
What is a bridal kitchen tea / bridal shower?
Traditionally, a Bridal Kitchen Tea is just that – an afternoon tea in which guests bring a gift for the Bride suitable for the kitchen only. A Bridal Shower on the other hand sees guests bring a gift of any description to “shower” the bride with. So who throws the bridal shower / kitchen tea ?
What is the difference between kitchen tea/bridal shower/hens party?
“What is the difference between Kitchen Tea / Bridal Shower / Hens Party?” The short answer is, they are really all pretty much the same. The purpose of it all is for close family and friends to celebrate with the bride to be and have a bit of fun before the big day.
Who gets invited to a kitchen tea or bridal shower?
Traditionally only ladies will be invited to a kitchen tea or bridal shower, however these days some guys would also be attending. Generally, light meals, refreshments or high tea style catering would be served at a kitchen Tea or Bridal Shower. Some bride would even request for a themed party, or even ask the guests to dress for the occasion.
What is a bridal shower and what is it for?
The short answer is, they are really all pretty much the same. The purpose of it all is for close family and friends to celebrate with the bride to be and have a bit of fun before the big day. However, this blog simply would not be informative enough if I just give you my short answer.

Is kitchen tea a bridal shower?
A kitchen tea is similar to a bridal shower. It is essentially a pre-wedding celebration in which women who are friends with or related to the bride will gather together, traditionally at the bride or her mother's home, and celebrate her upcoming wedding with games, food and drink.
Is kitchen tea and bachelorette the same?
Only the women in the bride's life, including close friends and family, are invited to the kitchen tea. However, in contrast to many hens' nights and bachelorette parties, a bridal shower is typically a more refined event attended by only the bride and groom's closest friends and family members.
Is a bridal shower and hens night the same thing?
Traditionally a Bridal Shower is almost like an Engagement Party but only for the bride to have the women in her life to shower her in gifts and love, comparing to a Hens Night which is traditionally “the last single night” and has a bigger focus on “partying it up”. Some brides choose either or, and some do both!
Who should not give a bridal shower?
No matter who is hosting, be sure to communicate clearly to make sure you aren't planning two separate showers. Traditional etiquette says the mother or mother-in-law (or any relatives, for that matter) should steer clear from hosting as it can appear that they are directly asking for gifts.
Are you meant to bring a gift to a kitchen tea?
However, at a Kitchen Tea, it is customary to bring a gift specifically for the kitchen. Such as a small electrical appliance, modern cooking gadgets, perhaps even kitchen cleaning utensils. Common practice for a Kitchen Tea is to ask the guests to bring along their favourite recipe.
Who pays for a kitchen tea?
Bridal Showers/Kitchen Teas: And what does that mean? Yup, that's right – the guests don't pay for themselves. The shower might be hosted by the bridal party or a friend of the bride or her family, often at their home, and the host provides food and refreshments, as well as décor.
Who pays for what at a bridal shower?
Often, the maid of honor and her fellow bridesmaids throw the bridal shower and pay for it, and the mother of the bride contributes. With this model, the bridal party pays for the bridal shower for the most part and split the price, but the parents of the bride may contribute some part of the expenses.
What is a kitchen shower?
Also known as a kitchen bridal shower, the kitchen shower is a simple gift-giving party aimed at assisting a bride-to-be in the task of stocking a kitchen.
What does a bride wear to bridal shower?
Traditionally speaking, the bride typically wears a little white dress to her bridal shower. This dress is not meant to be fancy like a bridal gown, but stylish and formal enough that everyone knows you're The Bride. Most brides opt for a short little white dress for the occasion.
How many people should be at a bridal shower?
between 15-50 peopleHow many people should you invite to a bridal shower? The typical shower is between 15-50 people. Definitely ask the bride and the mother of the bride for a list of guests who are a must. Then go from there.
How long should you stay at a bridal shower?
between two and four hoursKeep It Short. Weichelt says bridal showers should ideally last between two and four hours. Anything shorter and guests will feel like they didn't have a chance to spend time with the bride; anything longer and they'll be itching to head home. Three hours might just be the sweet spot, then.
What are the rules of a bridal shower?
Traditionally, the bridal shower celebration serves as an opportunity for guests to “shower” the bride with gifts. It's important to know that there are no strict rules when it comes to planning the event. A bridal shower theme that embraces the bride-to-be's unique personality and tastes is perfect.
Is bridal shower and bachelorette party the same?
The main difference between the bridal shower and the bachelorette party is the bridal shower is typically for the bride's family and friends to shower the bride-to-be with gifts, while the bachelorette party is normally for the bride and her close friends to have a fun weekend together before the wedding day.
Is a hen party the same as a bachelorette party?
A Hen's party and Bachelorette party are two terms used to describe the same thing – it simply depends on where you live (Hen's in the UK and Australia vs. Bachelorette in the US). Both are a final 'hurrah! ' for the bride-to-be as a single woman, alongside her closest female friends.
Where does kitchen tea come from?
Thought to have originated in the 1890s, the humble kitchen tea was believed to have taken the place of the very unfeminist concept of the dowry, AKA the thing parents of the bride gave to the husband – money, jewellery, gifts etc to guarantee their daughter's marriage, safety, and protection.
