Wedding Shower: Games, Gifts, And Good Times

A bridal shower is a pre-wedding celebration held in honour of the bride-to-be. Traditionally, it is an all-female affair, with female friends and family members gathering to celebrate the bride and help prepare her for married life. The event usually involves food, drinks, games, and gift-giving, with guests “showering” the bride with presents to help her start her new home. While there is no strict etiquette for a bridal shower, it is typically hosted by the maid of honour, bridesmaids, or the bride or groom's mother, and takes place a few months to a few weeks before the wedding. The event can be held at the host's home, a restaurant, banquet hall, or outdoor location, and often includes activities such as a pottery class, wine tasting, or cooking class.

Food and drinks

For bridal showers taking place in the morning or early afternoon, a buffet or cocktail service with lighter fare and finger foods is recommended. If the shower is closer to dinnertime, a heavier, more nourishing meal is more appropriate.

For a spring bridal shower, you could make the most of seasonal produce like peas and serve a dip with smashed peas, grilled bread, and burrata. For a summer bridal shower, seafood is a popular choice, especially at nautical-themed parties or outdoor functions by the coast. A raw bar with oysters, clams, shrimp, and lobster tails will be a hit. You could also serve a shrimp and mango salad, garnished with edible flowers. For an autumn or winter bridal shower, opt for warming comfort foods like tomato soup shooters and grilled cheese bites.

If you're looking for something more interactive, you could set up a make-your-own ice cream sundae bar, or have a food truck or themed cart.

• Cheese board with cured meats, gourmet cheeses, specialty crackers, and grapes
• Sushi, served as an appetizer or family-style
• Charcuterie cones
• Mini sandwiches, such as cucumber sandwiches or goat cheese and apple and brie sandwiches
• Mini tacos
• Flatbread with various toppings, such as prosciutto, arugula, and lemon, or Brussels sprouts and bacon
• Caprese skewers
• Salads, such as a Caesar salad or a kale salad with apples and pecans
• Fruit salads or fruit skewers
• Quiche
• Chicken salad-stuffed croissants
• Chocolate chip cheese ball
• Vietnamese fresh spring rolls
• Spring vegetable tart
• Scones with strawberry jam or clotted cream
• Pigs in a blanket
• Mozzarella, grape tomato, and basil skewers
• Southern pimento cheese with crudites or crackers
• Layered Waldorf salad
• Tortellini skewers with pesto
• Hot artichoke and spinach dip
• Mini quiches
• Guacamole and chips
• Mini pizzas
• Cupcakes
• Crab cakes
• Champagne punch

Games and activities

• The Lingerie Bridal Shower Game: Ask each guest to bring a lingerie item that matches their personality and style. Blindfold the bride and hang the items on a clothesline. Then, have the bride guess who each gift is from.
• "Where in the World is the Couple?": Hang up pictures of the couple at different locations. Guests guess where each photo was taken, and the person with the most correct answers wins.
• Wedding Movie Charades: Divide guests into teams and act out wedding-themed movies for teammates to guess.
• Boho "Guess How Many Candies": Fill a jar with the bride's favourite candy and have guests guess the number of candies in the jar.
• Pass the Bouquet: A fun twist on musical chairs, where guests pass a bouquet instead of sitting on chairs. The last person remaining wins.
• Wedding Trivia: Test guests' wedding knowledge with interesting facts and figures.
• The Ring Game: Give each guest a plastic ring to wear, and if they say the word "bride", "wedding", or "love", another guest can steal their ring. The guest with the most rings at the end wins.
• Engagement Ring Scratch-Off: A classic scratch-off card game, where guests scratch off a card to reveal a golden ring and win a prize.
• Couple Roast: A hilarious game where guests act out scenarios from the couple's past or future, and the couple judges their performance.
• Hot Gossip: Write a juicy question about how each guest knows the couple on index cards. Guests mingle and try to guess the answers to the questions on other guests' cards.
• Make a Wedding Dress: Divide guests into teams and use toilet paper to make a wedding dress. The bride chooses the best dress.
• Taste the Cake: A fun way to feed your guests. Set up a cake bar and blindfold guests to guess the flavours. The guest with the most correct guesses wins.
• Memory Lane Game: Guests write down their favourite memory with the bride, and the bride guesses who wrote each memory.
• Wedding Jeopardy: Guests choose from wedding-related categories and answer questions to win points.
• Etiquette 911: Guests answer humorous wedding etiquette questions, such as what to do if a guest knocks over the wedding cake.
• Pass the Love Story: Each guest writes a line about how the couple met, and the story is passed on and read aloud for a funny take on the couple's love story.
• Celebrity Name Game: Guests write celebrity names on pieces of paper, and teams take turns describing the celebrity without saying their name.
• Couples Trivia: Guests answer questions about the couple, such as where was their first date or who is the better cook.
• What's on Your Phone?: A simple game where guests earn points for the number of items they have on their phones, such as the Instagram app or unread emails.
• Words of Wisdom: Guests "shower" the bride with marriage and love advice, which are then compiled into a scrapbook.
• Wedding Vows Collaboration: Guests write their own wedding vows for the couple, with funny and heartfelt results.
• Wedding Mad Libs: A quick and fun game where guests fill in the blanks in a story about the couple.
• "How Old Was the Bride-To-Be?": Guests guess the age of the bride in different photos from infancy to the present.

