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Baby Shower Invitation Wording
We are planning to host my baby shower this coming April at a local restaurant and need help with what to say on the invitation. Since we are hosting it at a local Italian restaurant, we will be providing soup, salad and tea/coffee for all our guests. However, if guest do not want we are offering I would like to give them the choice of ordering at their own expense. Is that considered improper etiquette? Also, how can I prevent them bringing unwanted guests for the free food? Any suggestions on wording is appreciated.
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Re: Baby Shower Invitation Wording
This isn't a blog, FYI. It's a forum. Also, your HOSTS should be handling the invitations as well as the food. If the shower is being held during a mealtime, you should provide a meal. If it is not during a mealtime, soup and salad should be fine.
But again, your HOSTS should be doing the planning.
This isn't a blog.
Why not give them a choice between a couple entr?es? Chicken Alfredo or spaghetti with or without meatballs (vegetarian option) with soup or salad.
When you've been married this long, you need a ticker to remind you.
Baby Boy M - 08/01/2013
Expecting Baby Bean February 2017
Thank you, this sounds like a great idea mcooper014! I will definitely give my hosts the idea.
Aside from the obvious fact that this is NOT your problem, but something for your hostesses...
If I went to a shower at a restaurant that started between, say 11.30-1.30, I would assume it is a lunch. I think your time would dictate the fact that you are serving food.
I would NOT mention anything about the menu on the invite. If people walk into a restaurant shower with a set table and place cards they should get the message. Print menu cards if you want.
Personally, I think it is way inappropriate to ask to order off the menu if your host is providing a seated lunch (if you have dietary restrictions, you should tell the host in advance). I think soup and salad is fine for lunch. The last luncheon shower I went to was a simple chicken salad with a side of fruit, sorbet for dessert, passed apps, wine, water and lemonade. I think it is weird that people would show up at a luncheon ravenously hungry anyway. I always eat a small something before an event, especially if you do not know what they are serving. Food is generally not the main event at a party.
I wouldn't say anything on the invitation. If someone asks, you certainly can tell them what you are providing. Just ask the restaurant to print up a small menu of what you are offering or ask the server make an announcement.
When I went to a restaurant shower, we were in a back room and they just ordered an assortment of appetizers. Menus weren't even offered.
Are you serving anything like a bread too? Maybe a nice appetizer would round out the meal a bit ?
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
There's a whole lot of improper etiquette going on here.
It's improper to host your own shower, and its improper to ask people to pay for their own meal.
As far as the uninvited guest factor - you can't prevent it but if you only address the invitation to the person you're actually inviting (ie only Aunt Mabel's name on the invite, not Uncle Herb, Aunt Mabel and the kids) that's the only person who should attend.
Who is the "we" in we are planning to host my baby shower? B/c it should not include yourself. That is all.
If you are hosting a party, you should provide all the food. Soup and salad is not enough if it's at meal time. There is no way to word it because it's horribly rude. Also, if you have such rude friends who would bring guests who weren't invited, we can't help you. You address the invites to the invited people, asking for an rsvp. You'll have a good headcount then.
I'm not even going get into you hosting your own shower, which it seems like you are planning to do.
Have it at another time of the day instead of a true meal time like lunch or dinner and do appetizers/small plates and have your hosts provide enough food for everybody. If you are stuck on the soup/salad thing, you need to have it at lunch, print up menus and not offer anything else on the side. I personally don't think it's enough food, but at lunch it would be better than nothing I guess.