
Congratulations! You’re in charge of planning a bridal shower, and now it’s time to tackle one of the most important tasks – creating the guest list. Who should you invite? Let’s look at the traditions and etiquette surrounding bridal shower invitations. So, grab a cup of tea, and let’s get started!
Bridal Shower Invitation and Guest List Etiquette

Traditionally, the bridal shower guest list includes three main groups – the wedding party, close family members, and close friends. However, it’s important to remember that the guest list is ultimately up to the bride and the host and can vary depending on personal preferences and circumstances.
Don’t Invite Anyone Who’s Not Invited to the Wedding
This may seem like common sense, but it’s worth emphasizing, only invite people to the bridal shower if they are also invited to the wedding. Inviting someone solely to the bridal shower might give off the wrong impression and appear gift-focused. One exception to this rule is an office shower, where coworkers may want to express their well wishes without attending the wedding. In that case, it should be hosted separately from the personal shower.
Keep it Intimate

Remember, the bridal shower is an intimate gathering for the bride’s nearest and dearest. Sure, Aunt Cathy might want to bring her cat Mr. Whiskers as her plus one, but unless he’s wearing a tiny tuxedo and knows how to dance the cha-cha, it’s probably best to keep the guest list limited. Strive for a mix of family and friends who know the bride best; they’ll be the ones cheering the loudest during those fun shower games!
The Number of Guests
Together with the bride, the host should consider the venue’s size constraints and the overall budget. If the bride’s guest list exceeds the determined number, you could consider hosting multiple showers, such as one for friends and another for family. Sometimes, more than one person wants to throw a bridal shower for the bride-to-be, and that’s perfectly okay. In such cases, ensure each host has a unique guest list based on their relationship with the bride.
Building the Bridal Shower Guest List
Cross-reference the bridal shower guest list with the wedding and reception guest list. Connect with the bride-to-be to discuss who will be invited to the wedding and use that as a starting point for crafting the bridal shower guest list. This will help you keep the guests straight.
Christian Siriano Is Back With an Inclusive Bridal Collection
You know fashion designer Christian Siriano from his role as a judge on Bravo’s Project Runway and for his often extravagant yet incredibly gentle bridal collections that focus on accommodating all shapes and sizes. His most recent collection is just exquisite, and everyone can enjoy it — with sizes ranging from 0 to 28 and designs in all spectrums of chic, feminine, and bold, future brides are bound to fall in love with these gowns.
An Exciting New Collection by Christian Siriano
The news of Christian Siriano’s comeback took many by surprise, given that he hasn’t released a full bridal collection since his Spring 2018 Bridal line, which debuted in April 2017. Of course, the talented designer kept busy in the meantime. Aside from judging Project Runway, he shifted his focus to designing custom wedding dresses and attire for the rich and famous.
A Combination of Everything Christian Loves
The Bridal Spring 2021 collection offers 26 gowns that aren’t united around a single “inspiration” or style. They are rather a combination of Christian’s favorite silhouettes he has debuted on the runway throughout the years. He wanted to create a line for “that optimistic woman” who couldn’t get married last year and was really excited about walking down the aisle now, in 2021 and beyond. Siriano took his favorite designs and reworked them to make them feel new and fresh.
In talking about the new collection, Christian Siriano was very straightforward. He said that this line isn’t for everyone, but it is for all the brides who are emailing him and his team all day giving feedback and sharing what they want to see in a bridal gown. In a way, he says, that collection is exactly for them. That’s why there are many sizing options, a range of masculine-feminine designs, romantic slips, hybrid tuxedos, and voluminous ball gowns to match the changing tastes of the modern customer. That’s what modern fashion should be, says Christian.