A wedding shower, also widely referred to as a bridal shower, is an enjoyable occasion that allows loved ones to spoil the couple about to get married. However, if you have offered to host the bridal shower, you might be looking for some ideas for the event. It may be overwhelming at first to plan out all of the specifics while ensuring that the overall style is one of a kind and original. To be of assistance, we have gotten in touch with some of our favourite wedding professionals to get their advice on what to do at a bridal shower, what food and drinks to serve, the best games to play, and how to decorate for an event that is meant to encourage celebration.
You should be bold and shake things up at the bridal shower, even if the event is generally one in which guests participate in activities or watch the bride-to-be unwrap presents from her gift registry. In fact, your loved ones and close acquaintances will probably value incorporating new ideas wherever possible.
Keeping this in mind, the following are some contemporary suggestions for your bridal shower.
What Is a Bridal Shower? All the Planning and Etiquette Advice You Need to Know
What Is a Bridal Shower?
A bridal shower is a party hosted in honour of the bride-to-be and can take place anywhere from a few months to a few weeks before the wedding. Typically, bridal showers take place between the two. In the days leading up to the wedding, the bride's female relatives and friends get together to throw her a party, during which they engage in competitive activities, provide words of wisdom, and present her with the necessities she'll need to start her new life as a married woman.
In Holland in the 16th century, a young girl's father refused to offer a dowry for a marriage that he disapproved of. It is where the tradition of throwing a bridal shower originated. The town's citizens banded together and presented her with various modest presents to assist her in establishing her home without the need for dowry funds. The central tenet of the practice has been preserved to some degree over the years, and in modern times, we traditionally shower newlyweds with presents for the house.
It is essential to remember that wedding showers and bridal showers are different. These latter events are becoming increasingly popular as a more inclusive alternative to the traditional wedding shower. A bridal shower is a pre-wedding event that is generally reserved for the bride and her entourage of female friends and family members. In contrast, a wedding shower is a pre-wedding event open to both men and women.
Bridal Shower Etiquette
In a strict sense, there is no such thing as the correct or improper method to host a bridal shower; nevertheless, this does not imply that there are no generally accepted protocols for proper behaviour. As a hostess or a visitor at a bridal shower, we have provided you with the answers to the most important issues on proper etiquette so that you can avoid embarrassing situations.
What Happens at a Bridal Shower?
The bridal shower host can provide amusing games for the guests to play or forgo the games entirely, depending on the bride's preferences. The format is typically the same: there is food, drinks, and an opportunity for the bride to open gifts while visitors surround her.
Stay with bridal shower classics such as gift bingo or making wedding outfits using rolls of toilet paper, or plan an activity-oriented event such as a day at the spa or a calligraphy session instead. You aren't really into ripping open presents in front of everyone, are you? Speak your mind! You may put those gifts in a safe place until you get home with your future spouse and open them together.
What Does the Groom Do?
About your partner, they most likely show up towards the conclusion of the shower, bringing flowers with them, to hastily shake hands with the attendees before they leave. It is a thoughtful approach to engage them in your celebration, ensuring that they will assist you in transporting those gifts to their homes.
When Should a Bridal Shower Take Place?
Although there is no hard and fast rule about when the bridal shower must take place (some women like to have it the week of the wedding so that guests don't have to travel twice), bridal showers generally take place anywhere from a few weeks to a few months before the wedding. The bridal shower should take place at some point before the wedding; however, there is no hard and fast rule about when it must take place.
If you are the host, you should select a convenient date not just for the bride but also for the guests who are most important to you. To accommodate everyone's schedules, this would involve hosting something a little farther in advance or timing it to coincide with a trip home or another get-together, such as a bachelorette party in the evening following an afternoon shower. Another option would be to plan it for the same day as another event.
Who Throws a Bridal Shower?
The bride's mother or the woman who would become the bride's mother-in-law did not traditionally serve as the bridal shower hostess; rather, the maid of honour and the bridesmaids did. Why? Because it gave the impression that the guest of honour and her family members were pleading for presents at an event held by the bride's mother, the groom's mother-in-law, or any other relative. Thankfully, things have moved forward since then. Today, it is highly popular and appropriate for anyone—including the bride's mother—to host this party. It includes the wedding. In the end, everyone who is close to the bride and feels up to the task should feel empowered to organise this event; however, you should make sure to communicate your intentions to the bride and any other key actors as early on as possible to ensure that two events are not being planned at the same time.
