Every Bridal Shower Idea You Need to Know About: From Decor to Games

Looking for some bridal shower ideas? From choosing the perfect theme to planning fun games for everyone, we’ve got you covered. We collected all our favorite games, invitations, decor, and advice for throwing the best bridal shower ever!

Fun Bridal Shower Games Guests Want to Play

Keep everyone at the shower entertained with a few fun activities! Choose bridal shower games that everyone will love. Some of the best games are ones that focus on the bride and groom, since the couple are the one important thing everyone in the room has in common. Some of our favorite ideas are printable games that you only need to download and send to the printer.

1) ‘Would She Rather?’ Bridal Shower Game

‘Would She Rather?’ Bridal Shower Game

How well do you know the bride-to-be? Would she rather own a cat or a dog? Would she rather drive or be a passenger? The ‘Would She Rather’ bridal shower game includes a list of options for guests to choose what they think the bride would rather do or have. This game is a fun way to see who knows the bride. You can even edit this game before printing if you have some funny ideas that are specific to the bride.

2) Minimalist Bridal Shower Gift Bingo Cards

Minimalist Bridal Shower Gift Bingo Cards

This fun twist on traditional Bingo lets your guests bet on which gifts the bride will receive. Before gift-opening time, have all the guests fill in their cards with items they expect the bride to open. Then, as she opens her gifts the guests can cross off each item they guessed correctly. The first guest to have 5 in a row on their card, wins! Sometimes brides take an hour or more to open all their bridal shower gifts. Bridal Bingo turns the gift-opening time into a fun game for everyone to participate in.

3) Rustic ‘Guess The Dress’ Printable Bridal Shower Game

Rustic ‘Guess The Dress’ Printable Bridal Shower Game

Play ‘Guess the Dress’ with your bridal shower guests for a moment of creativity. Guests can share their artistic sides by drawing what they think the bride will wear on her wedding day. Will she choose a big princess ball gown? Will she choose a long dramatic train? Guests will love having a little time to doodle. They’ll also love seeing how different or similar the other guests' drawings are. We love that this game is ready to print and doesn’t need to be edited in any way.

4) ‘Over Or Under’ Bridal Shower Game

‘Over Or Under’ Bridal Shower Game

Guess if the numbers on these fun game cards are over or under the truth. ‘Over or Under’ is a super simple game that’s easy to add into your bridal shower activities. The game cards have a list of statements on them such as “the bride tried on 12 wedding dresses.” Based on what they know about the bride, guests can decide if they think she tried on more or fewer than 12 dresses. You can also edit this game online if you want to include your own custom over or under questions. 

5) Boho Floral Bridal Shower Games Bundle

Boho Floral Bridal Shower Games Bundle

You’ll need more than one game for your bridal shower, so why not order an entire pack of games? This bundle includes 10 bridal shower games including: ‘Would she rather?,’ ‘How well do you know the bride-to-be?,’ Bridal Bingo, a bridal word scramble, and more. Since you’ll want to have a few activities for everyone during the shower, having 10 games to choose from will give you plenty of options. The beautiful wildflower design of these printable cards adds a gorgeous boho vibe.

Bridal Shower Food & Drink Ideas the Guests Will Love

Make sure everyone at the party is well fed by creating a menu they’ll love. Make sure you have plenty of options for the main meal, small snacks to graze on, different desserts, and beverages for everyone. Try serving some of the bride’s favorite foods, some local delicacies, or menu options that fit with your decor or theme.

1) Cute Bridal Shower Cakes & Desserts

Floral Bridal Shower Cookies

Depending on your theme and your tastes you may want to have a few different dessert options available. If you know the bride has a sweet tooth you can opt to feature more desserts than snacks. We definitely don’t recommend skipping dessert but we also don’t recommend doing a dessert-only bridal shower either. Find a balance between sweet and savory options that fit your vision for the bridal shower. 

