Bridal shower advice?

I haven't had to deal with this, but if it were me, I would opt out of the restaurant option and switch to the picnic idea! A picnic in April sounds lovely, and would be a nice change from your typical bridal shower. Especially since the restaurant even feels iffy about that date, it would be safer to just do the picnic, that way you KNOW you can invite all your intended guests and won't have to cut it down due to any covid restrictions.

The picture I've attached shows what I have in mind when I hear 'picnic bridal shower'. I think it's super cute and a unique idea!!

Yea i don't think i would send invitations out now anyway it's still a bit early to.

but also i agree with PP, i'd rather just do the picnic option anyway - that way you can dictate the safety measures and what not.

I’d do the picnic too, there are so many beautiful parks in SF. I’d say that Crissy Field, mission Dolores park or Golden Gate Park would make for some amazing pictures

The only part you contribute is the guest list and a date you are available. The hosts (usually the bridesmaids, never the bride) will send invites based on timelines suggested by wedding articles.

I would recommend making the restaurant Plan B instead of Plan A. That way, it will be a pleasant surprise if the restaurant can accommodate you instead of a disappointment later on.

I love the picnic idea!! Perhaps the restaurant can cater or do delivery for the event. Hold tight for now on the invitations and if it were me, I’d send them March 1st to see where we are trending at that time. 🌸

I agree with everyone else that it sounds like there are more sensible venues for a party in this timeframe. A picnic in a park or someone's backyard will be much easier to feel in control of (as far as the reservation and restaurant requirements). An outdoor event will also be much safer and easier to give everyone enough space to feel comfortable.

You have a month or so before you need to send invitations anyway.

I recommend you have it in a park or just do it via zoom

As the bride, you should not throw the party to get gifts for yourself. Many people won't come, because that is considered rude. You are asking for gifts for yourself
Any of your bridesmaids, or any friends not bridesmaids but invited to the wedding, or family women, can give a shower. Usually a couple do it together. But brides never do. Brides make a list of people close enough to give you 2 gifts, as shower gifts are in addition to Wedding gifts. Then, people who volunteer to give the party see what they can afford, decide where they want it, and how many of those on your list they will host. You do not plan it, and you do not send invitations, to a shower.

View Quoted Comment Yeah, I'm thinking of just giving people the date but not the location yet. Those picnics look so cute! But just more money to spend on rentals 😭

View Quoted Comment You could always replicate it rather than do a rental company!!

View Quoted Comment True I just like to plan super early 😂 I think I'll just wait it out and see how everything goes

View Quoted Comment My party said they would like my help since I'm the first of my friends and my cousins to get married so we're all kinda learning together and they want my input/approval which is fine by me bc all the actual wedding planning is done.

View Quoted Comment I think that's a great way to think about it thank you! I'm thinking I'll give guests the date 6 weeks out but say the location is TBD so they can at least plan to have that day free.

View Quoted Comment True, the park will feel like more control for sure. I may just plan a girls day after I'm married but I'll just wait and adjust as needed 😬

View Quoted Comment Actually I'm not accepting gifts for any parties or for the wedding as we don't need anything and would rather not get stuff we'll just throw out or donate. My party expressed they want my help/input since I'm the first of our friends to get married and all of the actual wedding planning is done so I have the time to help plan. I know my friends & family don't really care about "tradition" or how things are "supposed" to be done & a bridal shower is more about the quality time for me rather than gifts.

View Quoted Comment That's a good point!

View Quoted Comment Agreed, with all the restrictions and everything being up in the air with restaurants I'd switch to a picnic somewhere, That way you are more likely to have everything set in stone plus you can have more people. Plus there are so many options that you can do with a picnic and so many beautiful places to have the picnic. You got some time to research beautiful parks in your area. Some of these beautiful places you probably didn't even know where right in your backyard. For instance I live in upstate new york and before covid I had no idea about all the outdoor options we had, yea I knew about a few of them but some of the beautiful places I'm like really that's here.


We are doing my bridal shower at a local park probably sometime in June.

I would wait and see how things look beginning of March!

View Quoted Comment Then you shout re-title your post! A shower has a specific purpose, to shower a person with gifts. And the " drive by" showers I have been invited to and not gone to, have been specifically described as drive up, give your gift, talk to the bride a few minutes.
Showers are all about the gifts, and anyone reading this or an invitation mentioning shower thinks, you must bring a present.
Those who do not want presents may have something done in their honor, by friends or family. Or brides may hold parties where they plan, organize, and pay the costs, with no presents expected. Those are usually called bridal luncheon or bridal tea ( meaning light supper served in afternoon or at meal time.. You serve food, no presents. Or a bride's social, the party without the presents. Or a bride's open house has a set period of time people can drop in, one or a few at a time, and be social with the bride. If you said we let our horse in the house, meaning your cat, you would get a strong negative response. Horse has a specific meaning. So does bridal shower. And it means a party to bring a second present, in addition to the wedding, to the bride. So, having a no gifts social, short time visiting at a distance or virtual party, should be described that way. So everyone knows what you are talking about. And a lot fewer people will thing you are gift grabby or have bad manners. And see you differently.