How to Plan and Host a Bridal Shower From Beginning to End
1. Decide on a bridal shower budget
The first stage in preparing a wedding shower is determining a budget. It should be done before selecting food or settling on a topic. It is customary for the person throwing the shower to pay for it. While your initial reaction may be to have a lavish party and shower the bride with gifts, we recommend selecting an amount of money you can easily afford without going into debt. We assure her that she will be grateful no matter what happens.
2. Set a date for the shower
You should get a head start on planning the bridal shower at least six months before the wedding, but you shouldn't wait any longer than four months. Consult the bride before finalising the bridal shower date to make sure that it will work with her schedule and will also be convenient for her family members to attend. The bridal shower should take place approximately two months before the wedding.
3. Create a bridal shower guest list
When you've decided when the bridal shower will take place, the following stage in the planning process is determining who will attend. Ask the future Mrs. to provide you with a list of persons who absolutely must be invited, as well as the addresses of each attendee. The final guest count should be between 30 and 50 people, depending on where you believe you'll have the party (more on this in a minute). The final guest count should be between 30 and 50 individuals. Just keep in mind that each person invited to the bridal shower should also be invited to the wedding, including children; therefore, the bride should discuss each potential guest with her before adding them to the guest list.
4. Pick a location for the shower
After deciding on a day for the party and approximating the number of guests attending, you should choose the party's location. The most traditional choice would be to hold the bridal shower at your home, so consider whether or not you have sufficient space for such an event. In that case, consider considering renting the property of a relative who is very close to the bride.
A bridal shower can also be held in a restaurant, a private banquet room, or any location relevant to the bride's interests, such as a spa or an art gallery. When in doubt, make sure to get the opinion of the bride! Make sure that the site is simple to get to, that there is plenty of parking available, and that there is sufficient space to accommodate all of your guests (this is under the assumption that everyone you invite will show up).
5. Choose a bridal shower theme
After you have gathered the addresses and the future bride's final approval of the guest list, it is time to select a theme for the bridal shower. Although deciding on a theme for a bridal shower is optional, doing so may be a fun and easy way to inject some personality into the event by selecting invitation wording, food, and other decorations. You are encouraged to let your imagination run wild. Some common party themes include a brunch with bubbly beverages, a rustic theme, a wine-tasting theme, or even a flower-arranging party. Feel free to get as creative as you wish. Whatever you decide in the end, it should fit in with the bride's personality and her day-to-day interests.
6. Send out the shower invitations
Plan to finalise the invites for the bridal shower, make any necessary purchases, and send them out in the mail approximately six to eight weeks before the event. Your visitors will have plenty of time to rearrange their schedules, go shopping for a present, and get in touch with you if they cannot attend.
7. Plan the bridal shower menu and stock the bar
You can start planning the party's cuisine once you have completed sending out the invitations and received confirmations of attendance for the event. When preparing the menu for the wedding, our two key pieces of advice are as follows: stick to meals that you know the bride will appreciate, and choose foods that are easy to serve. If you are throwing a bridal shower with a brunch theme, some appropriate food and drink options include a mimosa bar, coffee drinks, and breakfast items such as tiny waffles or salmon toast.
A make-your-own taco bar complete with guacamole and margaritas would be a delightful addition to a shower with a bohemian-inspired theme. Depending on the size of your budget, you have the option of either hiring a professional caterer to prepare the meal, preparing the food yourself (preferably with the assistance of the bridesmaids!), or asking close friends and family members to bring a dish to share at a potluck.
8. Purchase the bridal shower decor
Now comes the exciting part: putting up the decorations! After you've decided what theme you want for your bridal shower, it's time to get serious about shopping for decorations for the event. Look for mylar letter balloons, customised posters, tassel garlands, and photo backgrounds that will immediately make the area feel unique for the bride.
You don't have to go all out unless you want to; alternatively, you may go all out if you want to. Additionally, lovely possibilities are candles and freshly cut flowers. Check out the WeddingWire Shop for reasonably priced suggestions for decorations, bridal shower favours, and other items.
9. Plan out the bridal shower games
It is a good idea to check into bridal shower games to entertain the guests at the party while you are out shopping for decorations. Some of the most traditional games played at bridal showers are bridal bingo, wedding mad libs, and guessing games with bride-related facts. If any of your guests have never met one another before, ice-breaking activities like games are a great approach to let them get to know one another. Schedule the games during the bridal shower when there will be a natural break in the activities, such as after everyone has eaten but before the bride receives her gifts.
10. Create an uplifting playlist
Even though music won't be the primary emphasis of the day, it will be pleasant to have some playing in the background as guests arrive, mingle, and enjoy their refreshments. Make a playlist for the bridal shower with music that is upbeat and acceptable for the guests' ages; you'll get extra points if the tracks are about love or getting married.
