WEDDING BLOG

Everything You Need To Know About Planning A Wedding Shower

November 29, 2022 | kailey

Image by Tova Studios. See more of this real wedding here.

From engagement parties to bachelor and bachelorette parties, the wedding planning season is packed with events that shower the soon-to-be couple with love. One of our favorites is the wedding shower. Typically taking place two to three months prior to the wedding day, this pre-wedding party gets everyone excited for what’s to come. And now that your loved ones are officially engaged, it’s time to get the planning started.

If you’re the lucky one that gets to plan the wedding shower, we’re here to help. This ultimate guide has everything you need to know–from timelines to creative ideas the couple is sure to love!

FAQs For Planning A Wedding Shower

1. Who’s responsible for planning a wedding shower?

There are so many events that take place while planning a wedding. It can easily get confusing as to who is supposed to take responsibility for the planning of each event. When it comes to the wedding party, we typically see parents or members of the wedding party taking over the planning duties. This gives the newly engaged couple a little break from the stresses of planning.

2. Who should cover the costs?

Traditionally, those hosting the event will cover the costs. But we understand this isn’t always the case, and we’re all about doing things the non-traditional way. . Perhaps the newly engaged couple wants to take care of the bill, or maybe their family members are willing to pitch in some cash. Whatever the situation, it’s important to remember this doesn’t have to be an over-the-top affair. A wedding shower should simply be a time to celebrate the couple and gather everyone before the big day.

Image by Lauren Apel. See more of this real wedding here.

3. When should you host a wedding shower?

Wedding showers typically occur two to three months before the wedding day. It’s close enough to get the couple and guests excited for what’s to come. But, it’s also far enough from the big day, allowing everyone to make arrangements to fit both events into their schedules. You’ll want to make sure to announce the date at least two months in advance so everyone can plan accordingly.

4. How long do wedding showers last?

Wedding showers typically last around 2-4 hours, offering just enough time for guests to mingle, enjoy food, play a few games, and watch the couple open gifts. The timing often depends on the number of attendees and planned activities, but a sweet spot is about three hours. This keeps the event fun and lively without feeling rushed or dragging on too long.

4. Who should be included on the guestlist?

No matter who takes on the planning responsibilities, you’ll want to consult the couple on the final guest list. While you might have a good idea of who they’ll want to attend, it’s important to ensure the couple gets the final say.

A good rule of thumb is to extend an invitation to all family members on both sides, along with your closest family and friends. Keep in mind that if the couple is eloping or planning an intimate celebration, it’s a great event to invite those that might not have made the final wedding day guest list.

5. Are guests required to bring gifts?

Gifts are welcomed at a wedding shower but are not necessary. If you want to shower the newly engaged couple with gifts, you’ll want to think of something that is useful for both since this is a joint celebration.

Image by Jordan Jankun Photography.

Wedding Shower Planning Timeline

The key to a stress free planning season is having a solid timeline to guide you along the way. If you want to plan the perfect wedding shower, use this timeline as a reference.

3 to 4 Months Before the Wedding Shower

Compile a guest list with contact information
Discuss all ideas, dates, etc. with the couple
Finalize a date and time
Establish a budget
Reserve location (as needed)

1 to 2 Months Before the Wedding Shower

Order and send invitations
Purchase decor, party favors, etc.
Prepare games and activities
Finalize the food and drink menus
Delegate a team to help with clear responsibilities (as needed)

2 to 3 Weeks Before the Wedding Shower

Make follow-up calls to guests and confirm their attendance
Confirm any vendor arrival times
Touch base with your food and drink team or make a grocery list for your shopping trip
Buy a notepad or book to record gifts received for the couple

Wedding Shower Day

Arrive early to the wedding shower location to prevent rushing (you should enjoy this day, too)
Decorate the venue space
Prep any food or drink items
Welcome guests
Help write down and record gifts (as needed)
ENJOY!

Image by Ash Gabes Photo.

Creative Wedding Shower Ideas

Now that your questions have been answered and you have a rough planning timeline, the real fun begins. Hosting something a little different for your newly engaged friends will surely make them feel loved. And if you’re looking to plan a unique wedding shower, these creative ideas will help kickstart the planning process.

