Bridal Shower Etiquette for Destination Weddings

Celebrate with co-workers. Hosting an office bridal shower for a co-worker that is getting married does not mean the entire office staff is invited to the wedding. Generally, the office staff plans and shares the expenses for the shower and gift. Taking place at the office, it's a casual party honoring the bride. Inviting office staff is not traditional etiquette for local or destination weddings. Writing a proper thank you note for the gift and shower is proper etiquette for office showers.

Remember the rules for shower invitations. The same rules apply for destination wedding showers as for local showers. Do not invite someone to a shower if she is not invited to the wedding. Consider planning a belated reception after you return from your destination wedding. Send "Save the Date" cards out several months in advance. After these have gone out, guests know you are having a destination wedding, and they will be invited to the reception afterward. Inviting these guests to a shower is acceptable by etiquette standards. Think about showing a wedding video or picture slide show from your wedding day at the reception. Show guests as much of the day as much as possible so they know what they are celebrating.

Host a bridal shower without the bride's involvement in planning. Similar to an office bridal shower, these types of bridal showers meet traditional etiquette for destination weddings. Friends, who know they are not invited to the wedding, organize and plan a bridal shower without input from the bride. They make the guest list and invite guests to the bridal shower who may not be invited to the wedding. These bridal showers are often for close friends and family members.