Kitchen Bridal Shower Invitation

Sunday, my daughter and I hosted a Bridal Shower for my niece. I mailed 20 invitations to individuals. No where on the invitation or envelope did I list "and family". All invitations were addressed to a single person. No one called to ask if it would be alright to bring children.

At 2:00 Sunday afternoon, the guests started to arrive. The first child to arrive uninvited was my youngest brother's daughter (my niece), age 9. She was with the mother of the bride, her aunt. The second child to arrive was the mother of the groom's youngest child, her daughter age 8. The third and fourth children to arrive were my great nieces from my husband's family, they arrived with my mother in law, they are age 5 and 9.

Before all the guests had arrived, my mother in law cut into the cake, and prepared plates for herself and my great nieces. They sat in the kitchen and ate while the rest of the guests mingled, introduced themselves to each other and visited. My great nieces made several trips back to the refreshment table for fruit, punch, cheese and crackers and the very expensive macadamia nuts that were a "treat". While they were getting their food, they fingered all of the fruit kabobs, trying to get the ones loaded with fruit they liked. My mother in law sat and watched, laughing at them the entire time, not once telling them to leave the food alone. I tried to guide them away from the table, but that only worked if I stayed right there, which was impossible to do and greet guests.

When it came time to have refreshments, everyone declined. Can't say I blame them, but it was a tremendous disappointment since I had worked so hard to prepare special things that represented my niece's honeymoon destination -- Hawaii.

The mother of the groom's daughter took over the punch bowl. She hovered over it the entire two hours of the shower, playing with the ladle, scooping punch and pouring it into the punch bowl, over and over.

The only child who behaved was my youngest brother's daughter. She sat with the other guests, visited and even played some of the shower games. She was a delight.

At the end I had planned to hand out favors, I didn't have enough for all the guests and children. I had only prepared enough for the invited guests.

I have hosted bridal showers in the past for friend's daughters and sons who got married, and I have never encountered this type of problem. Is it just me, or were these guests extremely bold to bring children without even consulting the hostesses?

I am hosting another bridal shower next month for my nephew's fiancee (husband's side of the family). Any suggestions on how to avoid this debacle and communicate effectively that children are not invited? If I don't, I imagine even more children will arrive at this one, and hate to see an entire table of food that I work so hard to prepare be wasted.

What a shame that your guests would be so rude as to bring their children along without even asking if it was all right with you? Let's forget that they're children for a second and focus on the fact that they are additional people- and additional people means the hostess needs to have additional food and favors. Like you said, you ran short because you weren't expecting them to bring the kids along. That's not very nice- especially if you had a set budget for this party.

Also, I think it's terrible that they just sat there and let their kids behave so badly at an adult event. Imagine just sitting there and laughing at a bunch of unruly kids touching every single piece of fruit, etc. If I had been a guest at your shower, I would have avoided taking any fruit for myself after seeing their grubby little hands all over it. Anyway, I'm really sorry that happened to you.

Unfortunately, I don't know if there's any way to avoid this from happening again at your nephew's fiancee's shower, since I assume many of the same guests will be invited, and since you didn't really say anything about them bringing their kids along this time (after all, what could you say?) they'll probably just take it for granted that the kids are welcome next time too. It's considered poor etiquette to specifically say "Adults only" or "no children allowed" on the invitations, not to mention it might start World War 3 if you deny their little darlings an invitation. So my suggestion is to just have a bunch of kid-friendly snacks and activities on hand, and maybe see if you can recruit a neighborhood teenager or a teenage or adult family member to babysit for the shower, keeping the kids out of the party area. Showers are probably really boring for small kids anyway- if they have their own stuff to do and their own snacks to eat, they won't bother the grown-ups.

2008-08-12 07:14:58 by tracy

Host a kitchen bridal shower by having everyone help cook a meal at a cooking class or inviting everyone to bring their favorite recipe. Use a ...

I was invited to a bridal shower, and in the invitation is the store where the couple is listed for the WEDDING registry. Does this mean I get the bridal shower gift from this registry, or is it acceptable to come up with a gift on my own? I much prefer to choose gifts myself rather than buy kitchen utensils from a registry! Thanks for reading.