Take Over A Coffee Shop

Instead of hosting a backyard celebration, consider hosting a morning party at a local coffee shop. Guests are sure to love the experience of having their own personal barista. Bonus points if they can make personalized designs on friends’ and families’ lattes.

Host A Movie Night

If your couple loves movies and snuggling on the couch, they’ll love the idea of hosting a movie night surrounded by all of their loved ones. Order some pizzas, play a few wedding party games, and then let the movie-watching begin.

Schedule A Wine or Cocktail Tasting

If you’re looking for an unforgettable wedding shower idea, a wine or cocktail tasting might be the move. It makes for a unique way to toast to the upcoming wedding day. Plus, it makes planning easy for you—say goodbye to the set-up and clean-up duties.

Plan A Themed Party

You can’t go wrong with hosting a more traditional backyard wedding shower. And by adding a themed twist, you can pack the party with personality. Here are a few of our favorite wedding shower themes to get your creative juices flowing:

Fiesta
Garden tea party
Luau
Decades theme (think roaring 20s or hippie 70s)
Sitcom (ex: The Office, Friends, Parks & Rec, Seinfeld)
Charity (animal shelter visit, anyone?)

Image by Tova Studios. See more of this real wedding here.

Lawn Games Tournament

There’s nothing more fun—for some couples—than a little healthy competition. If you’re hosting an event at home, a lawn games tournament can be an awesome way to create memories and re-live your favorite childhood games.

Wedding Shower Games

Cheesy (in the best way) games are a classic part of every kind of shower. While they may seem silly to some, they’re great icebreakers and a way to lighten the mood. Here are a few of our favorite wedding shower games:

The Shoe Game

See if the couple is “on the same page” with silly questions via The Shoe Game. With this game, you’ll seat both partners back-to-back, have them hold one of each of their shoes, and then the MC will ask questions while the couple raises the shoe of who they believe fits the question.

Find the Guest Bingo

If you’re bringing together a lot of strangers, a game of Find the Guest Bingo may be a great idea to get everyone mingling and learning a little more about each other. Each person will have a Bingo card that requires them to find another guest with certain qualities like being left-handed, being a bridesmaid, being engaged, etc. We know it can be a bit intimidating to plan a wedding shower, but this game will get everyone enjoying each other’s company!

Couple Trivia

Find out who knows the couple best by playing a round of couple trivia. Before the event, come up with 10 to 20 questions about the couple and have them answered in advance. Whichever guest has the most correct answers gets a prize and bragging rights at the wedding.

Date Ideas Jar

For something a little more subtle, have every guest put a date idea into a jar or basket when they arrive. By the end of the event, the couple will have a ton of creative date ideas for their first year of marriage.

With these tips on planning a wedding shower, we are sure you’ll be on your way to creating the most memorable celebration for your newly engaged loved ones. Already dreaming of your wedding-day outfit? You’re sure to fall head over heels for these wedding guest dresses fit for every style of celebration.

Image by Lauren Apel. See more of this real wedding here.

Laidback Multi-Day Bread Bar Wedding

November 28, 2022 | justine

Victoria and Max wanted to take their favorite people on a literal trip down memory lane by hosting a wedding weekend at the places most significant to them. The pair also wanted their celebration to feel like an intimate night in with friends or a laid-back gathering with family for the holidays. Choosing a quaint bakery turned cocktail bar–one they considered their home away from home–as the setting for their big day, their multi-day Bread Bar wedding was exactly how they envisioned it.

To kick off their wedding weekend of nostalgia, they hosted their welcome party at their favorite restaurant. The following day, with the pair dressed to the nines, they headed to the iconic Bread Bar for a romantic and ethereal porch ceremony. Delicate florals and candles lined the aisle, while towering trees and mountains made for a breathtaking backdrop. Using the same space for a cozy reception, their small group wined and dined under the warm glow of string lights.

Their laid-back bash truly was the epitome of a relaxed and easygoing celebration, but it also featured beautiful details of an elegant affair. If you and your partner love the idea of a carefree yet stunning extended celebration, scroll through these gorgeous images captured by Mimi McCormick.

