How to Throw a Bridal Shower
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Bridal Shower PARTY
PLANNER
How to Throw a Bridal Shower
Throwing a bridal shower is the perfect way to show the bride-to-be how much you care
and is a great opportunity to create long-lasting memories with friends and family. The
shower you throw can be either traditional or themed and is an excellent way to provide
the newlyweds with practical gifts for their new home. Throwing a bridal shower is
easy with our vast selection of entertaining items and this guide.
Traditions and Etiquette
• Bridal showers are an age-old custom derived from • Bridal showers can take place anytime from two
a newlywed couple being showered with gifts by months to two weeks before the wedding. They can
friends and local townspeople. be held at the hostess’ home or a favorite restaurant.
• According to tradition, bridal showers should be Be sure to consult the bride before deciding upon a
hosted by the maid of honor or a close friend of the location.
bride. Immediate relatives, such as a mother or sister, • When the invitations are sent, the bride should
should not host the event so it does not appear that be registered, and it is acceptable for the hostess to
they are asking for gifts. indicate registry information on the invitation.
• Involve the bride when inviting guests to a
shower. Avoid including anyone who is not invited
to the wedding.
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Shower Essentials
A 3-tier stand makes a sophisticated statement and • Holiday Shower – Ask each guest to base their
is perfect for displaying finger sandwiches, hors gift choice on a different holiday – ornaments or
d’oeuvres or your favorite cookies and dessert items. decorations for Christmas, champagne flutes for
Serving boards, trays and glass domes help to display New Year’s Eve or a serving platter for Thanksgiving.
foods and keep them fresh. These gifts are sure to become the couple’s heirlooms.
Large and small cake stands are perfect to display • A Room of the House Shower – Each guest is
cakes and desserts. They can also serve as a pedestal encouraged to give gifts tailored to a particular room
for cheeses, crackers and fruit. Stacks of large and of the house. For example, if a guest is assigned
small plates, mugs and bowls will encourage your The Bathroom their gift could include guest towels,
guests to help themselves to the buffet. bath canisters, a soap dish and a fine hand milled
soap.
Stemless glasses are perfect for wine, champagne,
mimosas and bellinis and are best for parties
since they are more stable and easier to hold than Special Touches
traditional stemware. • Plan a few games and activities using our guide to
White tablecloths are an essential at a bridal shower. shower games and activities.
Have plenty of cloth napkins on hand for guests, and • Match your food selection, decorations
for a special touch, monogram the bride’s wedding and prizes to the chosen theme of the shower.
date on the linens. After the party, you can have them
• Have a selection of chilled beverages like
laundered and give them to her as a gift.
sparkling water, soda, champagne and wine
available for your guests.
Bridal Shower Themes • Create a music playlist ahead of time that
• Around the Clock Shower – Assign each guest will help set the mood of the party – or, borrow
a specific time of day and ask them to tailor their from ours!
gift to this time. For example, if you are assigned • Party favors are always a great way to thank
9:00 am, your gift should reflect early morning guests for coming. Some great ideas include
activities and could include such items as a tray, monogrammed frames, champagne splits in
teapot, table linens and a set of mugs. mini ice buckets or miniature potted herbs.
• Linen Shower – A perfect way to add luxury to the Refer to our guide to create great party favors.
couple’s home. Have guests give sheets, towels, fluffy
pillows, bathrobes, table linens and other textiles.
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8 Creative Favors for a Bridal Shower
Creativity and personality are what make a bridal shower memorable. Here are eight special parting gifts
that will make a real impression and that your guests will love taking home with them. Use your favors
in lieu of traditional place cards, placing one at each setting tied in ribbon with a handwritten nametag.
1. A Bit of Bubbly 3. Tea Time 6. Stay Hydrated
Nothing says celebrate like champagne. Tuck specialty teabags in pretty ceramic A very affordable favor that’s ideal for an
Imagine the festive sound of all your mugs, like our Studio or Sausalito outdoor setting is a reusable water bottle
guests popping champagne splits for Mugs, then wrap tie with a ribbon. Add like our Aluminum Water Bottle. It
the very first toast to the bride and each guest’s name to the mug with a keeps everyone hydrated in the hot sun
groom. For a clever party favor, use our permanent pen, which will easily wash and the caribiner at the top is the perfect
Bosphorus Bowls or any weighted low off the glazed finish, as a place card and place to attach a place card. For a little
glass vases as small ice buckets. About party favor in one. more, include a monogrammed Lunch
an hour before guests come, fill with ice Tote complete with healthy snacks and
and one split of beribboned champagne. 4. Single Blooms homemade Agua Fresca.
For an extra special touch, each vase
Place one type of single-colored flower
can be monogrammed with the initial
of the guest. in a clear glass bud vase like our Square 7. Frame the Day
Bud Vase. Tie each vase with ribbon and Handwrite each guest’s name on a
2. Miniature a nametag, then cluster them in a circle
at the center of the table for a clever
beautiful piece of paper, then place it
in a small frame like our Beaded Silver
Planted Herbs favor that doubles as a centerpiece. For Plated Frame at each setting. For a
variation, each table can have a floral special touch, have the frame engraved
Small, potted mint, rosemary, lavender
theme that’s connected by color, white with the date of your shower. (When
and basil are all good choices, and their
roses, white freesia, white carnations, etc. you write thank-you notes, you can also
scents complement any menu. Most
can be found shaped into tiny topiaries. include prints of the day for them to put
Purchase them in plastic sixpacks from 5. Keep Cozy in their frame.)
any garden center, and re-pot them in For a cool-weather wedding – or even
mini terra cotta pots. Tuck sphagnum a summer wedding in a part of the 8. Spa Setting
moss around the edges and top to cover. country with cool nights – treat each For a shower with a spa theme,
Keep bases in water until the event since guest to a brightly colored throw. Roll monogram our Organic Robe for
small pots dry out quickly. As a finishing up one of our Basketweave Throws, tie a more extravagant gift. Roll and tie
touch, use raffia and tie a copper or zinc with a wide ribbon and mark with a each one with its own sash, then tuck
plant tag onto the stem as a place card. name handwritten on a pretty tag. a piece of freshly picked lavender and
a name card in the pocket and place
on each guest’s chair.
