Whether you opt for a paper invite or e-vite, make the bride’s name stand out by incorporating it into the design. You can even use a custom font for your text.
Give your guests a chance to get to know the bride-to-be better with this icebreaker game. Each guest is assigned a number and writes a question about the couple on a small card.
1. Make it a bonding experience
Having a wedding party is a big deal. It adds up fast: another bouquet or boutonniere, pro hair and makeup for bridesmaids, a rehearsal dinner, gifts for everyone (plus a groom’s tie or flower crown).
Make sure all of the bride’s closest friends and family are included in her bridal party. This will give her a chance to bond with them over planning, attending the wedding and dancing hard on the dance floor later that night.
For an added touch, invite guests to participate in a “This or That” game where they write down embarrassing or funny things about the bride. She’ll love reading them after she opens her gifts. It’s a fun way to see who knows her best! You could even turn it into a photo booth with props for guests to pose in. You can also have a would she rather bridal shower game to make the wedding fun.
2. Make it fun
A good bridal party should be fun for everyone. If you have the budget, consider hiring a face painter to roam the room and transform guests into animals, celebrities or whatever their hearts desire.
Set up a photo booth with props for guests to use or have a green screen and let them create video messages for the bride-to-be. If you have a large enough venue, hang a pinata filled with candy or other treats and invite your guests to take their turns trying to break it open.
No one wants the night to end, but since it has to, make sure you send off your guests with a bang with a fireworks show, sparkler exit or confetti send-off. It’ll give them something to talk about for years to come. Keep the food and drinks flowing throughout the event.
3. Make it memorable
A great bridal shower isn’t just about the gifts. It’s about making sure the bride-to-be has a fun time with friends and family. Here are some ways to do just that!
Whether it’s the bride’s last name, her future first name, or just a beautiful shade of blue, make her feel like a princess by decking out her party in tiffany-inspired decor. This includes diamond ring napkin holders, pearls galore, and even a Tiffany blue dessert bar!
If the bride-to-be loves wine and cheese, host a custom cheese tasting. Find a local cheesemonger that allows private parties and offer to customize the experience to her interests. Then serve wine or spritzers with each course for a truly special touch.
4. Make it personal
As you decide who to ask to be in your wedding party, it’s important to consider the roles that they will play on your big day and beyond. They’ll often have to take on tasks that you may not be able to handle alone, like planning your engagement party or helping with guest list logistics.
Whether your guests come to help you open gifts or just want to have fun, try this bridal shower game: Get your dj to play music and have everyone line up in a circle. When the music stops, whoever holds the bride’s bouquet wins a prize! It’s a great way to keep things light and avoid making anyone feel uncomfortable. Plus, it’s an awesome photo opp.
5. Make it easy
You should only choose people to be in your wedding party that you know and love. Adding more members will cost you more money in dresses (and maybe hair and makeup), showers, thank you gifts, and even bachelor/bachelorette parties. Plus, it can be harder to get everyone on the same page with schedules for the big day.
Having a person of honor or best man can make it easier to organize and plan a bridal shower since they’ll take care of the sign-in table and gift registry. They’re also perfect for directing ushers and helping guests find their tables at the reception.
A fun idea for a spring bridal shower is to have a color-themed brunch with balloons, flowers, and food. You can even serve a breakfast cocktail with mini-wedding cake cookies frosted in pink, orange, or yellow!
6. Make it unforgettable
The wedding party is an integral part of the wedding experience, but it’s also a huge responsibility. Ultimately, it’s up to the couple to decide who to include in their bridal party.
The Maid of Honor is the bride’s closest female friends and relatives who stand beside her on her big day. She’s in charge of helping the bride with planning and executing the wedding.
The Best Man is the groom’s closest male friends and his right-hand man. He’s in charge of planning the bachelorette party and the wedding ceremony. He’s also the main point of contact for any wedding guests that need assistance during the event.
7. Make it memorable
If you want the bridal party to feel like more than just an added list of names on a ceremony seating chart, consider throwing a fun activity that ties in with their role at the wedding. This might be something as simple as a team-building scavenger hunt race or an obstacle course, but it’ll make the whole day feel more personal and special for everyone.
While gifts are not required, a shower can be the perfect time for friends and family to show their support of the bride-to-be by sharing their love and well wishes. Make it a little more fun by assigning each guest a particular hour of the day to open their gift, and set up a timer so the bride-to-be can read them in order.
If your guests aren’t dancing all night, having a few snack options to keep them from starving when the music stops is a nice touch. Try a few handheld favorites, such as mini burgers or sliders and fries, and serve them about an hour before the reception ends to keep people feeling energized.
8. Make it fun
Inject a hefty dose of fun into your wedding party to create the perfect atmosphere. Whether it’s an afternoon dart art station or a make-your-own cupcake bar, there are endless ideas to help the bride and her friends get into the mood.
Encourage guests to take photos with props, or set up a photo booth so they can record short video messages for the couple. If the venue has a dance floor, bring out a DJ and let the music take over.
A bocce ball court or an oversize Jenga are great options for when guests want to take a break from dancing. Provide snacks like finger foods or mini grilled cheeses to keep everyone satisfied. Then serve desserts like a cupcake or waffle bar for a sweet treat.
9. Make it easy
Traditionally, the wedding party is a very gendered affair consisting of bridesmaids and groomsmen. However, more and more couples are choosing to break away from this tradition and have a mixed wedding party or no wedding party at all.
If the bride is really into well-being, invite a wellness expert to teach a yoga class or guide guests through meditation. For a more girly bridal shower, have a beauty company host a makeup masterclass that teaches tips like how to get a flawless smoky eye.
With dinner and dessert usually eaten hours before the dance floor opens, serve a late-night snack to keep guests satisfied and happy throughout the night. A grazing platter with lots of different flavours and colours is a great option, as it’s super easy to grab. You can also use a bar cart and add mini fern place cards as favors.
10. Make it unforgettable
For a fun and memorable bridal shower, have guests bring a well-wishes notebook with a space for them to write messages and notes to the bride. You can even include photos of each guest for a fun twist!
This is a great way to make the bridal shower unforgettable without spending a lot of money on favors. Just be sure to communicate this clearly on the invitations!
A flower petal toss is a classic, but if you want to do something different, set up a bar with different types of flowers, birdseeds, rice or confetti for the bride-to-be to toss. This will make the bridal shower unforgettable for everyone involved!