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What are the best tips for planning a bridal shower?
- Stick to a Theme
- Have Fun Games Prepared
- Serve Light Bites and Cocktails
- Create an Uplifting Playlist
- Give Out Useful Favors
Hosting a bridal shower for the bride-to-be is such an honor for anyone in the bridal party. It’s a fantastic way to officially celebrate and mingle with loved ones from both sides. It’s also filled with fun games, gifts, and is a great excuse to get fancy with your friends! However, it can be very stressful to coordinate a great party between what the bride wants and what her bridal party may suggest. So, here are some handy tips for planning a bridal shower to help you along the way!
Whether you’ve planned for one before, or are in desperate need of some last-minute advice, this article gives some ideas to help you plan an unforgettable party for the bride-to-be.
Stick to a Theme
When you set a theme for the party, it provides some much-needed direction for both you and your fellow planners. This makes it easier to coordinate the finer details of all the decor and other items you might need to buy for the big day. Things like invitations, linens, flowers, and party favors are all influenced by the overall theme that you will pick for the party.
There are many different bridal shower themes out there that you can choose or draw inspiration from. The best way to start deciding is to first consider what the bride enjoys. For example, if she loves swimming and surfing, then a beach-themed party could be a good idea! Here are some examples of popular bridal shower themes to get you started:
- Tea Party: A classic theme that is perfect for brides who want something elegant and romantic. This theme can be carried out by adding an assortment of teas and delicate finger foods to the menu. Tell guests to come wearing their best tea attires (semi-formal and usually in light colors), or provide them with accessories at the shower (such as hats and gloves). You could decorate with lace and mismatched china, or tie in additional themes that suit the bride’s personality and taste.
- ‘Girl’s Night In’: Some brides want their bridal showers to be less fancy and more comfortable. When planning for this theme, take inspiration from all the sleepovers and girl’s-nights-in that you’ve had with the bride. Include a bar, provide pizza and candy, and prepare for games and a movie marathon. Guests can also prepare short videos of their favorite memories with the bride or host a trivia quiz filled with fun facts about her. This kind of party can be hosted at someone’s house or even at a hotel suite.
- Beach Bonanza: Nautical or beach-themed bridal showers are also a popular option for brides who love chilling at the beach! You can pull off this theme with navy blue decor, anchors and ship wheels, and cute sailors’ hats for the guests. Or, if you want a more coastal vibe, you could go with a lighter blue color palette and use seashells, wicker baskets, and beach umbrellas instead.
- Brunch and Bubbly: Everyone loves a good brunch meal — add on some mimosas and everyone is happy! Some brides will love the idea of a cozy brunch with their friends and family, so this might be the option for you. Prepare a waffle bar, a mimosa station, and bowls of fruit and pastries. Choose decor that is light and simple, and ask guests to come in their prettiest summer outfits.
Another good tip when planning the theme is to tie in the wedding colors for the bridal shower. This is easy to do when choosing the decor for the party. For example, if the wedding colors are green and white, the flowers and plates could easily match.
While a theme isn’t exactly necessary for a bridal shower, it does add a lot of personality to the party. Feel free to get as creative as you like — as long as the bride approves of your final plan! Make sure that what you pick out ties in with the bride’s personality and interests.
Have Fun Games Prepared
If the guest list is a bit long, then it’s safe to assume that not everyone at the bridal shower party will know each other. In that case, it’s always a good idea to prepare some games for the guests to break the ice with each other and set the mood for the rest of the party.
Games that revolve around the bride are a great way to start the ball rolling. It’s a fun way to get some laughs from the group and helps make the bride feel special. Trivia about the bride and the groom or “he said, she said” games are some examples you might want to try. Collect tidbits about the couple and prepare your questions!
Serve Light Bites and Cocktails
Begin planning for the menu at the party when you decide on the theme. One of the first things to consider is what food preferences the bride will have — after all, it is a party for her — while also trying to tie in these preferences to your chosen theme. If you’ve chosen to go with the brunch theme, aside from the usual waffles and mimosa, you could also serve coffee, bagels, and muffins.
If you’re having a hard time looking for food ideas, serving an assortment of light bites and cocktails helps. For example, putting out a bruschetta bar or taco bar will let your guests have the chance to build their snacks, which they will appreciate. Additionally, creating a themed signature cocktail for the night is also a good idea. Hand one of those out to each guest when they arrive to start the party!
Depending on your budget, you could also have the event professionally catered to take some of the load off. However, you should make sure that the caterer you book can meet all your needs and specifications. To make your choice count, book a reputable caterer like Juan Carlo. Juan Carlo even offers food tasting to help you pick the right dishes for your event.
Create an Uplifting Playlist
Even if the music may not be the main focus of the day, the background noise will help set the mood of the party. Creating the right playlist for when the guests arrive, begin to mingle, and when the main event starts is important. While they might not pay attention to the songs for the entire party, they will notice if the songs you choose are ‘off’ or odd. So remember to keep your theme in mind, and try to choose mood-appropriate songs.
The music doesn’t always have to be upbeat, but avoid using heavier or intense songs for the day. If you’re struggling, using instrumental songs in the right mood can serve as fillers in between your main songs for the event — bonus points if you can find a few songs about romance to insert in your playlists!
Give Out Useful Favors
Giving out party favors to your guests is a great way to say thank you for coming and celebrating with the bride. Nowadays, it is popular to give favors that are genuinely useful for your guests. Some ideas of what you can give out as gifts are:
- Bath salts or body scrubs
- Jars of preserves or honey
- Cookies, sweets, or pastries
- Nail polish or cologne
- Potted herbs or plants
If you have floral arrangements for the bridal shower prepared, you can also create smaller versions of these arrangements for the guests to take home. These kinds of favors are also a clever way to integrate the theme of the bridal shower. With these, guests will remember the wonderful time they had with the bride and will appreciate gifts that they can use at home later on.
Key Takeaway
Planning a bridal shower doesn’t have to be a stressful event. Use these tips for planning a bridal shower to create a beautiful and memorable event for the bride-to-be. Don’t shy away from asking the bride what she would like for the party, and use that to get an idea of what theme to go for. If you keep these tips in mind, you’re sure to throw a successful celebration for your lovely bride!