Some of your many, many bridal shower dessert options are:

• Designer cookies to match your theme
• Cupcakes with cute toppers
• Donuts stacked on tiers or on a donut wall
• A custom cake from your local bakery
• Mini bundt cakes of different flavors
• A build-your-own ice cream sundae bar 

Glitter Bride to Be Cupcake Toppers

2) Food to Serve at the Bridal Shower

Let's Taco 'Bout Love Bridal Shower Napkins

For continuity as well as simplicity, we recommend choosing food that fits your bridal shower theme. If you’re throwing the bride a Mexican-style fiesta, try creating a fun taco bar for everyone to create their town tacos. If you’re fond of the Amalfi Coast aesthetic, create a pasta bar with sides of focaccia bread and an Italian-style salad. Serving food that people can create their own dishes buffet-style will make it easier to accommodate people with different dietary restrictions and specific tastes.

3) Bridal Shower Drink Ideas

Custom Bridal Shower Drink Charms

You’ll need to decide if you’re serving alcohol at the bridal shower before you can make up your drink menu. Either way, we recommend providing some pre-made drinks as well as some sort of wet bar for more particular people to pour their own drinks. Depending on your theme and aesthetic you could get creative with a fruity or herbal lemonade or homemade punch.

For a creative twist try a mimosa bar where guests can choose their own juice and champagne combination. For an added personal touch, you could buy custom wine bottle labels, drink charms, or cocktail napkins all personalized with the bride and groom’s names and their wedding date. 

4) Simple Snacks and Hors d'oeuvres

Personalized Last Name Charcuterie Board for Bridal Shower

Your bridal shower guests will arrive at varying levels of hunger. You may have a set time for eating a meal together or for everyone to enjoy dessert. We also recommend having snacks and hors d'oeuvres around so people can graze throughout the party. The easiest option is to go to your local bulk grocery store (BJs, Sam’s Club, Costco, etc.) and buy a few sets of frozen hors d’oeuvres that you can heat up in the oven as people arrive. 

Charcuterie boards are another wonderful bridal shower food option. Charcuterie boards aren’t just trendy, they’re a great way to let people nibble on gourmet foods in a beautiful presentation. This snack option also doubles as a bridal shower gift if you buy a custom-made charcuterie board with the bride and groom’s future last name and the year they’ll be married.

Adorable Bridal Shower Theme Ideas

Think of your bridal shower theme as a guide for planning your party. Choosing a theme will help you narrow down your decoration, food, and activity ideas. Your theme could be as specific as a Taylor Swift inspired bridal shower or as open as following a Boho aesthetic. Either way, if you stick to a theme, you’ll have a clear vision for the bridal shower that you can implement in every aspect of the party.

1) Coastal Beach Bridal Shower Theme

Custom Oyster Cocktail Napkin | Beach Bridal Shower Invitation

Walking along sandy shores, the sound of ocean waves, and the smell of salty air can be your inspiration for a coastal beach bridal shower theme. For food, you could try to serve some seafood like fresh oysters on ice, stuffed clams, and shrimp cocktail. Accent your space with lots of shades of coastal blues and white washed driftwood-inspired elements. Serve your food and drinks with custom oyster cocktail napkins, colored blue and green glassware, and simple off-white dishes. Make sure everyone makes it to your coastal getaway by sending out beach bridal shower invitations.

2) Bride-to-Bee Bridal Shower Theme

Bride to Bee Bridal Shower Invitation | Bridal Shower Welcome Sign

Celebrate your favorite ‘Bride to Bee’ with a bumble bee inspired bridal shower! Send out some ‘buzz-worthy’ invitations, decorate with beautiful gold and white flowers, and print a bumble bee bridal shower welcome sign. Since honey is every bee’s favorite thing, you could serve fresh-made honey buns, drizzle honey over your cheese board, and make sure everyone takes home a sample of local honey as a party favor.