The couple mentions the registry because these are the things they've determined they will need...if you choose a gift from the registry, you know it is something they actually want and need...of course, you can always choose something on your own, but if you get anything for the house, I'd take a cue as to colors and styles from the items on the registry, as they are telling you their tastes...

2007-07-05 06:24:55 by iittghy?

Price: $25.99 $16.20

Recipe cards are sent with invitation to guests and guests bring filled out cards with favorite to the shower to create a one-of-a-kind gift for the bride
Look for all of Hortense B. Hewitt's Damask pattern wedding accessories
Box is 6 1/8 by 3 1/2 by 4 5/8-Inch

I got an invitation for a " Kitchen Tea " and this person has booked a hall out for the event. What exactly happens at Bridal Showers , never been to one before.

Thanks in advance for the info :)

A bridal shower & a kitchen tea are actually two different things.
At a bridal shower, the bride is 'showered' with gifts to help create a home, without reference to a particular room. These gifts make up part of her dowry. There is usually champagne & nibbles served but no 'real' food.
At a kitchen tea, obviously, the gifts are intended only for the kitchen (a woman's 'natural' domain). There is no alcohol served at a kitchen tea, just tea, coffee & soft drinks.
For more info on traditional parties like this, read Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behaviour.
I may have the title slightly wrong, but a good book shop should know what I mean.

2007-09-19 08:15:14 by Harmonie

Price: $11.99 $11.63

From Hortense B. Hewitt, the very best in wedding accessories
6 1/4-inch by 4 5/8-inch
Package of 25 bridal shower invitations

I am not planning on doing the traditional kitchen/gadget wishing well. I want to do a girly...pampering the bride wishing well. Does anybody have a poem I could use for the invitation to explain this?! :)

" Janet and James are tying the knot.
And this bridal shower is gonna be hot!
Gifts sure to make it one hell of a night,
And certain to make Janet squeal with delight!"


Love is a temporary madness.

It erupts like a volcano and then subsides.

Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away and subsided.

When all the pretty blossom has fallen from the branches and your roots have so entwined together underground that it is inconceivable that you should ever part...

LOVE is finding that you are one tree and not two.



"Try and try with all your might,
Think of a gift for the Garden of Delight.
They've just bought a home; the yard needs a lift,
Please bear this in mind when selecting your gift.
Below are some ideas, just for a start
Be creative, have fun and choose a gift from your heart."


something like this???
just some examples

2009-03-24 16:39:02 by Wondering

I am throwing a bridal shower for a girlfriend in November. We're having high tea at a cute little tea house.

I am having trouble coming up with a gift theme for the shower. Here's why:

The Bride and Groom have lived together for quite some time- in fact they are living in the second home they've owned together- So they aren't in need of any kitchen or household gadgets (bride says they have really nice kitchen and housewares already).

Bride says Groom thinks lingerie is pointless- She already has lots and he doesn't care for it anyway ( weird, I know! ).

a "Tea Theme" (teapots, strainers, loose tea, etc.) would be pointless as Bride and Groom, like I said, have pretty much everything!

Thought about doing a "beauty theme" but Bride is a makeup artist...gets a discount on beauty supplies and treatments herself!

Thought about a recipe theme...but honestly, anyone can find any recipe online.

Thought about having all of the guests chip in $20 or so towards one big gift, like a Coach wallet or something, but had resistance from some of the guests, and it would be difficult for me to collect the money as I live out of town. Also, am kinda uncomfortable "demanding" money from the other guests.

So, does anyone have any fun, unique ideas for a gift theme? And, if I can't come up with one, is it tacky to say "no gifts please" on the invitation!

Thanks!!
Oh, I also thought of "stock the bar" but they're not drinkers, and already have barware for entertaining.

Just have a tea and don't call it a shower. A shower if for a bride who needs help setting up a household and this bride doesn't need that.

Invite people for a tea to help celebrate the upcoming wedding. Include "no gifts" on the invitation. I'd be willing to bet that she gets several cards that have cash inside.

2009-09-28 12:19:09 by MorningGlory