Engagement Party, Bridal Shower, and Bachelor(ette) Party Etiquette and Advice
Our etiquette experts answer all of your questions.
Q: Only two of my bridesmaids can go to my girls' weekend in Vegas. Should I say something to the three who are bailing?
Q: I want a bachelorette weekend in Vegas, but the bridesmaids say they can't afford it. How do I get them to pony up?
Q: Who should plan my bridal shower?
Q: When should I host my bridesmaids' lunch?
Q: Should we invite out-of-town family and future in-laws to the shower?
Q: Is it okay to invite my best male friends to my bridal shower?
Q: Can I ask the best man to organize a bachelor party for my fiancé? Is that rude?
Q: Do I have to open gifts at my bridal shower?
Q: Can I invite the same friends to more than one shower?
Q: Is it necessary to invite the groom's sisters and mother to my shower? Our families don't get along at all.
Q: Is it proper etiquette for a mother-in-law to host a bridal shower?
Q: What, exactly, is the bridal luncheon, and who hosts it?
Q: My daughter wants to have a casual rehearsal dinner (pizza and bowling) but my husband is worried about his parent's comfort. What should we do?
Q: I would like to invite my large group of coworkers to a shower, but not to the wedding. Can I do that?
Q: No one has offered to give me a shower. Can I host my own?
Q: Do I have to host a bridesmaids' luncheon?
Q: Do we have to have an engagement party?
Q: Do guests expect a next-day brunch, or can we skip it?
Q: We aren't having a rehearsal. Do we still need to have a rehearsal dinner?
Q: Do I have to invite all of my female guests to my shower and bachelorette party?
Q: I'm a bridesmaid in an upcoming wedding, along with three friends. These women planned a very expensive shower without asking for my opinion, then told me I needed to contribute a huge sum of money toward the shower. I don't think I should be expected to fund this shower, as I had no part in planning it. Should I pay up?
Q: I don't like the plans my MOH made for my bachelorette party (I'd rather go clubbing than hit the spa). Can I ask her to change them?
Q: Even though we're on a tight budget, my fiancé wants to treat all the guys to a pre-wedding baseball game and dinner. How do I convince him it's totally unnecessary?
Q: I accidentally saw an e-mail from one of the groomsmen about having strippers at a hotel room for the bachelor party. My fiancé had told me he and the guys were just doing an evening of drinks and pool. How do I let him know that I'm not happy?
Q: Since I'm going to be having three showers, would it be all right to ask that my bridesmaids be invited to only one?
Q: Who pays for the bachelorette party?
Q: Instead of a maid of honor, I'm having a man of honor. Is he supposed to plan my shower?
Q: If I'm invited to a wedding shower but can't attend, should I send a gift?
Q: To save time, can I have my shower guests fill out their addresses on the envelopes I'll send their thank-you notes in?
Q: Are themed showers required? What is a "wishing well"?
Q: Between me and my mom, we have more shower guests than we can invite to the wedding. Is this okay?
Q: I'm hosting a shower for the bride. Do I have to give her a shower gift as well?
Q: We're on a tight budget, do we need to invite the out-of-town guests to the rehearsal dinner?