3) ‘Love is in Bloom’ Garden Party Bridal Shower

Dried Flower Confetti | Floral Paper Party Straws | Wildflower Bridal Shower Welcome Sign

You’re counting down the days till the bride tosses her bouquet so why not celebrate with a few flowers? A garden party is a classic way to bring your friends and family together for a meal. Serve your guests modern twists on old-fashioned English high tea by providing iced tea with floral straws, finger foods, and flower decorated cookies. Bring the floral theme full circle by covering the tables in dried flowers and giving out wildflower seed packets as favors. Don’t forget a wildflower bridal shower welcome sign so everyone knows they’re in the right place!

4) Amalfi Coast Bridal Shower Inspiration

Lemon and Greenery Garland | Amalfi Coast Bridal Shower Invitations | Cupcake Toppers | Handmade Soap Favors

Bring the beauty, warmth, and delicious flavors of Italy to the bridal shower with an Amalfi Coast theme. The Amalfi Coast is known for its gorgeous painted tiles, cliffside lemon orchards, and breathtaking scenery. Decorate your space with plenty of bold blue and white to mimic the tilework and lots of lemons and greenery. Sending out Amalfi-inspired bridal shower invitations will get everyone excited for their taste of Italy. You can serve any number of Italian dishes for dinner such as classic baked ziti or you can create a build-your-own pasta bar. For dessert, you can serve lemon cakes topped with Amalfi cupcake toppers. For beverages, you’ll want to make sure you serve some limoncello from Italy and maybe homemade lemonade as a non-alcoholic option. Handmade soaps with Amalfi style labels make the perfect favor to thank everyone.

5) In Her ‘Bride’ Era: Swiftie Bridal Shower

Taylor Swift Cupcake Toppers | ‘I’d Marry You With Paper Rings’ Balloons | Custom Eras Poster

Bring that Eras Tour energy to the bridal shower with a Taylor Swift theme. Order a custom Eras poster with the bride’s name on it to make her feel like a star as soon as she arrives. Decorate with items inspired by your favorite T-Swift songs like cupcake toppers with different lyrics on them, balloons that say “I’d Marry You With Paper Rings,” and more. This theme comes with a built in playlist: just make sure you play all the bride’s favorite Taylor Swift songs.

6) Boho Bridal Shower

Wildflower Garland | Earth Tones Table Confetti | Boho Bridal Shower Invitation

A Boho bridal shower is a versatile idea that almost any bride would love. Decorate your space with earth tones and deep jewel tones. Look around your home for decor that you can incorporate into the bridal shower decorations. We’re sure you have at least a few Boho-style items lying around like colorful glass vases, velvet pillows, and plants in terracotta pots. You could make or buy beautiful wildflower garland to hang around your space, buy some earth tone party decor, and print floral shower invitations.

7) ‘Let’s Fiesta’ Mexico-Inspired Bridal Shower

Let's Fiesta Bridal Shower Invitation | Taco Bout Love Table Confetti

Mexico is full of lively street parties, delicious cuisine, and festive colors. There’s no better way to celebrate any occasion than a Mexican-style fiesta. Treat the bride and your guests to pitchers of handmade margaritas, a make-your-own taco bar with plenty of salsas, and tres leches cake for dessert. Fiesta bridal shower invitations will let everyone know they’re in for a real party. No true fiesta would be complete without bright colors so decorate your tables with festive table confetti and hang traditional papel picado banners along the ceiling. This idea is especially wonderful if your bride is of Mexican heritage or loves traveling to Central America.

Bridal Shower Favors & Game Prizes for the Guests

Thank everyone for making it to your bridal shower with some thoughtful favors. Try to choose something that they will want to keep for a long time, has some use, and matches the theme of the bridal shower. If you’re playing a few games during the party, be sure to pick up some extra gifts to use as prizes for the winners. 

1) Wildflower Seed Packet Bridal Shower Favors

Vintage Wildflower Seed Packet Bridal Shower Favors

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly and lasting favor, you could give out seed packets. Your guests will love watching these wildflowers grow the same way they will be watching the couple’s love grow. These wildflower seed packets in particular are great for the planet because they’re a mix of flowers that pollinators love. 