What is a bachelorette party called in Australia?
hens partyTerminology. The term bachelorette party or simply bacholerette is common in the United States and Canada. In the United Kingdom and Ireland it is known as a hen(s) party, hen(s) night or hen(s) do, while the terms hens party or hens night are common in Australia and New Zealand.
Is A Kitchen Tea The Same As A Bridal Shower?
Traditionally, a Bridal Kitchen Tea is just that – an afternoon tea in which guests bring a gift for the Bride suitable for the kitchen only. A Bri...
What Is The Purpose Of A Kitchen Tea?
A kitchen tea is similar to a bridal shower. It is essentially a pre-wedding celebration in which women who are friends with or related to the brid...
Who Should Be Invited To A Kitchen Tea?
It is typically hosted at the bride's or her mother's house. Female friends and family are invited – kitchen teas are typically attended only by th...
Where Do You Hold A Kitchen Tea?
Traditionally a kitchen tea is held in a home, however, modern brides are opting to host a kitchen tea in whatever location suits them. An outdoors...
Who Arranges The Kitchen Tea?
If you have a big family and group of friends, you might decide to split the two occasions but still have them on the same day. The Maid of Honour...
What is the most similar shower?
Out of the three, Kitchen Tea & Bridal Shower are probably the most similar. They are both generally done during the day, and would involve family, friends of the bride as well as family members from the groom’s side.
What is the purpose of a wedding cake?
The purpose of it all is for close family and friends to celebrate with the bride to be and have a bit of fun before the big day.
Difference between a bridal tea and bridal shower
What is the difference between a bridal tea and a shower. The ladies at church are giving me a bridal tea soon. I was told that I am supposed to open the gifts the day before, but I have never heard of this. So, what goes on at a tea hosted for the bride versus a shower? What kind of gifts are given? Do I give the hostess a gift?
Rebecca Black, Etiquette By Rebecca
There really is no such thing traditionally. There are pockets of people in various regions that have their own ideas of what this is. For most, this is the bridesmaid’s party where the bride gives her gifts to her bridesmaids. It is usually hosted by the bride and sometimes hosted by the bridesmaids.
What is a bridal shower?
Geography aside, Bridal Showers are a time to “shower” the bride in gifts in order to spoil her. Usually with something for the bedroom, kitchen or other luxurious gifts. However, at a Kitchen Tea, it is customary to bring a gift specifically for the kitchen.
What is the common practice for a kitchen tea?
Common practice for a Kitchen Tea is to ask the guests to bring along their favourite recipe. These are then all collated into a personal cookbook and gifted to the bride.
Where is kitchen tea held?
Traditionally a kitchen tea is held in a home; however, modern brides opt to host a kitchen tea in whatever location suits them. An outdoors kitchen tea idea could be a picnic at a local park – or only in the bride’s backyard.
What is the most popular pre-wedding celebration?
Along with a wedding’s excitement comes all the events and parties that lead up to the big day. One of the most popular pre-wedding celebrations is the bridal shower. Or is it the kitchen tea? They are similar, but there are a few differences.
Are there any alternatives to kitchen tea?
A bridal shower is an alternative to a kitchen tea, as the events are quite similar but not traditionally the same. The slight difference being that kitchen teas are usually more focused on helping the bride set up her marital kitchen. In contrast, the origin of a bridal shower relates to ‘showering’ the bride with gifts for her entire home, as well as items for the bride herself.
What is tea party bridal shower?
A tea party bridal shower is a semi-formal event and part of the round of celebratory rituals accompanying the wedding. The classic tea dress is a light dress with a hem that falls between the ankle and the knee. As the name suggests, it started as an informal garment suitable for a lady’s tea party.
What is bridal shower?
A bridal shower is a daytime event for the women friends of the Bride. The timing and guest list mean a tea party is an ideal theme for a bridal shower. The Bride or Groom’s mother or the bridesmaids usually host the party. The guest list includes the bridal party, female relations of both the bride and groom, and the bride’s female friends.
What is tea party?
A tea party is an event for the late afternoon with tea (naturally), and small bite-sized snacks – both sweet and savory. It lends itself to beautiful presentation with tablecloths, fine china, and dainty nibbles. A tea party is infinitely more relaxed than a dinner party.
Why do people have bridal showers?
Bridal showers are a chance to meet informally with the bride, her family, and friends to celebrate the upcoming wedding. It is less stressful than the main event for the bride because she only needs to turn up and enjoy herself. Also, it is an excellent place for the female relations of the bride and groom to meet and get to know each other ...
What are the different types of tea parties?
There are two distinct types of tea parties – low tea and high tea.
Do men eat more than women at afternoon tea?
If the guest list includes males, provide more savory snacks as generally men will eat more than women even at afternoon tea.
Is a bridal shower a male or female party?
Sometimes coworkers will host an office “shower,” but this is not part of the official bridal shower. A bridal shower does not have to be exclusively women guests; the party can include male relatives and friends as well. Most showers are female orientated by tradition. If the guest list is extensive, then multiple showers hosted by different ...