The Couple:

Victoria and Max

The Wedding:

Bread Bar, Colorado, United States

Why A Multi-Day Bread Bar Wedding

Choosing our venue was extremely easy. We’ve been going to Bread Bar since our second date. It’s been our home away from home in the mountains. It’s nestled in a quiet mountain town, with a train still running nearby to an adjacent town. It’s felt like a place out of a fairy tale for us since we first started going, and many of our guests agreed with the sentiment. As far as decor goes, we relied heavily on the aesthetic of our venue. Our welcome party venue was at our favorite restaurant, which evokes the feeling of prairie living and the old west. While our wedding venue is in an old mining town that was at one time the town’s general store, now converted into a cocktail bar.

Their Multi-Day Bread Bar Wedding Was A Literal Trip Down Memory Lane

We wanted our nearest and dearest to experience our relationship–like what a normal date night for us would be (i.e., going to our favorite restaurant, which iswhere we hosted our welcome party). We also took our guests to the place we had our second date for our ceremony. It’s a place we’ve returned to repeatedly afterward, and it feels like a second home to us. We wanted to share those personal moments between us with the people that matter most to us.

Their Ceremony Was Tailored To Showcase Their Love Story

For the ceremony, our officiant is a very good friend of ours and took the role incredibly seriously. He interviewed our guests before the big day to learn more about our relationship. He recounted memories from our past and humorous anecdotes of our formative years, taking our guests and us through the history of our lives. We succeeded in keeping the ceremony short but memorable. We allowed our guests and ourselves to enjoy the day and focus on what mattered most to us—being together in one of our favorite places.

Advice: Don’t Overthink Things And Try To Savor Every Moment

Don’t worry about the details. You’ll thank yourself if you intentionally don’t get lost in the weeds. You won’t remember who your great aunt was next to or the liquor selection served at cocktail hour. But you will remember how you felt, so choose to bask in the joy of it all and leave the stress of the logistics behind. We recommend going with your gut when making decisions about the day and simply appreciating the anticipation that comes with preparing for your marriage.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Mimi McCormick
Ceremony Venue – Bread Bar
Party Venue – Wildflower at the LifeHouse Hotel
Floral Design – Bustle & Bloom Co
Catering – Carrera’s Tacos
Invitation Design – Michelle Chow
Makeup Artist – Mariah Gallegos
Hair Styling – Antonia Garcia
Wedding Dress – Maggie Sottero
Bridal Accessories – Ring Concierge
Groom’s Apparel – Indochino
Groom’s Accessories – Taft
Rings – Vrai + Brilliant Earth

Congratulations to Victoria and Max on their laidback multi-day Bread Bar wedding. And a big thank you to Mimi McCormick for capturing all the love and beauty of their special day. Like this wedding, a relaxed celebration can still have all the stunning and elegant elements of a formal event. Make it an extended affair, and you’ve got an epic wedding weekend to remember! Make sure your multi-day wedding goes off without a hitch by checking out our planning and budget guides.

What to Know Before Hiring A Wedding Videographer

November 27, 2022 | kailey

While planning your big day, you probably hear a lot about the importance of hiring a trusted team of wedding vendors. From wedding planners to photographers, there are a lot of people you’ll want to have by your side. But there’s one more key player you shouldn’t skip out on—a wedding videographer.

Videography is an investment that we think is worth it if you have room in your budget. After all is said and done, your wedding photos and film are what you have to remember your day by, which is why narrowing down your choices of videographers can be overwhelming. That’s where we come in. Whether you’re 100% sold on hiring a videographer for your wedding or still need a little convincing, here’s everything you need to know while you look around.

Why Should You Be Hiring A Videographer?

Your wedding film brings your special day back to life with just a press of a button. Hit play and you get to relive all those sweet memories over and over again. Sure, wedding photography has a similar ring to it, but having a video to accompany your photos will give you the full experience to look back on. And you can guarantee that between your photographer and videographer, you won’t miss a single moment.

Wedding Videography Costs And Package Options

Like with any other wedding vendor, videographers typically have a variety of different offerings to help create the perfect package for you. Packages allow couples to hand-select services that align with your expectations and budget.