2) Dried Flowers Resin Keychain Bridal Shower Favor Idea

Dried Flowers Resin Keychain Bridal Shower Favors

Everyone could use an extra keychain, especially a pretty one. These pressed flower keychains come in a few adorable colors. They each feature a mustard seed in the middle as a reminder that that’s all the faith you need in life. If the bride is religious she will appreciate the sweet reference to a beautiful verse. 

3) Linen Daisy Bag Bridal Shower Game Prize

Hand Embroidered Daisy Linen Bag Bridal Shower Game Prize

A tote bag is the great prize for one of your bridal shower games. This bag is perfect for bringing home a few groceries, carrying books or a laptop to the cafe, or a change of clothes for a beach trip. Guests will love that they won a prize they will get plenty of use from. It’s also hand-embroidered for a delicate and feminine look.

4) Wildflower Bridal Shower Favor Tags

Wildflower Bridal Shower Thank You Tags

If you’re not sure what you’ll be giving out for favors yet, go ahead and order custom labels. This way, you’ll be sure to have tags with the bride and groom’s name and wedding date ready to attach to any favor. A personalized tag is a great way to say thank you to your guests.

5) Pressed Laminated Floral Bookmarks Bridal Shower Favors

Customizable Pressed Laminated Floral Bookmarks

A bookmark is a small yet sweet gift that most people will find use for. If the bride and her friends love to read this is a great idea as a bridal shower favor. These pressed floral bookmarks are a gorgeous way to keep your place in any book. Even non-readers can use this bookmark for their daily planner or notebook.

Cute (& Themed) Bridal Shower Invitations

First thing’s first: you need to invite everyone to the bridal shower. Choose bridal shower invitations that match your theme. Get started planning your theme early so you have plenty of time to edit, print, and mail your invitations. You’ll want to send your invites out at least a month or two before the bridal shower. 

1) Neutral Wildflower Bridal Shower Invite

Neutral Florals Bridal Shower Invite

Lined with delicate flowers in a neutral color scheme, this floral bridal shower invitation will fit with a wide range of shower themes. Whether you’re throwing a boho bridal shower, a garden party, or a ‘petals and prosecco’ brunch, this shower invite is sure to match.

2) Wavy Modern Bridal Shower Invitation

Wavy Modern Bridal Shower Invitation

Does the bride love pink? This simple yet stunning bridal shower invitation features a modern minimalist design in fun shades of pink. We love the adorable heart detail in the middle and the wavy frame on the edges.

3) Retro Bridal Shower Invitation

70s Style Retro Bridal Shower Invitation

If you’re planning to include a touch of retro charm to your bridal shower decor, these 70s-inspired invitations will be perfect! A retro theme is perfect for brides who are in and out of thrift shops every weekend looking for vintage finds.

4) Spring Florals Bridal Shower Invite

Spring Florals Bridal Shower Invite

Pastels are always a great idea. If your bridal shower is in the spring, a classic garden party is a beautiful idea. We love the beautiful pastel colored florals on this bridal shower invitation. The minimalist design on the top half of the invitation contrasts perfectly with the fun florals on the bottom.

5) Tea Party Bridal Shower Invitation

Tea Party Bridal Shower Invitation

Inspire the bride’s for her ‘something blue’ with a classic blue and white color scheme. Throw the bride an English-style garden tea party complete with afternoon tea, small cookies, and hors d'oeuvres. These blue bridal shower invitations feature a whimsical floral pattern contrasted with a white block filled with all the party details.

6) ‘Main Squeeze’ Citrus Themed Bridal Shower Invitation

‘Main Squeeze’ Citrus Themed Bridal Shower Invitation

The bride found her ‘main squeeze’ so let’s celebrate with a citrus themed bridal shower. Our favorite party of this theme is that your decorations are simple: lots of greenery and fresh fruit. Mail out these vibrant bridal shower invitations then start planning your lemonade and mimosa bars.

