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Come wedding season, and you are promised a gala time celebrating. Pick some creative bridal shower ideas and organize a special event for your pretty bride. The fun begins from the engagement party and continues until the wedding reception. A bridal shower is a special gathering between these two grand events to celebrate the bride and shower her with gifts, jewelry, and more.
To host the best bridal shower party, we bring you several ideas including decoration, themes, invitations, and more, in this post.
70+ Amazing Bridal Shower Ideas For Your Beautiful Bride
You need to come up with a theme and plan your event surrounding it, as there shouldn’t be a mismatch between the ideas.
Unique Bridal Shower Ideas
- Cocktail party
If you are looking forward to a stylish party, then a cocktail party with floral decor, flower arrangement, and a mix of wine, champagne, and signature cocktail recipes on the table would be a great idea. You may choose a garden for the setting, and don’t forget to add cupcakes and cheese assortment to the menu.
Jordan narrates her experience of hosting a cocktail party for her sister’s bridal shower in her blog Jordecor. She says, “Her wish was to have a cocktail style shower that would allow her to really spend time with her guests and enjoy their company. So that’s what we did!! I found a local venue Little Bird Events to host us with a hip industrial chic vibe and it was truly the perfect back drop for this event. The invitations were designed by my friend Kelly. We went with a simple white and green theme invite. The white floral and greenery theme, with hints of gold were the perfect accents to the beautiful event space with it’s industrial chic vibes. I went to local thrift stores collecting brass candle sticks to go down the long beautiful farm tables. Simple greenery, mixed with faux white roses and layered over the prettiest chiffon runners added sophistication the long farm tables. I purchased large cardboard letters from A.C. Moore and spray painted them gold and added white flowers and greener to the corners. We used double stick tape to adhere them to the large industrial doors- which was theperfect backdrop for photos through out the evening.
“As guests entered the space they were welcomed with this stunning vintage mirror. For the food and drink the venue served beer, wine and champagne. Then we did a signature drink of a blood orange sangria which was so delish! The food was a mix of a stationary charcuterie table and passed hors d’oeuvres and for dessert we did a cupcake display with all different types of flavors and frostings. For the favors we ordered these little tags from Etsy and printed them ourselves, then wrapped them around mini wine bottles. To display them I took some crates from my home and turned them upside down to get different heights (i).”
- Masquerade ball
Host a glamorous masquerade ball-themed bridal shower to give the celebration a touch of mystery and sophistication. Encourage guests to don elegant masks and attire to create an aura of intrigue. Play theme-appropriate music and arrange for delicious treats to add a festive vibe to the party.
- Beach party
Image: IStock
All girls day out at a scenic beach location. When you do not have a limit to the budget, go ahead and plan a beach party. The environment will relax the bride-to-be and charge her up for the upcoming events.
Quick fact- Paint and sip party
Set your inner artist free with a creative twist by organizing a paint-and-sip party. Gather around canvases, brushes, and an art instructor who will guide guests in crafting their masterpieces. While sipping on wine and reveling in each other’s company, attendees will not only create art but also lasting memories.
- Spa day
Every bride needs to be pampered before her special day. Host a spa and wellness session for her and her best buddies in one of the city’s popular spa centers or resorts. What could be better than this for the pretty ladies?
- DIY flower crown workshop
Let creativity blossom with a DIY flower crown workshop. Set up a delightful crafting station adorned with colorful blooms and greenery. Under the expert guidance of a floral designer, guests can fashion their stunning flower crowns, creating beautiful accessories and cherished mementos of the day.
- Staycation
If there are fewer guests and they want to give a surprise to the bride, then host a staycation at the five-star hotel in your city. Everyone can relax at the spa, enjoy the pool, and have a party at the restaurant.
- Cooking class
Instead of having guests participate in traditional games, let them cook their favorite dishes under the guidance of a trained chef. Once everyone is done cooking, encourage them to share their delicious creations and earn compliments.
- Shopping day
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The bride and her bridesmaids will never say ‘no’ to shopping. So, plan an entire day shopping at the biggest mall in town and end the day by having a lavish meal at the restaurant.
- Fashion show
Organize an exquisite fashion show and let the would-be bride and her bridesmaids flaunt their fashion skills. It will be a fun event to help the bride-to-be learn fashion tips from her friends and guests. This stylish twist on the traditional bridal shower is a fantastic way for everyone to bond, celebrate, and share the bride’s joy.
- Pool party
When there’s neither time nor budget to organize an extravagant party, a pool party in the backyard would be nothing less than the best. Ask the girls to get their best swimwear and arrange finger foods and mocktails for them.
- Karaoke party
Hosting a karaoke party is a good idea if you want a private celebration filled with laughter, music, and memorable performances. Gather your closest friends and family. Rent a karaoke machine or use a karaoke app, and let the bride, bridesmaids, and guests take turns belting out their favorite tunes. Let the bride and family relieve stress and create cherished memories before the big day.
