What's the difference between Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party?

You can have both! Showers can be hosted by multiple people like the bridal party, the moms, etc. It's so that people can celebrate your upcoming wedding and help you get items that you need for your new home. The bachelorette party is usually hosted by your bridal party, a friend, or whomever wants to throw you one. It's a fun night out for the girls.. Like a lost "hoorah" before you're married.

Bridal shower... more formal party where the bride is "showered" with gifts

Bachelorette party--GNO often thought of as the "last day of being single" but having fun and going out (or even staying in) with the girls to have fun on a night before your wedding (although spa day bachelorettes have become more popular, so not necessarily at night) gifts not expected, although sometimes they may plan a panty party where everyone brings lingerie for the bride

The bridal shower is usually moms, aunts, grandmas, cousins, friends throwing a party and showering the bride with household things. Guests will generally shop from your registry so you get towels and pots and pans and stuff. Anyone can host the shower (except for the bride!). I hosted my sister's years ago but anybody can offer to throw it. Some people will have multiple showers if they've got people across the country or sometimes co-workers will host one.

The bachelorette party is the crazy "last night out" party. That's usually your bridal party and good girlfriends living it up before you go get married.

I would invite my mom to my Bridal Shower. I would NEVER invite my mom to a bachelorette Party! Like Mrs. Cane said you can have both.

So you have a bridal shower before the wedding, and guests bring you gifts? And then theyre supposed to bring gifts to your wedding as well?? (Not expecting it, just trying to understand, doesnt seem right to me? )

I do understand the difference between the two now though. thanks ladies.

I for sure wouldnt want my mom or FMIL at my bachelorette party... that would just be awkward haha.

A bridal shower is usually a lunch, some times games, and then the bride opens up gifts.

A bachelorette party is a night out with your girlfriends.

You do not host either, its up to either your bridesmaids or someone in your family to throw these parties for you. And you can have both just depends on who wants to plan them.

Yes, the bridal shower is usually about 6 weeks before the wedding. At the weddings I've been to, just about everyone brings a card with money or a small gift.

A lot of times if anyone gives you a gift at the wedding, it's left over stuff from your registries.

Adding to what PP have said, also sometimes the gifts you get at the wedding are from people who couldn't make it or weren't invited to the shower (like if your shower was only from a certain side of the family)

Is your own wedding the first wedding you have ever been to??!

Yes, its normal to have both events.

A bridal shower is the more traditional event. Usually hosted by bridesmaids or female relatives of the bride (godmother, aunt, etc.) Usually held in someone's home or a restaurant, maybe a fire hall or community center room, etc. depending on how many guests. Invitations are sent out. All-female event, traditionally all women invited to the wedding were invited to the shower. Can be a surprise or not, usually held on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Guests bring gifts from the registry. Appetizer/party-style food is served, usually non-alcoholic drinks are served although often there is wine or an alcoholic punch, along with cake or other dessert. Little games are played (you can google them, there's a bunch) and the bride opens her gifts at the shower. Favors are given out to guests. Often times, someone will use the bows/ribbons from the gifts to make a "bowquet" for the bride to use at her rehearsal. There are lots of little traditions/superstitions- for example, each time you break a ribbon symbolizes the number of kids you'll have In my area, women wear sundresses or "cute" outfits (depending on weather of course).

Bachelorette party is a more recent tradition (guarantee our grandmothers didn't have them, maybe not even our moms!) Planned by the bridesmaids. May or may not send formal invites. All the guests pitch in to cover the cost of the bride. Think girls night out: dinner, drinking, dancing, etc. More low-key could be a vineyard tour/wine tasting or spa day. Trend recently is to do a weekend trip. All the ones I've been to the ladies got dressed up (dresses/heels), but I've also seen "bridal entourage" style tanks or tees online and in pictures that some groups might want to wear. No favors. If there are gifts, its usually lingerie. More of a casual/wild/fun atmosphere, kind of the "last fling before the ring". Can be just the bridesmaids or BM plus other close friends of the bride.

Both events happen before the wedding. The shower happens before the bachelorette.

Yes, people bring you additional gifts to your wedding- usually things from your registry left over after the shower or money. Think about the fact that men don't attend the shower, but are still invited to your wedding. As a woman, I have always bought 2 gifts for anyone getting married: one for the shower and one for the wedding.

Thanks everyone for clarifying this to me. I appreciate it!!

@Annakay511, this will not be my first wedding. but it will be my first bridal shower/bachelorette party!

Bags of Dicks and excessive amounts of alcohol