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party timeline
at least 5 weeks out at least 3 weeks out 1 week to 2 days out
• Work with the bride or the bride’s • Plan the menu. • Shop for non-perishable food
mother to choose a date that works for items, beverages, etc.
key guests, like family members and
• If catering, work with the caterer to
choose seasonal foods that will ensure • Gather serveware.
the bridal party. best taste and quality.
• Rent any tables or chairs necessary.
• Ask the bride or the bride’s mother • If preparing yourself, plan a menu
about whether she wants women only,
or a mixed shower. Get a
and study each recipe to make a
schedule for preparation. That way,
2 days out
sense from the bride for what kind
of party she wants.
you can do as much of the prep work • Shop for perishable food items; the
in the days leading up to the shower. freshest items ensure recipe success.
• Choose the location of the party. Make sure you choose foods that will
be in season at the time of the shower
Secure a reservation if necessary.
so that you know you’ll be able to find day before
• Establish the party theme and everything easily. Don’t be afraid to
decorating colors so they can be ask for help from close friends.
• Begin food prep according to
carried through to the invitation. your schedule.
• Work out the guest list and gather 2 weeks out • Set up for the party. Clean, decorate,
names, emails, addresses and arrange chairs, etc. Shop for flowers.
telephone numbers for everyone • Choose games and/or icebreakers For flower arranging tips watch our
invited. for the party. Create any documents videos on creating stylish arrange-
needed. ments with Nico DeSwert.
• Choose paper invitations, design
your own or use ours and have them • Choose at lease one festive, unique
printed. Include any pertinent details cocktail to serve at the event and day of
on the invitations that relate to party perfect its preparation. • Arrange flowers.
gift-giving theme, especially if guests
will need to bring something special • Check your pantry and supplies, and • Prep last-minute food items.
in addition to a gift. Include an RSVP shop for any vases, serveware, linens,
date that’s at least 10 days prior to dinnerware or glassware needed. • Relax and get in the spirit of
celebrating!
the date. • Begin planning a music playlist for
the event – or, borrow from ours!
at least 4 weeks out after the big day
• Send out invitations.
10 days out • If you ordered monogrammed
linens for the shower, launder them
• Order linens for the shower • Gather RSVPs and follow up with and give them to the bride as a gift.
monogrammed with the bride’s anyone who hasn’t been in touch, at
wedding date. After the shower, this point email reminders are fine. • Choose a handful of great photos
of the day and create an album
you can launder them and give • Shop for party favors and prizes, to give to the bride.
them to the bride as a gift. wrap and labels. Make sure you have a
few extra just in case a guest who has • Send thank-you notes to anyone
declined can come at the last minute. who helped you make the event
extra special.
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A Few Bridal Shower Games
Games and planned activities are a fun addition to a great bridal shower. Because most
showers involve guests from different generations, as well as friends who may
not know one another, games and activities – if thoughtfully planned – are important
for putting everyone at ease.
Table Topics Words from the Wise
See how well your guests know the couple. Table Tuck a pretty blank card into the shower invitations
Topics, Wedding Shower Edition, includes forty with a note asking guests to pen their advice for a
question cards about the bride and groom. To play, successful marriage. Encourage guests to be creative,
have the bride provide you with her answers first, suggesting that advice be written in any form – a
then split your guests into teams and see which team haiku, a recipe, a fortune or a letter. After guests have
comes up with the most answers that match the read their cards to the group, the maid of honor can
bride’s. Questions are as simple as – “Who popped compile them in a scrapbook prepared in advance as
the question and how?” and as tough as – “What is a gift for the bride.
the famous couple you most admire?” Of course, the
game really starts getting lively when guests start Famous Couples
lightheartedly debating the answers.
Before the party, make a list of famous romantic
couples, choosing couples that your guests are
Recipe Book
likely to know. Write each name down separately on
Before the shower, instruct all the guests to bring nametags and as each guest arrives, put a nametag
a favorite recipe to the shower. Guests can also (without showing them) on their back. Their task is
include a little story about the significance of that to go around the party and ask yes or no questions
recipe, giving the bride-to-be ideas for starting her about their “secret identity.” Then, they have to
own traditions around meals shared with her future find their “better half.” The prize goes to the first
husband. It’s helpful to have everyone use the same couple to find each other, and the game ends when
format, so all the recipes work together in booklet. everyone has found their partner.
As guests arrive collect the recipes and place them
in a recipe book you’ve prepared in advance. Present Newlywed Trivia
the completed book to the bride as she’s opening
gifts during the shower. Use the link below to find a Before the shower, ask the groom 20 questions about
blank recipe format for guests to use. the bride and their relationship: Where was your
first kiss? What’s her most annoying habit? Which of
these are you most likely to fight about: messiness,
social plans or wedding stress? At the shower, ask
the bride the same questions and see how many
answers they have in common.
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