The maid of honor is generally required to host the shower and send out the wedding shower invitations. A wedding shower is not hosted by the maid of honor if she is a part of the brides immediate family. A wedding shower is generally conducted 4 to 6 weeks prior to the wedding. Generally if a number of outstation guests are expected wedding shower invitations are sent for a time close to the wedding so they can attend as well. The brides maid or the couple if involved in the organizing decides the number of wedding shower invitations to be sent and which relatives need to be invited to a wedding shower.
Primarily to begin inviting people, a guest list is required which can be arranged from the bride or her mother if it is a surprise. Another important factor is that only people invited to the wedding should be invited to the bridal shower as otherwise the bride might get into an awkward situation. Around 4 weeks before the shower the wedding shower invitations should be sent so they are not too far in advance or too late.
Any special instructions are preferred with the invite such as the idea of a themed party. General directions to the wedding shower and contact numbers are present in the wedding shower invitation for the convenience of the guests. All personal friends and relatives of the bride are sent wedding shower invitations.
General tradition is to send one invite per person and not one invite for two people unless it is a couple shower where couples are invited. Wedding showers can be more than one as well in which case the same person should not be sent a wedding shower invitation twice. The wedding shower invitations are issued either by mail, telephone or in person.
Though these wedding shower invitations can be written by hand as well, it would be preferred if professional help is sought for arranging the wedding shower invitations. Once a professional is employed for invites to the wedding shower they are in charge of the whole process from designing, printing till the distribution.
It is imperative that a bride send "thank you" cards to all the guests who attended the bridal shower before the wedding. It should in the brides maiden name as before the wedding, stationary with the married name should not be used.