Bridal shower invitation wording: 40 ideas, plus registry and money lines

A bridal shower invitation tells guests who is being celebrated, where to be, and what to bring. Below is what to include, 40 wordings to borrow, and polite lines for gifts, money and themed showers.

What every bridal shower invitation needs

1. Who it is for. A bridal shower honouring Emma Lewis, or both names for a couples shower.
2. The date and time, with an end time. Most showers run two to three hours.
3. The place, with the full address and any parking note.
4. Who is hosting. Hosted by Olivia Grant and Hannah Lewis tells guests who to ask.
5. How to reply, and by when. About a week before the shower gives the host time to plan food.

Optional, when it applies:

• The theme or dress code: Garden tea, Brunch, Wine tasting, Lingerie.
• The registry, handled below.
• What to bring, for recipe card, book or advice showers.
• Whether it is a surprise. Say so twice.

40 bridal shower invitation wording ideas

Swap in your own names. A line or two is plenty; the details do the rest.

Classic

1. Please join us for a bridal shower honouring Emma Lewis.
2. You are invited to a bridal shower in honour of Emma, bride to be.
3. Join us as we shower Emma with love before she says I do.
4. Please join us for a luncheon in honour of the bride to be.
5. With love and joy, we invite you to celebrate Emma before her wedding.
6. Help us celebrate Emma as she begins a new chapter.
7. Join us for an afternoon of love, laughter and good wishes for Emma.
8. Please join us for a shower honouring Emma, soon to be Mrs. Carter.

Sweet

9. She found her forever. Join us in celebrating Emma.
10. Love is brewing. Join us for a tea in honour of Emma.
11. Something old, something new. Join us in showering Emma.
12. From Miss to Mrs. Help us celebrate Emma.
13. A little party before the big day. Come celebrate Emma.
14. Here's to love, laughter and happily ever after.
15. Emma said yes! Now let's shower her with love.
16. Love is sweet. Join us for brunch and a shower for Emma.

Funny

17. She found her lobster. Come celebrate Emma.
18. Emma is tying the knot. Help us loosen her up first.
19. Before the vows, there's brunch. And mimosas.
20. Put a ring on it. Emma did. Now we shower her.
21. Emma is off the market. Come celebrate before the paperwork is filed.
22. Bubbly, brunch and a bride to be. Two of these are free.
23. One last party before Emma becomes someone's emergency contact.
24. Emma is getting hitched. We're getting snacks.

Couples and coed

25. Please join us for a couples shower honouring Emma and Noah.
26. Emma and Noah are getting married. Help us celebrate the happy couple.
27. Two hearts, one home. A shower for Emma and Noah.
28. Beer, wine and a couple getting married. A coed shower for Emma and Noah.
29. Join us for a Jack and Jill shower honouring Emma and Noah.
30. Cheers to the soon to be newlyweds, Emma and Noah.

Themed

31. Brunch and bubbly. A bridal shower honouring Emma.
32. Tea for two, and for all of you. Join us for a garden tea for Emma.
33. Uncork the fun. A wine tasting shower for Emma.
34. She's stocking her kitchen. Bring a favourite recipe and celebrate Emma.
35. Every love story needs a library. A book shower for Emma.
36. Final fiesta before the wedding. Join us for tacos and margaritas.

Virtual and long distance

37. Near or far, join us online to shower Emma with love.
38. Grab a coffee and join us on screen for Emma's virtual shower.
39. A long distance shower for Emma. The link is below.
40. Raise a glass from wherever you are. Emma's virtual shower starts at noon Eastern.

How to mention the registry

Unlike the wedding invitation, the shower invitation is the right place for the registry. Keep it to one line, set apart from the main wording.

• Emma and Noah are registered at the links below.
• For gift ideas, see Emma's registry.
• Your presence is the only present needed. If you would like to bring a gift, the couple is registered below.

Honeymoon fund and money wording

A cash or honeymoon fund line works best when it is short and gives guests the choice.

• Emma and Noah are saving for their honeymoon in Portugal. A contribution to their fund would be warmly appreciated.
• The couple already has a full kitchen. If you would like to give a gift, their honeymoon fund is linked below.
• Help send Emma and Noah to Japan. Their honeymoon fund is below.

Avoid asking for cash in the main wording, and avoid poems that ask for money. One plain line reads as more gracious.

Recipe cards, books and unwrapped gifts

• Recipe cards: Please bring your favourite recipe on the card enclosed, to fill Emma's first recipe box. With a digital invitation, link a printable card or ask guests to bring their own.
• Book shower: In place of a card, please bring a favourite book, signed inside.
• Unwrapped gifts: In keeping with tradition, gifts will be displayed unwrapped. Please bring yours without wrapping paper.
• Advice for the couple: Bring your best marriage advice. We'll collect it in a keepsake book.

Who hosts, and who gets invited

The maid of honour, bridesmaids, a friend or a family member can all host. The old rule against the bride's mother hosting has faded; who pays and plans matters less than one clear name on the invitation.

Invite only guests who are also invited to the wedding. The one common exception is a work shower thrown by coworkers.

When to send bridal shower invitations

Four to six weeks before the shower, with replies due about a week before. The shower itself usually happens two months to two weeks before the wedding.

Digital invitations make this easier: replies come back on their own and the registry is one tap away. Paper&Seal bridal shower invitations open like a real envelope with a wax seal, and are free for small showers. Paid plans add a reminder that reaches only the guests who have not answered.

For the shower itself, the Bride or Groom game and advice cards are free to print, and our 75 how well do you know the bride questions make the classic shower game.