Bridal Shower Decorations & Signs

Once you’ve chosen your theme, worked out your menu for the day, and chosen some activities, it’s time to start decorating! As always, we recommend you get started buying your bridal shower decorations as early as you can. Make a list of items you absolutely need to buy in order to achieve your vision for the party. Then, try not to get out of hand with unnecessary extras. Keep in mind that personalized items will take longer to custom-make, so be sure to order those first.

1) ‘Bride to Be’ Backdrop Sign

‘Bride to Be’ Backdrop Sign

You’ll want to have at least one iconic sign or banner at your bridal shower. Create a backdrop for photos in a space that has great lighting (or bring extra lights). A fun sign will make the photos pop so everyone can get the perfect Insta-worthy snapshot with their favorite bride-to-be. 

2) Wildflower Bridal Shower Welcome Sign

Wildflower Bridal Shower Welcome Sign

Tell everyone how excited you are to see them with a beautiful welcome sign. If your party is at a rented venue, a sign is also a great way to show people they’ve made it to the right place. This sign is designed with watercolor wildflowers in neutral beige colors, perfect for spring and autumn bridal showers.

3) Bridal Shower ‘Bride to Be’ Sash

Bridal Shower ‘Bride to Be’ Sash

The bride should feel extra special at her bridal shower. Get her a fun accessory like a tiara or a sash. This white sash has ‘bride to be’ written in cursive rose gold foil to help her shine. There are only so many occasions that the bride will get to celebrate as a bride-to-be, so make each one as special as you can!

4) Green and White Bridal Shower Guest Book

Green and White Bridal Shower Guest Book

The easiest way for the bride to remember all the guests at her bridal shower is with a guest book. A guest book gives everyone attending the party the opportunity to write well wishes to the bride and groom. They can also share a special memory, a piece of advice, or any other sweet note they want.

5) Custom Wood Bridal Shower Sign

Custom Wood Bridal Shower Sign

A personalized sign is always a nice touch for a bridal shower. This wooden sign features neutral tones, is a fun circle shape, and features the bride’s name in white vinyl. Since it comes with a stand, this sign is the perfect addition to any table at the bridal shower. 

Gift Ideas for the Bridal Shower

Don’t forget your gift for the bride and groom. If you’re getting a big wedding present or spending a lot of money hosting the bridal shower, go for a small yet meaningful gift. If the couple has a registry for the bridal shower, try to choose something from their list. If you’re still not sure what to get, we collected some creative bridal shower gift ideas for you to choose from! 

1) Hardcover Wedding Ceremony Vow Booklets

Hardcover Wedding Ceremony Vow Booklets

The couple will be spending a while working on their vows to each other in preparation for their big day. These hardcover wedding vow booklets come in 8 different colors, so choose one that matches the wedding colors the best. The cover says “my promises to” with their future spouse’s name on it.

2) Personalized Year of Dates Cards

Personalized Year of Dates Cards

The couple is about to spend a lifetime together. There’s a good chance they might start running out of ideas for date nights. Help them get their life together started off right with some date night card ideas. This gift box has 12 fun dates ideas, one for each month of the year, in a minimalist and modern deck of cards.

3) Measuring Cup Bridal Shower Gift Box

Measuring Cup Bridal Shower Gift Box

Help the couple fill up their cabinets with some kitchen tools. These measuring cups are not only practical, but super adorable. This bridal shower gift set comes with 4 wooden teaspoons and 4 wooden measuring cups. They’re custom engraved with the measurements, cute quotes, the couple’s names, and the wedding date.

4) Couple’s Bucket List Notebook Bridal Shower Gift

Couple’s Bucket List Notebook Bridal Shower Gift

The wedding is only the beginning of the couple’s lifelong journey together. Help them get started on their couple’s bucket list with a personalized notebook. This hardcover lined notebook is custom made with the couple’s names on the cover and a convenient ribbon bookmark for them to save their page. They have plenty of pages to write down all the exciting adventures they want to have together in their life.