Gift-giving

When it comes to choosing a gift, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, you can refer to the couple's wedding registry, which is often created before the shower. This is a great way to ensure that your gift aligns with their specific preferences and needs. If the registry has already been exhausted, or you want to be more creative, you can opt for a unique gift that reflects the couple's interests or helps them prepare for their honeymoon. Some examples include kitchenware, travel essentials, personalised items, or even a group gift from the bridesmaids.

It is also important to consider your budget when selecting a gift. Traditionally, a bridal shower gift is expected to be smaller and less expensive than a wedding gift. A good rule of thumb is to allocate one-third of your total gift budget for the bridal shower gift, which typically ranges from $25 to $75. However, you can adjust this based on your relationship with the couple and your financial means.

Additionally, it is worth noting that bridal shower gifts can be specifically for the bride, while wedding gifts are usually for the couple as a unit. So, if you want to give something to the bride herself, the bridal shower is the perfect opportunity to do so.

In summary, gift-giving is an essential part of wedding showers, and it is a wonderful way to celebrate the couple and help them start their new life together. Whether you choose to go with a traditional or unique gift, remember to consider the couple's preferences and your budget to make your gift thoughtful and meaningful.

Cake

Simple Cakes

If an over-the-top cake isn't your style, a simple cake can still be striking. A naked cake, for example, can be dressed up with bright yellow lemon filling and a few full pink peonies. Or, for a fun twist, a cake made from crispy rice treats and fruity dyno-bites.

Rustic Cakes

Planning a rustic-themed shower? A nature-inspired cake might be the way to go. Each tier of a three-tier cake can be decorated with wood, moss, and foliage for a beautiful and cohesive look. Or, for a country feel, a cowhide pattern can be added to a simple white cake.

Elegant Cakes

For an elegant shower, a white cake with a black hand-painted abstract pattern and orchids is sure to impress. Or, for a traditional bride, an all-white confection adorned with creamy sugar flowers is a perfect choice.

Unique Cakes

A unique cake will bring drama and be a breathtaking dessert. A blue cake with gold flakes is a thoughtful nod to the "something blue" tradition. Or, for a modern look, consider a bold black cake with square tiers, bright flowers, and sprigs of greenery.

Flavours

Don't forget about the flavour! While vanilla and chocolate are classic choices, there are many other options to explore. A funfetti cake, for example, or an almond-flavoured cake with raspberry jam and chocolate ganache filling.

Presentation

The presentation of the cake is also important. Fresh flowers are a popular choice for adding a botanical element, and macarons in complementary colours can be scattered around the cake. For a tropical-themed shower, flamingo-inspired cupcakes are a fun option.

Dietary Considerations

It's important to keep in mind any dietary restrictions the guest of honour or their guests may have. A naked cake, for example, can be a good option for those who are gluten-free or vegan.

Other activities

There are many other activities that can be included in a bridal shower besides the traditional games, food, drinks, and gift-giving. Here are some ideas:

• Icebreakers: Help guests get to know each other with icebreakers or other activities that encourage mingling. This is especially useful if many guests are meeting for the first time.
• Scavenger hunts: Organise a scavenger hunt, such as a purse-style scavenger hunt, to get guests moving and interacting with each other.
• Trivia: Test guests' knowledge of the bride and groom with a fun trivia game. This can be a great way to share stories and memories about the couple.
• Photo props: Encourage guests to take photos with the bride-to-be by providing fun photo props, such as selfie frames, hula hoop creations, or a themed photo backdrop.
• Music: Create a playlist of romantic or marriage-themed songs to play in the background. You can also include the bride's favourite songs or songs that reflect her personality.
• Crafts: If the bride is crafty, consider incorporating a craft activity into the shower. This could be something like making flower arrangements, creating DIY facial scrubs, or designing personalised accessories.
• Cooking demonstrations: If the bride enjoys cooking, you can organise a cooking class or demonstration as part of the shower. This can be a fun and interactive way to learn new recipes or techniques.
• Spa treatments: Treat the bride and guests to a relaxing spa day, including manicures, pedicures, massages, or other pampering services.
• Outdoor activities: If the shower is held outdoors, you can plan activities such as a scavenger hunt, garden games, or even a friendly game of bridal-themed sports.
• Themed activities: If you have a theme for the shower, you can plan activities around it. For example, if you have a tea party theme, you can have a tea-tasting activity or a best-dressed tea cup competition.
• Surprises: Plan a special surprise for the bride, such as a video montage of well-wishes from friends and family, a special performance, or a unique gift that reflects her personality.

Frequently asked questions