Spoil Your Favorite To-Be-Wed With These 12 Bridal Shower Themes
1. Petals and Prosecco
When we think of romance and whimsy, the first thing that comes to mind is a party bursting with flowers. Petals & Prosecco is the perfect theme for a baby shower if the honoree adores fresh flowers and you want to pay tribute to the fluffy, fantastical stems they love. This celebration, which was arranged by Designed by Wed, even has a DIY flower bar, at which the guests may cobble together their bouquets to take home as a memento of the evening.
2. Main Squeeze
A good motto to live by is that it is your ethical responsibility whenever you are presented with the chance to employ a party pun. This citrus-themed wedding shower theme created by Deets and Things takes that advice to heart by paying tribute to the honoree discovering their "main squeeze." Lean into the idea of the bridal shower by using a colour scheme inspired by citrus fruits (think orange, yellow, grateful pink, and tangerine), serving mimosas as a beverage, and preparing a bright and summery menu.
3. Pretty in Pink
The event planners behind Beijos Events decided to take inspiration from the iconic 1980s comedy-drama Pretty in Pink while developing the concept for the next bridal shower theme. You could make the party a throwback to a certain era by serving cuisine and wearing clothing from that period. Alternatively, you could do away with all references to the film and utilise the movie's name as a general source of inspiration. It is one wedding shower theme that will make everyone go weak in the knees. It features a vibrant pink colour palette (of course) and whimsical elements (such as metallic streamers and beautiful coupe cups).
4. Italian Summer
The best parties have the power to take you to an entirely different planet, which is precisely the effect this subsequent theme for a wedding shower is intended to have. Whether the bride wishes to pay tribute to her Italian ancestry or acknowledge the location where they will say "I do," an Italian summer theme provides a wealth of options for the wedding's decorations, entertainment, and cuisine. Detailed Touch Events was responsible for planning this breathtaking setting, which features traditional blue and white pottery and an abundance of lemons to promote the "la bella vita" lifestyle.
5. Country Picnic
A picnic-themed wedding shower is a safe bet if you prefer your celebrations to be laid-back and lighthearted. Rent a nearby park (or set up several picnic tables), then keep things laid back by mandating casual attire and encouraging guests to come and go as they like. As seen above, at an event that Gathering Events planned, it's a fantastic idea to provide guests with personalised picnic baskets that can be used to contain their meals or other party favours.
6. Girls' Night In
Because bridal showers are a wonderful opportunity to honour the connections you've made and the people who have played a role in shaping who you are today, why not make the celebration of female friendships the focal point of the entire event? This whimsical celebration, which was designed by 59 and Bluebell, takes the concept of female power to a whole new level by featuring a wedding shower theme that is both girly and entertaining, and it is also absolutely deserving of being posted on Instagram (oh hello, marquee letters!).
7. Here Comes the Sun
The following concept for a bridal shower is ideal for you if your future spouse has the feeling of being the centre of your universe. The "Here Comes the Sun" bridal shower, which Beijos Events organised, is full of sweetness and sentimentality in equal measure, making it the ideal option for Beatles fans or any soon-to-be-wed couple whose love brightens their life. Ensure everything stays bright and cheery by selecting vibrant colours for the colour palette and hosting the event in an open-air setting so attendees can bask in the sun while celebrating.
8. All-White
An understated colour scheme in all-white conveys the message "Here comes the bride" more effectively than anything else. Beijos Events created this timeless and sophisticated bridal shower concept. It is applicable in any setting, regardless of the time of year or climate, and it is easily adaptable to the specific preferences and aesthetic of the honoree, all while maintaining the striking monochromatic colour palette. Do you want a twist that is even more fun? It is customary to ask guests to wear white at the wedding, while the bride (or groom!) dresses in their favourite colour.
9. Brides and Brews
When it comes to the process of arranging your wedding, it is important to keep in mind that the more your unique personality can be included in the details, the better. Suppose you and your fiancé are more into craft beers and BBQ than champagne and caviar. In that case, you should design a casual bridal shower that mentions your prefered activity involving suds. The staff at Beijos Events went above and beyond by holding the bridal shower at a brewery and organising a beer tasting for all event attendees. Let's toast to that with a pint, shall we?
10. Boho Beach Bash
This beach-inspired wedding shower theme comes from Details Darling and is likely to be a success with the soon-to-be-married newlyweds and the guests who will be attending the shower. For a laid-back bohemian beach party that gives guests the impression that they are on a short vacation, snag a patch of public sand and set up low-lying picnic tables with seat cushions. If you want to go swimming after dessert, suggest your guests bring their swimmers to the party.