5) Carnival Date Night Box for Couples

Carnival Date Night Box for Couples

Why have a normal date night when you can have a themed date night? This carnival date night box is filled with carnival themed activities, recipes, and challenges. They can bring the excitement and fun of a night at the carnival to a night at home with their new spouse.

6) Mr & Mrs Personalized Tequila Board

Mr & Mrs Personalized Tequila Board

For the couple who likes to drink and loves to entertain, a tequila flight board is the perfect gift. This board is custom engraved with the couple’s names and wedding year. It has spaces for shot glasses, salt or other rim seasoning, and slices of fruit.

7) Custom Engraved Marble Wooden Coasters

Custom Engraved Marble Wooden Coasters

Coasters are the perfect bridal shower gift because they are a gorgeous addition to the couple’s home without taking up too much space. They’re also very useful, especially if they’re buying new furniture that they want to protect. These coasters can be personalized for the bride and groom and made from absorbent acacia wood.

Bridal Shower Questions & Answers

Still have questions about how to plan the bridal shower? We have answers. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about bridal shower planning and etiquette. Remember, there are traditions and guidelines but you’re not obligated to do things any exact way. Just make sure to plan a bridal shower that you know the bride will love.

1) What is a Bridal Shower?

A bridal shower is an event intended to celebrate the bride-to-be before her wedding. The goal of the shower is for the bride’s female family members and friends to shower her with gifts for her future marriage. This is a great opportunity for the couple to get a lot of the housewares and entertaining tools that they may not already have. In recent years, wedding showers have become a lot more popular as they include the bride, the groom, and both of their friends and family of any gender.

2) Who Hosts and Pays for the Bridal Shower?

Anyone close to the bride can host the bridal shower. At one point it was typical for the maid of honor and/or bridesmaids to host. Now, sometimes the mother of the bride or groom will offer to host this event. There are no set rules for who hosts the bridal shower. Whoever has the means, space, and availability can offer to host.

3) Bridal Shower Outfit Etiquette: What to Wear

A bridal shower is typically a modest affair. Depending on the venue, it’s also usually fairly casual. If you’re planning the party and have a specific idea of what you’d like guests to wear, be sure to include a dress code on the invitations. Usually, a nice sundress or flowy pants are a perfect outfit. The bride is usually the only one who will wear white! You’ll want to wear something you won’t mind being photographed in but also make sure you’ll be comfortable too.

4) Who Is Invited to the Bridal Shower?

When you’re making your bridal shower invitation list, choose from people who are invited to the wedding. Consider all the bride’s female family members and also her close female friends. Don’t feel obligated to invite a huge group of people. Stick to the people closest to the bride to make the party more manageable to plan.

5) What’s the Difference Between a Bridal Shower and a Couple's Shower?

A bridal shower is traditionally only for women. Usually this party is for the bride specifically and the guests are her aunts, grandmothers, and other close female friends and family members. Alternatively, a couple’s shower is a more modern version of the bridal shower and includes the groom as well as his friends and family.

6) What Activities Should be Planned for the Shower?

The main event of most bridal showers is the bride opening presents from the guests. You should also have a few games planned. Games will help break the ice between guests who don’t know each other. They will also help break up some of the time between serving food and opening presents.

7) When Should the Bridal Shower Take Place?

The bridal shower is usually held a few months before the wedding. Make sure the date is convenient for the bride as well as yourself. Try to send out invitations at least a month in advance so people have enough time to set the date in their calendar and go shopping for a gift.

8) Does the Bride Need to Create a Registry for a Bridal Shower?

The bride isn’t obligated to create a registry for the bridal shower. However, it is a good idea. She could use her wedding registry instead of creating a whole new one.

Choose Your Favorite Bridal Shower Ideas

You’ve got ideas for a theme, some fun decor, invitations, favors, and a gift. Now, it’s time to get started planning! Think about which bridal shower ideas the bride will love the most. If the party is a surprise, you’ll have to make these decisions without her. If not, get some ideas from her about what she expects from her party.

Choose your favorite bridal shower ideas and get started planning the perfect celebration for your favorite bride-to-be!