How To Plan A Bridal Shower She Will Absolutely Love

This post is all about how to plan a bridal shower.

A bridal shower is such a special and memorable occasion in any bride’s life. It’s a time to celebrate with her closest friends and family members in a time-honored tradition.

How To Plan A Bridal Shower

As someone who has thrown over 10 bridal showers and got to be the bride at my own, I am sharing my checklist on how to plan a bridal shower.

I created a checklist after the first 2 bridal showers I threw to make the planning process much easier! If you’re like me, you like organization and simplicity and this list helps with exactly that. 🙂

What Happens At A Bridal Shower?

A bridal shower is traditionally an all-female party to celebrate the bride-to-be. Ladies gather to enjoy food, games, and gifts. Guests typically are the bridal party, close friends of the bride, and female relatives of both the bride and groom (aunts, cousins, parents, and grandparents).

In a nutshell, a bridal shower is a time you get to shower your bride with love and celebrate the next chapter in her life!

How To Plan A Bridal Shower She Will Absolutely Love In 10 Steps

As soon as you find out that you will be hosting a bridal shower I recommend getting started with these steps. It will make the entire planning process so much easier.

#1 Decide On The Bridal Shower Budget

Come up with what the budget for the bridal shower is going to be. If you are throwing the bridal shower solo or if you have other bridesmaids or family members contributing this can make all the difference!

Regardless, step number one is to decide on a budget. Once you know what your budget for the bridal shower is, it makes the rest of the planning so much easier. I know from experience just how easy it can be to spend more than you anticipate on a bridal shower. Knowing your budget ahead of time will help you to stick to it!

#2 Select A Date For The Bridal Shower

Talk with the bride about what dates work the best for her. She’ll need to reach out to the main ladies in her life to see if the dates she is selecting will work for them as well. This is especially important if there are going to be guests coming in from out of town.

#3 Put Together The Bridal Shower Guest List

Get help from the bride with the bridal shower guest list. She can consult with her mom and the groom’s mom to see who all they want to have added to the bridal shower guest list in addition to your bride’s favorite ladies. You will want to get all contact information from the bride for all the guests on her list so that you will be able to send out the invitations.

Tip: If guests are going to be coming in from out of town, it is helpful to send them an email or give them a phone call as soon as you know the date of the shower. Doing so will give them plenty of time to make any travel arrangements that might be necessary.

#4 Choose a Bridal Shower Theme or Color Scheme

This is my favorite part of planning a bridal shower! When it comes to selecting a theme, the best thing to do is to think about the bride. This shower is all about the bride and everything that she loves. That means the colors, the decorations, the favors, the food…all of it. I have always found it to be best to check with the bride to see if there is a particular theme that she has in mind that she would love as part of her special day.

Bridal Shower Theme Ideas

Think about what theme will fit your bride the best. If you don’t want to do a themed shower, selecting a color scheme instead is a great way to tie all the details together. I have done themes and color schemes, both of which were extremely well received.

Tip: Remember to check with your bride! Make sure she’s getting the shower she’s always dreamed of. If she says it’s up to you, you can always consult the bridal party or her family for additional ideas.

“Fiesta Bridal Shower Theme“

A fiesta theme is all about vibrant colors, festive fun, and celebrating love with a spicy twist! Think bold décor, delicious tacos, margaritas, and playful touches like piñatas! Final fiesta balloon banners and signs help create a fun and unforgettable celebration for the bride-to-be.

“Champagne Brunch Bridal Shower Theme“

A champagne brunch bridal shower is a chic and cheerful way to celebrate the bride-to-be. It’s often referred to as a brunch and bubbly shower. Think sparkling mimosas, delicious brunch food, it’s the perfect way to toast the bride-to-be and enjoy a morning filled with love, laughter, and a little sparkle. This cute Bubbly and Brunch balloon sign is perfect for the occasion!

“Tea Party Bridal Shower Theme“

A tea party bridal shower is a timeless and elegant way to celebrate the bride-to-be. Include things like cute teacups, floral table settings, and an assortment of finger sandwiches and sweet treats. A “Let’s Have Tea With The Bride To Be” sign is a lovely addition to this bridal shower theme.

“Parisian Bridal Shower Theme“

A Parisian bridal shower is full of romance and sophistication. This theme is inspired by the charm of Paris, featuring chic details like macarons, Eiffel Tower décor, fresh florals, and elegant touches in soft pinks and golds. This “She Said Oui” sign is the perfect addition to this theme!

