These days, it is becoming more common for your friends or family members to be preparing for their second wedding. Just because a bride or groom has been married before does not mean that their currently impending nuptials should be celebrated any less joyously than a first wedding. Unlike first weddings, however, most brides or grooms that are entering into marriage for the second time around already have most of the necessities that they need for their homes. Wedding showers for second marriages should be planned a little differently than for a first marriage. Keep these tips in mind when you start planning the special event.

First, keep in mind that the point of the wedding shower should shift from giving gifts to providing support for the impending marriage. Although gifts are still appropriate, they may not be as important to the event as if it were a first marriage. In fact, for second marriages, brides and grooms often choose to use non-traditional registries or to ask their guests to donate to a cause instead of spending money on presents. If you know of the wishes of the bride and groom, you can express it to the guests of the wedding shower before the big event.

Next, remember that the bride and groom-to-be may have already been previously married and the same activities may not apply to this bridal shower. Some commonly played games at wedding showers may not be as appropriate for second marriages. Instead, you can pick a theme for the wedding shower you are hosting and use that as a way to plan activities for the big event. Some common ideas for second wedding showers include wine tastings, fondue parties, or dinner events.

Also, you might want to consider including both the bride and the groom in the wedding shower. One idea you might want to consider is to have a dinner party for all of the couple’s close friends and family members. It can be a way to introduce families to each other while meeting their friends. If you plan a full event with plenty of time to mingle before eating, it can be a very classy event that appropriately celebrates the upcoming nuptials in style.

Another tip to keep in mind when planning a wedding shower for a second marriage is to have it in a non-traditional location and make a big splash by treating it as more than a simple party. You can rent out the party room of a local restaurant and have an all-day open house kind of event. If only a few close friends are going to be gathering with the bride-to-be for her wedding shower, you can consider having a destination event where a handful of people travel together for a weekend or longer. You could also have a non-traditional type of event such as a costume party or a holiday-themed party that doubles as a wedding shower.

One careful consideration when inviting guests to a wedding shower for a second marriage is to be clear about the theme of the event as well as the gift wishes of the couple. Some well-meaning guests may not realize that it is a second marriage and can end up making a mistake if they are not delicately informed of the situation. In addition, if the event is to include both the bride and the groom, it is important to invites guests who are friends with or related to both the bride and the groom to have a balanced guest list.

Finally, when you are planning a wedding shower when it is the second time around, make sure to include the bride and groom to be in any decisions that are made. They may have very clear views of what they want and what they do not want and you need to make sure that any plans conform to their desires. In addition, they may want to help plan non-traditional types of events or activities, or may already have some plans in place that you can consider when planning your own event. You should always respect the wishes of the happy couple in order to plan the best possible event.

There are a few important factors to consider when planning a bridal shower for a second wedding. A second wedding is usually more informal since the bride may have already experience a bridal shower once. When planning this bridal shower, keep in mind that the bride may already have most houseware and kitchenware items such as silverware or dinner plates and therefore gifts are less of a priority. Many second marriage bridal showers are mostly just a gathering where families and friends can enjoy each other’s company before the wedding day. Keep these tips in mind next time you are planning a bridal shower for a second wedding.