “panty drop”, where every guest brings a different pair of underwear, or the host may assign each guest is bringing a specific style of lingerie for variance, or you may go in on getting the bride a more expensive gift from the group.
You don’t always have to bring white lingerie, unless she specifically asks for it, as the bride probably already has a lot of white undies by the time her bachelorette rolls around. Some other ideas of lingerie to bring are robes, bra and panty sets, bralettes, pajamas, and bodysuits. Consider her wedding colors, her style, and her level of comfortability when picking out a gift.
We hope this helps you in your pre-wedding planning! Let us know if you have more questions about bachelorette party vs. bridal shower etiquette, and we’ll add them to our list!