11. Modern Brunch
At this Coral & Co Events wedding shower, there is no frill on site, which is how contemporary brides prefer their showers. This contemporary bridal shower theme is a wonderful way to spruce up your big day, especially if your style or that of someone you care about leans more towards a sleek and unfussy aesthetic. Because of the sculptural balloon installations and graphic floral arrangements, it has a joyful atmosphere (speaking of which, wouldn't a modern art museum make a fantastic location for a party?). It is what makes it feel right at home in a contemporary art museum.
12. Afternoon in Paris
There's a good reason why people refer to Paris as the City of Love: romance and beauty can be found around every corner. Capture that sensation and use it as the inspiration for the theme of your bridal shower by focusing on all things that are whimsical and romantic. It can range from selecting light and airy colours to incorporating elements inspired by French cuisine, design, and music. In this instance, the team behind Lauryn Prattes Events looked to a Parisian staple—macarons—to add a pleasant touch to the beverage that served as the event's trademark drink.
How to Host a Bridal Shower
Here are some helpful hints to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch during your wedding shower.
Recruit the help of your bridal party
It is inappropriate for the bride to organise her shower. This is a task for your maid of honour, the rest of your bridesmaids, or other loved ones in your life. If you're the maid of honour or matron of honour, definitely get help from the bridal party, and if you're a sibling or family member, bring in other family members to help.
Choose a fitting theme
Drawing inspiration from the bride's individuality is recommended to create an original concept for her bridal shower that stands out from the crowd. Whether it's a tropical paradise, vintage tea party, or something out of this world—let her special day be as magical as possible by incorporating that one-of-a-kind concept in every detail—from decorations to what food is served. Let her special day be as magical as possible by incorporating that one-of-a-kind concept in every detail.
Book vendors far enough in advance
Because the vendors hired for a bridal shower are the same suppliers used for other weddings, it is recommended that you book them as soon as possible. You should give yourself a sufficient amount of time to get things organised. Book a florist and caterer in advance; doing so will make all the difference in achieving what you dream of.
Set up a way for gifts to be digital or physically present
Gifting is something that everyone enjoys doing in this situation, whether it be cards, presents, gift cards, or other kinds of gifts; therefore, why not set up a streamlined way and clear communication for gifting? If the bride already has a wedding registry that people can buy off of, ensure this information is shared so that it still feels personal and the bride feels loved and special!
Add memorable charm
One way to make the day even more memorable is to ask visitors to sign a guestbook the bride would keep. Bring a Polaroid camera and take photos of each guest and the bride. Even if there wasn't a photographer there, she'll look back on this moment and think it was one of the most memorable of her life.
Play fun games
Games at a bridal shower are almost always welcome to the festivities. The Newlywed Game, in which the bride and groom compare their responses to various questions, is one of the entertaining games that Shatnaya suggests performing at a bridal shower. Advice cards can also be given out and read aloud, as well as heartfelt toasts given by the people closest to you.
Summary
A bridal shower is a wonderful opportunity to formally celebrate a woman who is about to become a bride. Not only is it one of the first pre-wedding parties where friends and relatives from both sides of the family meet, but it's also filled with exciting decor, food, gifts, and games, and it's the ideal excuse to get dressed up!
Consider this your one-stop shop for wedding shower planning ideas and suggestions if you've been looking for them. This guide will walk you through the whole process of preparing a bridal shower, from the beginning to the end. It will provide you with a bridal shower agenda, game suggestions, and other useful information. Whether you've planned a bridal shower before and are looking for some last-minute tips, or you're throwing your first party and need help figuring out where to start, this guide is for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I send out bridal shower invitations?
Send out bridal shower invitations 6-8 weeks before the event to give guests ample time to RSVP and make arrangements to attend.
What are some affordable bridal shower favour ideas?
Affordable bridal shower favours ideas include mini succulents, personalized candles, homemade bath salts, cookies in decorative bags, and customized keychains.
How do I handle dietary restrictions for the bridal shower menu?
Consider dietary restrictions by offering a variety of food options, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan choices. Ask guests for preferences in advance.
What's a good timeline for a bridal shower?
A typical bridal shower lasts 2-4 hours, including mingling, games, and gift opening. Plan the schedule accordingly, but keep it relaxed and enjoyable.
What's the etiquette for bridal shower gifts?
Guests can consult the wedding registry for gift ideas. It's also acceptable to give sentimental or personal gifts. Be sure to include a gift receipt when giving physical items.