I am not the final authority on modern etiquette — especially in a world of cell phones and instant communication. But I do believe invitations serve a simple and important purpose: to set the tone for a lovely gathering and clearly share the information guests need.

Sometimes, in an effort to include everything, invitations can become crowded. In my experience, restraint is often more gracious.

Do you need to list all fifteen hosts? Not necessarily. A simplified line such as Hosted by Family and Friends often feels more polished.

Do you need to include a full registry list? I don’t believe so. Guests are already taking time out of their day to celebrate — keeping the invitation focused on the occasion itself feels more thoughtful and appreciative.

At its best, etiquette is not about rules. It is about making others feel comfortable, welcomed, and valued.

A shower invitation should feel warm, gracious, and celebratory — never cluttered or transactional. The purpose is to invite guests into a meaningful moment, not to overwhelm them with detail.

Below are a few timeless guidelines I always recommend.

Who Hosts the Shower?

Traditionally, a bridal or baby shower is hosted by close friends or family members.

When including just a few hosts, I suggest placing their names on a single line at the bottom of the invitation. If there are several hosts, simplified wording such as:

Hosted by Family and Friends
or
Hosted by Friends of the Bride

keeps the design clean and balanced.

A full host list is not necessary and can visually overwhelm the invitation. If listing every host is important, back printing is a beautiful and discreet place to include that information.

Registry Information

Registry information is not required on a formal invitation.

The shower itself implies gifts, and including registry details directly on the front can feel overly directive. A gracious invitation allows the celebration to remain the focus.

If registry details are to be included, I recommend discreet printing on the back of the invitation. Often, guests can easily locate registry information with a simple search.

Keeping the front of the invitation clean preserves a sense of refinement.

Suggested Wording

I love clean, simple wording such as:

Bridal Shower
honoring (or celebrating)
Emily Carter

Saturday, the twenty-third of March
at ten o’clock

The Garden Room
Memphis, Tennessee

Kindly reply by the tenth of March
111.222.3333 or email@email.com

Hosted with love by Family and Friends

The same structure works beautifully for baby showers.

When listing specific hosts:

Please join us for a baby shower
honoring
Caroline Whitfield

Saturday, the twenty-third of March
at ten o’clock

The Garden Room
Memphis, Tennessee

Kindly reply by the tenth of March
111.222.3333 or email@email.com

Hosted by Diana Sanders and Mary Taylor
(Hosts are traditionally listed alphabetically.)

RSVP & Additional Details

Including an RSVP date is always recommended.

A phone number or email address may be used — it is truly a matter of preference.

Additional details such as attire, themes, or other logistics are best placed on the back of the invitation.

We offer textable / emailable graphic that matches the invitation as an add on - this is a great thing to have and use when you are following up with invitees after the reply by date has passed.

The most beautiful invitations are the ones that feel intentional and uncluttered.

A shower invitation sets the tone for the gathering — warm, thoughtful, and gracious.

If you have questions about wording or presentation, we are always happy to guide you. Reach out anytime at hello@stovallcollection.com.