“Beach Bridal Shower Theme“

A beach theme is a fun way to celebrate the bride-to-be! Picture flip flops, sea shells, tropical drinks, and décor by everything you find at the beach, like this “Sea Shells and Wedding Bells Sign”. It’s the perfect setting for a relaxed and unforgettable celebration with lots of laughter, love, and if you’re actually at the beach (salty air)!

“Glitz And Glam Theme“

A glitz and glam bridal shower is all about sparkle, sophistication, and celebrating in style. With shimmering décor, metallic accents, and a touch of luxury, this theme sets the stage for a a fun and dazzling celebration!

“Love Is Sweet Theme“

A “Love is Sweet” bridal shower theme is a special way to celebrate the bride-to-be! Consider featuring a spectacular dessert table, with candy bars and all the bride’s favorite treats. Above all the desserts hang a beautiful banner that reads “Love is Sweet”!

“Miss To Mrs. Bridal Shower Theme“

If you’re looking for a classic bridal shower theme, a “Miss to Mrs” theme is always a favorite! There are endless decor possibilities to include with this theme and of course you have to include a super cute “Miss to Mrs” sign!

“Nautical Bridal Shower Theme“

A nautical bridal shower theme is perfect for a bride-to-be who loves all things coastal. The navy and white accents along with the anchors and stripes make this a very classy way to celebrate the bride “Tying The Knot”!

“Lemon Bridal Shower Theme“

A lemon-themed bridal shower is a popular choice! It’s bright and cheerful making it perfect for a bridal shower celebrations. This cute “She Found Her Main Squeeze” sign is a must for a lemon shower!

“White Shower Theme“

A white-themed bridal shower is timeless, elegant, and effortlessly chic. Include soft florals, delicate details, and elegant bridal balloon garland. This classic theme is always a wonderful way to honor the bride-to-be!

“Shades Of Pink“

A shades of pink bridal shower is feminine, fun, and full of romance! Be sure to include rose gold bridal shower decorations along with a variety of additional pink tones to create a romantic and elegant atmosphere.

“Black And White“

A black and white bridal shower is elegant and timeless. The bold contrasts of this theme creates an atmosphere that is effortlessly classy. Include special details like this “Black Bow She’s Tying The Knot” sign. Black and white create a stunning combination and way to celebrate the bride with a touch of glamour.

“Shades Of Blue“

If the bride-to-be loves blue and/or a calm vibe, a shades of blue bridal shower may be exactly what she’s looking for. It’s a calm, classy, and elegant bridal shower theme with lots of decor options like this blue and white “Bride to Be” sign!

“Shades Of Green“

A shades of green bridal shower is a beautiful way to celebrate the bride-to-be! From sage to deep emerald, the varying tones of green look beautiful together. This Sage Green decoration bundle makes it easy to create a gorgeous ambiance for the bride’s special day!

Regardless of what type of bridal shower theme or color scheme you decide to go with, just ensure that it will be a good fit for your bride.

#5 Bridal Shower Location

Once you know the bridal shower budget, approximately how many people will be attending the shower, and the bridal shower theme…then you can select a bridal shower location to fit all of those aspects.

Whether you decide to rent a venue, hold the shower at someone’s home…knowing all the above details helps a ton.

#6 Send The Bridal Shower Invites

Once you know your theme you can select invitations that pair nicely with that theme.

You’ll want to send out the invites about 4 to 6 weeks before you plan on having the shower. This will give guests plenty of time to make arrangements so that they can attend. Especially if there are guests that need to fly in from out of town.

#7 Plan The Bridal Shower Menu

The theme that you choose will help you to select a menu that coincides nicely. I always find it helpful to include several different types of foods that are easy for guests to eat while they are standing and chatting with other guests.

#8 Get The Decorations

Decorations are such a fun part of the planning process. Amazon makes this super easy these days. There are so many excellent selections to be found online, regardless of what type of theme or color scheme you’re going with.

#9 Select Bridal Shower Games

Playing games at the bridal shower is a great way to break the ice and help the guests to feel comfortable and start chatting. It’s also good for a few laughs and it’s fun to add in prizes for the lucky winners as well.

Favorite Bridal Shower Games:

#10 Bridal Shower Party Favors

Consider having bridal shower favors for your guests attending the celebration. This isn’t a necessity but it can be a lovely extra touch. If you choose to do favors, I recommend selecting something that ties in with whatever bridal shower theme you are going with.

Final Thoughts | How To Plan A Bridal Shower

Planning a bridal shower is all about celebrating the bride-to-be with all the things that she loves. Whether you choose to go for a classic theme or something totally unique, the most important thing to remember when it comes to how to plan a bridal shower – is creating an unforgettable celebration the bride will enjoy with the people she loves the most.

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