- Camping
Remember those sleepovers with friends during high school days? Upgrade the idea and arrange a small camping trip for the bride and her guests at the outskirts and let them share their secrets with each other.
- Themed costume party
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Elevate the bridal shower experience with a themed costume party. Whether it’s a ‘Decades’ theme, ‘Fairy Tale Characters,’ or ‘Circus’ extravaganza, encourage the bride and her guests to dress up according to the chosen theme. This fun and creative twist will make the bridal shower an unforgettable experience for everyone.
Bridal Shower Ideas At Home
- Cake decoration event
Such a session would not only be fun but will also be a prep for the D-day. The bride and the bridesmaids can try out different cake decorating techniques and unique flavors and pick the best for the wedding day.
- Crafting extravaganza
Set up a crafting station with supplies for crafting personalized wedding decorations or keepsakes. The bride-to-be and guests can showcase their artistic talents, crafting beautiful items that can inspire customized decorations and gifts for the wedding!
- Backyard picnic
Host a cozy bridal shower with the minimalist effort for your bride. Use fairy lights and rugs for decor and finger foods to relish. You may even hire a photographer to take lovely snaps of the bride and her girls.
- Book club gathering
For a bride-to-be who loves reading, a book club gathering is perfect for a bridal shower. Create a cozy space with a selection of books and encourage guests to engage in vibrant literary discussions. It will help create a relaxed atmosphere honoring the would-be bride’s passion for reading.
- Potluck brunch
If the bride and the bridesmaids love cooking, then each guest can bring a home-cooked meal and gather at a location for brunch. Just food and lots of conversations can make for a great day.
- DIY candle-making
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Arrange for necessary candle-making supplies and let the bride-to-be and guests unwind. These personalized candles will make charming keepsakes that can also be used as return gifts for guests on the big day.
- Tea party
Different flavors of tea, delicious snacks, an exotic location, and lots of gossiping. Who wouldn’t want a calm and relaxing session with their best buddies. If you have a limited budget, then host it in your backyard with minimal flower decoration and home-baked cookies and buns.
Quick fact- Virtual bridal shower
You may not be in the same place, but distance shouldn’t stop you from hosting a bridal shower for your friend. Invite guests to attend a virtual shower using video conferencing platforms. Engage them in entertaining activities like gift openings and themed dress-up sessions. Encourage everyone to send their well wishes to the bride and make her feel cherished despite the physical distance.
- Quiz the guests
Prepare a set of cards with unusual and funny questions, and hand them over to the guests at the bridal shower event. Whoever gives the most hilarious answers will get a bottle of champagne as a gift. Sounds fun, right?
- Bridal book exchange
A book exchange can be a delightful option for brides seeking a more intimate and relaxed bridal shower experience. It’s a win-win because it takes the spotlight off the bride — just open gifts and let introverted guests sneak away to read for a bit at the party. Super chill, right?
- Wine and dine
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Sometimes, doing nothing works! So, arrange a dinner date for the bride with her best buddies and arrange for some exclusive wines to enjoy a carefree night.
- Hobby night
Tailor the bridal shower to the bride’s unique interests by dedicating the evening to her favorite hobby: board games, knitting, or even a video game marathon. This personalized touch will showcase the bride’s passions and ensure that all attendees have a good time.
- Dance diva
The bride and the bridesmaids could be stressed before the D day. Organize an event at home with pump music to dance out and calm their nerves. It can be a stress-busting bridal shower for them to drink and stay free.
- Vintage theme bridal shower
If the bride wants a vintage vibe for her wedding, why not carry that theme to her bridal shower? Picture this: old suitcases, vintage hankies, milk glass vases, and maybe even some antique brooches. It’ll be a one-of-a-kind experience for everyone!
Bridal Shower Decoration Ideas
- Balloon decor
Balloons are not just children’s party decor. You may use them to make a vibrant setting for indoor and outdoor parties. You may either use the same color balloons or a mix of complementing colors. Every picture taken at this event would be pretty.
- String lights
Hang fairy or string lights throughout the venue to create a magical atmosphere. These lights emit a soft glow that helps give a festive vibe to any occasion. You can pick mono or multi-color string lights based on the theme to complement the decor.
- Flower power
The most elegant decoration for a bridal shower party is flowers. Pick flowers matching the theme of the event, so nothing looks out of pace. Flower decorations work best in outdoor settings, such as the backyard or rooftop.
- Tulle draping
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Use tulle fabric to drape tables, chairs, or even ceilings. With various colors available, you can easily match it to the bridal shower’s color scheme for a soft and dreamy ambiance.
