This old tradition of giving household gifts to a bride-to-be at her bridal shower was to help her collect the things she would need to start her own household after marriage. These days, the bridal shower is still a chance for the bride to receive gifts, but she can also have fun and celebrate her marriage with friends and family.
Bridal showers these days are pretty predictable; the guests arrive, then play bridal shower games before they watch the bride open her gifts, after which they eat and drink before going home. One bridal shower is pretty much the same as the next. The benefits of bridal shower ideas are widely known.
Wouldn’t it be great to come up with a different plan? What fresh ideas can you come up with to add fun to a plain bridal shower? Here are some great ideas to help you plan and host an incredible bridal shower that will have people talking for weeks afterwards.
Try to think of a venue with a difference. What about organizing a picnic in a park? Perhaps there is a local park with a bandstand that you can use, or spread colorful rugs under some shady trees. As a stand-by, in case it rains, have a few large market style umbrellas.
Could you try a progressive bridal shower? The bridal shower starts at the first house for the games and then moves on the the next house where the bride gets to open her gifts while her guests enjoy savories and a drink; then the party moves to the final house for coffee and dessert. The games could involve the trips that the guests will make to get to each house.
Small bridal showers can be held successfully at a restaurant or a boutique coffee shop. Try to find a unique venue that stands out from the rest. Take a look at Bridal Shower Etiquette for more details.
Turn your house into a special themed venue, perhaps an Arabian harem, a tropical island or an old dance-hall. Arrange lavish decorations and invite the guests to come dressed in costume. Be creative and think up fun variations on the traditional theme.
You might decide to hold the bridal shower at a different time to the traditional Saturday afternoon. You might have a breakfast bridal shower or hold it on a weekday evening, for something different. Hold the bridal shower at a different time so guests still have their weekends.
Plan your theme around your creative venue to make a complete story out of the occasion. It isn’t necessary to stick with the wedding them for a bridal shower. You will find the bridal shower ideas section very interesting! No matter where the shower is to be held, plan a theme that suits the bride. Maybe she plays golf, or does yoga, or loves snow skiing. A themed bridal shower gives a focus to the event and adds to the enjoyment, especially when the guests join in by dressing up in the theme.
Your theme and the venue will also be able to inspire the design of your invitations. Create an imaginative invitation by using the theme; you could use a real leaf for an outdoor theme. Arrange for a friend to hand deliver the invitations, when most people would be home, and have them dress up in the theme.
When thinking about the type of food to serve, look at your theme to get inspiration. Be creative in your choice and display of the food. Ask friends who love to cook to give you a hand with the food preparation.