Planning a shower is typically a time-honored wedding tradition but that doesn’t mean the bridal shower invitations have to look traditional. Today, more than ever, there are so many fun designs from which to choose. Many styles go beyond the basics of providing guests with all the party details by also proclaiming a specific theme for the event.

Bridal shower invitations come in many designs to match specialty party themes in addition to the usual wedding motifs…

• Kitchen Shower
• Tea Party
• Lingerie Shower
• Garden Luncheon
• Cocktail Party

For a personal touch, choose a style with an attached card for sharing a recipe, wedding wishes or marriage advice with the bride. If not included in the design, you can simply insert one of these special cards with the shower invitation asking the guests to fill out and bring with them to the party. If it is a recipe card, you may even ask the guests to bring one of the listed ingredients to stock the bride’s pantry.

As far as the details, bridal shower invitations should include the bride’s name, who is giving the shower, the day, date and time along with the name and address of the location. If the shower is being planned as a surprise to the bride, this needs to be conveyed on the invitation so guests are prepared.

It might be a good idea to know how many guests will be attending and there are a couple of choices for gathering that number. Some invitation designs may have a matching response card with return envelope you can purchase and include for guests to mail back. Having an RSVP phone number printed directly at the bottom of the shower invitation is another option.

To be sure any undeliverable invitations are returned by the Post Office, list a return address on the mailing envelope. This can be easily accomplished by paying a little more to have the return address printed directly on the envelopes when the bridal shower invitations are ordered or by affixing labels.

If it’s going to be a shower for the couple, there are many appropriate designs and verses for wedding shower invitations to fit that type of celebration.