- A photo boothAD
If you have planned a simple bridal shower at home, then only a photo booth or a photo wall can highlight the decor. A colorful and vibrant set up to take the pictures can make the guests glad.
If you are going to host a bridal shower, then check out these amazing tips for a successful event! Learn how to make it special and memorable for the bride-to-be.
- Paper lanterns
If you like soft, diffused lighting, you can consider paper lanterns to decorate the venue. Hang paper lanterns in different sizes and colors throughout the space. They are easy to set up and instantly add visual depth to the decor.
- Bottle decor
Isn’t a bridal shower an event for the bride to have optimum fun? If you are planning a drinking stage at the decor, you may glam up the venue with glass bottles all over. It doesn’t cost much but looks innovative.
- Ribbon backdrop
Hang colorful ribbons vertically or horizontally across the venue to create a vibrant vibe. If that feels too much, you can hang them at a designated place to make that area the center stage of the decor.
- Photo decoration
It is a minimalistic idea to decorate the venue with bride’s pictures at every corner. You can gather her childhood pictures and surprise her with the unique decor idea.
- Chalkboard signage
Add a charming and personal touch to your decor by using chalkboard signs to display sweet messages, the bride’s name, or fun quotes. Chalkboards bring a rustic feel that perfectly complements any event aesthetic.
Bridal Shower Theme Ideas
- Travel
Image: IStock
Is the bride-to-be a travel freak? It can be fun to decorate the space with maps, luggage tags, and signboards. For food, you can have a couple of dishes from different countries.
- Fairytale
Decorate the venue with twinkling lights and whimsical fairy tale characters. This magical setting will encourage everyone to indulge their inner child. It’s an ideal choice for a bride who fantasizes about a storybook romance and wishes to celebrate her upcoming happily ever after in fairytale style.
- Retro
You may choose any hippy theme and have everyone dress up in fashionably nostalgic outfits to make the event colorful. No restrictions and only fun reflects the idea of a retro theme pretty well.
- Under the stars
Transport your guests to a celestial realm with an enchanting under-the-stars setting. Create a cozy atmosphere with blankets and telescopes, inviting everyone to gather together under the night sky.
- Rustic
Create a rustic atmosphere for the bridal shower event with fresh flowers, leaves, wood, and colorful lanterns. When you have contrasting colors around, the rustic theme blooms in itself.
- Around the world
Decorate the venue with maps, luggage tags, and international travel memorabilia. Serve cuisine from different countries and play music from various genres. These arrangements will give the bride and the guests an “around the world” vibe.
- Movie night
The movie buffs can get together and watch their favorite movies back to back. Pick 80s classics or modern thrillers, and have a great time together. All you have to do is arrange big screens and speakers to set the right mood.
- Alice in Wonderland
Step into a world of whimsy and enchantment with an Alice in Wonderland-inspired bridal shower theme. Transport your guests down the rabbit hole with oversized playing cards, delightful tea sets, and charming motifs from Lewis Carroll’s timeless tale.
- Slumber party
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Spend the night with your best buddies, chill out wearing pajamas and sip on drinks. It is a cool theme for the bride and her bridesmaids to have unlimited fun.
- Boho theme
Capture the carefree spirit of a music festival with a Boho Festival theme. Embrace boho decor, flower crowns, and a relaxed, festival-inspired vibe. Embrace the freedom and joy that this theme emanates, inviting your guests to revel in life’s simple pleasures with style.
Surprise Bridal Shower Invitation Ideas
- Floral invite
How about sending a bunch of flowers to the guests? It would be so pleasant if the guest wouldn’t refuse to attend the party.
- Message in a bottle
Surprise your guests with an invitation that arrives as a message in a bottle. The novelty of receiving a tiny, rolled-up invitation within a charming glass vessel will add an element of wonder and anticipation to your bridal shower.
- Chocolate goodies
A basic bridal shower invitation with a tiny basket of chocolates would be suitable for slumber and retro theme parties. The invite should ideally match the theme of the party.
- Photo puzzle
Disassemble a memorable picture of the bride or a significant moment and send the pieces in envelopes to your guests. They’ll have a delightful time putting together the puzzle, which will ultimately reveal all the exciting details of the bridal shower.
- Online invite
In today’s digital media age, several people choose the minimalist idea of online invites as they are easy to craft and don’t require one to visit every guest.
- Balloon pop
Inject fun into the invitation process with this idea. Place event details inside balloons and send them to guests. They’ll have to pop the balloons to reveal the invitation, creating an element of surprise and celebration from the beginning.
Things To Do At A Bridal Shower
- Trivia
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To add some magical moments to the bridal shower celebration, you can enjoy a trivia session with the guests. Make sheets with questions about the bride and groom, and see who gets correct answers.