Here are some of the most popular package options you’re likely to see when hiring a videographer:

Trailer/Teaser Film (1-2 min)

Have you ever watched a movie trailer? This is the same concept, but for your wedding day. Often accompanied later by a short film, this trailer—or teaser film—is created by your videographer while they continue to edit and craft the final product. Some videographers include a teaser video as a part of their package, while others offer it as an add-on.

Highlight Film (3-10 min)

With many videographers, the highlight film is the final product you will receive. Being one of the most common package choices, this film is non-linear (not necessarily in chronological order) and takes a more modern approach. It’s a three to ten-minute cinematic compilation of the most memorable moments.

Short Film (10-20 min)

If you decide on a package with a short film, you’ll receive an edited version of your wedding footage that takes a more linear form (in chronological order). This style typically includes a portion of your vows, reception toasts, etc. Depending on how long you book your videographer for, the film may also include getting ready footage, first look footage, and your grand exit.

Same Day Edit (4-10 min)

Some videographers offer an option to have footage from your wedding edited on the spot and shown during your reception. Though this offering is more difficult to hunt down, it can be a fun surprise for guests on the day of.

Videography by Vic Rivero Films.

Full-length documentary (30-90 min)

If you are interested in reliving the majority of your big day, this option is for you! Your videographer can create a longer film that includes entire sections of your wedding, like your ceremony. Due to the length, this option is the most like an actual movie of your wedding.

Add-On Options

Most videographers offer à la carte options to receive additional footage from your day. A few popular add-ons include:

Full ceremony/reception: edited footage of your wedding ceremony or toasts/speeches during your reception
Raw footage: unedited footage from your wedding day
Drone aerial coverage
Rehearsal dinner coverage
Greetings from guests during cocktail hour
Trailer film (mentioned above, as an add-on)
Love story: similar to an engagement session, this footage is filmed before your wedding day, usually in plain clothes, which may include an interview with you as a couple as well as a lifestyle shoot

Wedding Videographer Styles

While each videographer puts their own artistic touch on their work, there are a few styles by which most videographers can be categorized. These are the most common styles to look for in your search:

Cinematic

Cinematic is the most popular style of videographer you’ll find. These films are most like real movies, edited and stylized like cinematic pieces of art—hence the name. There are two main styles within cinematic videography: Modern Abstract and Classic.

Modern abstract style is characterized by a non-linear approach. These films are created to make the viewer feel something, both in how the footage is arranged and the music used. The footage used in a modern abstract film is more likely to include atmospheric footage, or B-roll, which helps capture the overall mood of the day. Modern abstract films typically use little or no speaking from the day.

While modern abstract films are almost entirely non-linear, classic cinematic films may provide a stylistic edit of events from the day in between bits of B-roll. While you still feel a sense of the wedding atmosphere, your video will include more intact footage or sound bites of events.

Video Journalistic / Documentary

A video journalistic approach is meant to capture the day as it occurred. This means that your film will include footage of some of your day’s biggest moments while also highlighting the other happenings of the day—getting ready, guests interacting before the ceremony, messages from guests, dancing at the reception, etc.

Storytelling

A storytelling style relies on sound bites—from the day and recorded at another time—to tell the story of your big day. While music is used to create an emotional reaction in other film types, storytelling uses sound bites for dramatic effect.

Videography by Christopher James Wedding Films.

Super 8 Film

It comes as no surprise that Super 8 film has taken the wedding world by storm. It gives your film a vintage flair, making it a unique way to set your film apart. Some videographers may use this film to document the entire day or will blend it with modern recording technology for a truly personalized effect.

Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Videographer

Do you have open availability on our wedding day?
How would you describe your videography style?
What packages do you offer?
How many hours of coverage are included in each package?
Will you be scheduling another wedding for the same day?
What does your cancellation (or rescheduling) process look like?
Do you require a deposit? If so, how much?
What is your turnaround time?
How will the film and footage be delivered?
Are you open to editing feedback?

You’re now equipt with all the knowledge needed for hiring a videographer that matches your desired style, video length, and budget. It’s officially time to start your wedding vendor search. And lucky for you, you’re just one click away from some of the top wedding vendors—including videographers—from around the world.

Image by Morgan McCanne Photo.

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