A bridal shower is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the bride-to-be, but we think the traditional activities are ready for a refresh! If you are planning or attending a bridal shower in the near future, consider adding some of these modern elements into your party for a truly unique and special day!
Give Your Shower a Theme
Does the bride-to-be have a favorite television show, band or movie? Go all out with the theme for her bridal shower by basing it completely off of that! Make invitations and decorations with nods to the theme, and encourage guests to even dress in accordance with it, if appropriate. Big fan of the show Friends? Dress up as your favorite characters, and decorate your venue just like their hangout, Central Perk. If the bride is more of a Disney fan, plan the event around the crowd-favorite Minnie Mouse!
Popular Bridal Shower Themes
- FRIENDS
- Disney-themed
- Elegant Tea Party
- Tropical Beach Getaway
- Black & White Bash
- Hawaiian Luau
- Floral & Botanical
- Brunch, Bubbles, Brews & Babes
- Modern Boho
- Luncheon with the Ladies
- Virtual Showers
Create a Personalized Gift for the Bride
Give the bride a special personalized gift that she can cherish for years to come. Order a canvas print or poster with the date of the special occasion, and have each guest plant a smooch onto the paper! Then, have them sign their name next to the kiss along with a message for the bride. It makes for a great memory of the bridal shower that’s as fun to create as it is to enjoy after the big day.
Do an Activity Together
Take your next bridal party up a notch with a fun, planned activity! Some great suggestions for a group are a “paint party” where everyone can create their own painting alongside an instructor’s assistance, a floral arranging party, a blind wine taste test or even taking an at-home yoga class together. Bridal showers don’t have to be all about opening gifts and chatting, so explore the idea of an activity the whole group can do for your next celebration!
Guess the Dress or the Cake
Popular for both adults and kids alike, have everyone draw a sketch of what they think the bride’s dress and the wedding cake will look like on the big day! The most creative drawing wins this artistic challenge!
Play a Game of What’s in Your Purse
How well do you think you know the rest of the guests at the bridal shower? Play a little game of “What’s in Your Purse” to find out! Before beginning the game, guess who will have the most and least amount of points, and award a little prize to whoever gets closest for both!
Guess the Kisses
Get a large vase, jar or other clear container and fill it up to the top with Hershey’s Kisses. Then, count how many it takes to fill it right up to the top. Have each guest guess how many individual Kisses are in it, and then at the end of the party give a special prize to whoever guessed the closest to the correct number!
Colorful Cocktails & Juice Bar
Mimosas are a popular beverage at bridal showers but add to the drink menu with a colorful selection of unique cocktails! For those who are underage and/or prefer a non-alcoholic juice mocktail, setting up a cute and fun juice bar will really quench your guests’ thirst!
Say ‘I fon-DO’!
Add some CHEESY-ness to your bridal shower with hot and ready cheese fondue pots! Set up a fondue pot and platter at every table for your guests to enjoy. Make sure they leave some room for the chocolate fondue! You can’t have one fondue without the other! Gather all the fruits and sweets and salty snacks to create the perfect fondue experience.
Plan Our Dates
Marriage calls for endless dates with your forever date! Ask the guests to write down 1 or 2 or 10 date ideas for the newlywed couple. These date ideas can be as simple as a candlelit dinner or as extravagant as a romantic cruise to celebrate an anniversary! We’re sure the couple would appreciate any and all fun and exciting date ideas!
Do It With Your Boo
Co-ed wedding showers are becoming more and more popular in recent years. While bridal showers are traditionally just for the bride, who says the groom can’t be celebrated too?! Some couples want to cherish every moment of the wedding journey together and hosting a joint wedding shower for both men and women can make for one amazing bridal shower party!
You’ve got all the basics checked-off, but what about the aspects of a bridal shower party that will take this pre-wedding celebration to the next level? From selecting a theme for the party all the way to planning new and fun activities to do as a group, the next bridal shower you attend will certainly be one for the books! Do you have any other fun ideas for a wedding bridal shower? Share them in the comments below!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Erika focuses on email marketing, copywriting and merchandising at Zazzle, but she has a secret obsession with all things wedding! During the week you can find her writing punny subject lines while also pinning the latest wedding trends, and outside of the 9-5, she is usually cheering on the San Jose Sharks, reading a good murder mystery, or hunting for the best Philly Cheesesteak in the Bay Area.
Bridal Shower ideas are so amazing