- Love story game
Add romance and fun to the event by playing a love story game with guests. Have the bride and groom answer questions individually about their relationship while guests try to guess their responses.
- Flower arrangement
Play an interactive game with the guests at the event by asking them to make unique flower arrangements. Whoever makes the prettiest bouquet will get a chance to be beside the bride on the wedding day. Also, all the flower arrangements can be used to decorate the wedding event.
- Wedding dress sketching
Make the bride and guests get creative and whimsy with a wedding dress sketching activity. Provide sketchbooks and art supplies to guests and encourage them to sketch their vision of the bride’s dream wedding dress.
- Scavenger hunt
The classic game can never disappoint you. You may ask the guests to pick up unusual stuff from the venue and ask riddles to up the event.
- Wishing stones
Foster heartfelt sentiments and well-wishes with a Wishing Stones activity. Offer small, smooth stones and markers for guests to write messages of love, advice, or blessings on them. The bride can cherish these heartfelt messages as meaningful mementos from her bridal shower.
- Advice cards
Create marriage advice cards for all the guests and add funny advice on each of them. Shuffle the cards and put them all in a box. Ask every guest to pick one and read it aloud. Record the event and you will laugh out loud whenever you watch it.
- Bridal bingo
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Add an element of friendly competition with a game of Bridal Bingo. Create bingo cards filled with wedding-related terms or gifts. As guests engage in conversations and activities, they can mark off items on their cards, and the winners can receive small, thoughtful prizes.
- Movie buff game
If most of you are movie buffs and have planned your bridal shower theme and decor in the same manner, then organize a game wherein you can ask movie or celebrity-related questions. You may sing songs and dance as well to make the event memorable.
- Love letters
Ask guests to write love letters or notes to the bride. These thoughtful letters can provide advice, share cherished memories, and express love and support, creating a heartfelt keepsake for the bride to treasure.
- Jewelry station
A bridal shower is all about women having a great time. How about having a jewelry station where the bride, her bridesmaids, and guests can get customized jewelry made? You will see all smiling faces at the event.
- Song dedication
Invite guests to choose a song that holds special meaning for the bride or the couple. As each song is played, guests can share why they selected that particular tune, leading to an array of emotions and cherished memories throughout the event.
- Cookie decoration
Image: IStock
It is another win-win task for the wedding organizers. You can arrange the cookies decorated by all the guests at the bridal shower day on the dining table at the wedding.
- Recipe exchange
Request each guest to bring their favorite family recipe or dish to share with the bride. Alternatively, you can combine all the recipes into a unique cookbook that will be cherished by the bride forever.
- Gift baskets
To please all the guests, shower them with customized gift baskets with baked goodies, jewelry, and other cute stuff. They will be delighted with your planning of the bridal shower event.
- Henna tattoo
Hire a henna tattoo artist to add an artistic and cultural touch to the bridal shower. Guests can get beautiful henna designs, embracing a temporary body art that honors tradition and showcases creativity.
- Backyard games
To bring a joy element in the bridal shower event, add backyard games that you used to play as a child. Jenga, tug of war, hopscotch, and mini-golf are some of the popular games that can bring out the child in you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should you not do at a bridal shower?
At a bridal shower, avoid inviting guests not invited to the wedding, be welcoming to all, strike a balance between games and rituals, and consider guests’ allergies when planning the menu.
2. Who pays for the bridal shower?
The host pays for the bridal shower, but close friends and family are always welcome to help with the other preparations, such as planning decorations and games.
3. How long do bridal showers usually last?
Bridal showers usually last for a few hours, where you eat food, play games, open presents, and have fun chatting with the other guests.
Pamper the bride and get her all excited to be the most beautiful bride ever. Irrespective of how you plan the bridal shower, take pictures and videos to capture the best moments that can be cherished later in life.
Infographic: Creative Bridal Shower Ideas For The Bride-To-Be
Days before the wedding can be stressful, so take your lovely bride-to-be out and throw her the best bridal shower she’ll remember for a lifetime. The infographic below includes some fun ideas for a bridal shower you can host for the bride with your girl gang.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- If the bride enjoys partying, one can plan for a cocktail, beach, pool, or tea party.
- Plan an activity for the bride and her tribe to enjoy a day out with shopping, a spa day, camping, or wine and dine.
- Decorate the event with balloons and flowers, add a photo booth, and display pictures of the bride.
- Select a theme based on the bride’s interests, such as retro, rustic, slumber, or a movie night.
- Plan enjoyable activities like trivia, scavenger hunts, advice cards, cookie decorating, gift baskets, and backyard games.
Illustration: Unique Bridal Shower Ideas To Make Her Feel Pampered
Image: Dalle E/MomJunction Design Team
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. How to host a cocktail bridal shower;https://jordecor.com/how-to-host-a-cocktail-bridal-shower/
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