Bridal Shower
Tea Party

Hostessing a large or small Bridal Shower Tea Party can be done with ease.

The traditional large shower that includes all the ladies from the wedding invitation list can be overwhelming. Not only for the maid-of-honor, but for the bride as well.

Hostessing a Small Bridal Shower Tea Party?
Smaller showers are becoming more vogue especially as brides are becoming more diversified in their jobs and the activities they enjoy in their leisure time.Sometimes a smaller affair, broken up by different groups associated with the bride is a great idea. Everyone has a better chance to actually visit with the bride and also get to know her in a different environment. Some personalities will appreciate this approach, especially if the bride is on the more shy side.

A small bridal shower is well suited for different clubs she may belong to like, a book club, craft/needlework clubs,or friends from the office or college.

If the parents of the bride or groom live at quite a distance, her mother or future mother-in-law may also like to hostess a bridal shower in her honor when the couple comes to visit. This can include friends of the family or friends from school who may not be able to attend the main shower, or even the wedding due to distance. A kitchen tea is a great one for this situation.

Special Note: If you are the maid-of-honor, and are going to hostess several small tea parties, or others are hostessing them in your stead, compare lists with the other hostesses, and double and triple check that all receive an invitation to one of the showers.

Bridesmaid's Tea Party Luncheon
A Bridesmaid Luncheon Tea Party is designed to allow the bride and bridesmaids a time to sit, relax and enjoy each other's company in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. This is the time for the bride to pass out her thank-you gifts to the bridesmaids, and for the bridesmaids to give their gift if they are giving her a joint gift.

Bridal Party Luncheon Tea Party
Sometimes the hustle and bustle of the last few days before the wedding can get hectic and leaves little time for sitting down and relaxing. The mother and/or the mother-in-law, or friends of the bride who are not in the bridal party, can plan a tea party luncheon for the bridal party and the couples family. This is especially nice if some of the family or members of the bridal party are from out of town. It allows everyone to take a breather and relax together.

The bridal party may not all know each other, and this is a great opportunity to get to know one another, so they feel more comfortable with each other at the wedding and reception.

Hostessing a Large Bridal Shower Tea Party?
Having a home large enough to bring everyone together can be quite a challenge. Not to mention having enough chairs and/or table space for all, place for the gifts and room to play the bridal shower games.

Our local Senior Citizen Center and a local bank rent out their facilities very reasonably. For example, our Senior Citizen Center rents for $35 for 4 hours or $50 for the whole day, and we have use of the kitchen facilities. The banks don't have a kitchen, but there is plenty of counter space and a sink.

Be creative in thinking of places ~ Knights of Columbus and VFW halls usually sit unused. Local parks have wonderful pavilions and gazebos that will be ideal for a tea party, and usually have electric plug-ins for your use.

Preparations