A wedding shower is a great warm-up for the big day. Gathering friends and family before the nuptials is an enjoyable part of the wedding day wait!

Traditionally, wedding showers were hosted by the maid-of-honor or an aunt of the bride or groom, and the celebration centered mainly on women. Today, these exciting events are taking on a more open concept. Sometimes the party is organized by the bride’s family and in other instances, even the groom’s family might host it. Having said that, a couple might have more than one wedding shower, too.

If you need to organize a wedding shower in Seattle, refer to our simple guide. Host the perfect wedding shower without any glitches! Our guide covers everything from selecting the ideal venue to planning fun activities that everyone will enjoy. With expert tips for wedding receptions, you can effortlessly incorporate thoughtful touches that will leave a lasting impression on your guests. From coordinating decorations to arranging delicious catering, we’ve got you covered every step of the way!

Drawing up the Guest List

When drawing up a guest list for a wedding shower in Seattle, naturally you will need to include the mother of the groom and bride; their grandparents (and great grandparents), aunts, uncles, cousins, and the bride and groom attendants.  You can extend this list to close friends including business friends.

But keep in mind that if someone is not included on the wedding invitation list, you shouldn’t invite them to the wedding shower. If someone lives too far or is not able to attend, etiquette says that you should send them an invite for the wedding shower and wedding, nevertheless.

Bride celebrating at her wedding shower

Picking the Right Wedding Shower Venues in Seattle

Wedding showers are typically held anytime between two and eight weeks before the wedding. Often, the host organizes a party at their home. But nowadays, many are choosing to host the wedding shower at other venues as well. This way, you won’t need to worry about decorating, catering, and cleaning up after the party.

If you are looking for good venues to host a wedding shower in Seattle, consider these top locations:

#1: Graham’s Royal Tea

Graham’s Royal Tea is a great place to host a wedding shower. Here, you can pick and choose different options like afternoon high tea parties which include different ‘tea sets’ like “Queen Hana’s Tea”, “The Prince Baxter Tea”, “The Princess Beatrice Tea” and so on.

On offer are different blends of tea and snacks like fresh fruit, scones, finger sandwiches, salads, and soups. The cozy and elegant yet elegant atmosphere is sure to set the right tone for a wedding shower.

#2: Goldfinch Tavern

A great venue that overlooks the waterfront, Goldfinch Tavern “pays homage to the city’s pioneer days”. This restaurant is a collaboration between Ethan Stowell Restaurants and Four Seasons Hotel, Seattle.

This inviting venue is open at different times on different days. For instance, you can host an evening wedding shower on Thursday or Friday from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm or a brunch party on Saturday or Sunday. It’s the ideal place to go if you know your guests like seafood from the Pacific Northwest.

#3: WithinSodo

This is an event space located in Sodo, Seattle, and perfect for a wedding shower. The beautiful Seattle skyline will surely mesmerize your guests from the 3000 square foot deck on the rooftop. Hosting a wedding shower at WithinSodo would be a memorable preamble to the big day.

Themes for a Great Wedding Shower

Setting a theme for a wedding shower is a brilliant idea. You can include your chosen concept when creating the invitations. This way, the couple can receive gifts keeping in tune with the wedding shower. Some unique ideas for themed wedding showers are:

  • Kitchenware
  • Houseware
  • Bathware
  • Honeymoon
  • Garden
  • Wine

Planning Refreshments

If you are organizing the wedding shower at your home, an important aspect you need to take care of is the food and refreshments. What you serve will depend on what time you host the party.

If you plan to have a brunch, you can include Belgian waffles, quiches, chocolate chip banana bread, granola, muffins, pastries, tea, and coffee. A plate of fresh fruits and cheeses adds a tasty side. You can also serve thirst-quenching mimosas and Bloody Mary’s that you can prepare the previous night.

For an evening wedding shower, dishes that go well with most people are dumplings, lasagna, salads, chicken, and roast beef. Of course, it’s only fitting to top off the night with elegant things like baklava, cheesecake, and other desserts.

Image showing drinks served at a partySending Out the Invitations

Once you have everything put together, like the venue, time, number of guests, and so on, send out the invitations to your guests. This should be done at least a month before the wedding shower date.

Typically, invitations are mailed out but sending invitations digitally is also an entirely acceptable method. Many fun and catchy invite styles can be tailored to your specific theme and to the time of year. If you are hosting a themed party, and are sending out a wish list (for the gifts) don’t mention this on the invitation itself. Add a separate page with details on how to easily purchase the wished-for items and where to send them.

Bringing it All Together

Organizing a wedding shower in Seattle may seem like a demanding task. But once you have everything put together, it will be smooth sailing. Whether you are from the bride’s family or the groom’s family, plan in advance and book your wedding shower venue in Seattle today!