As the maid of honor, you may feel a bit overwhelmed when it comes to the thought of planning a bridal shower. You want to do your best to make this event memorable and fun for the bride and the guests. Thankfully, a few tried and true tips can make the process easier. Here are five steps to planning a memorable bridal shower:

Choose a Theme

First, choose a theme to set the tone for the event and give you something to build all the other elements around. There are endless possibilities for themes, so take some time to brainstorm with the bride and develop something that fits her personality. Our advice is to consult Pinterest! However, here are a few possible themes to get your creative juices running:

  • Garden Party
  • Roaring ’20s
  • Red Carpet
  • Brunch & Bubbly
  • Boho Chic

Carry Your Theme into the Invitation 

Your invitations are guests’ first impression of the bridal shower, so make sure they’re on theme. Include colors and patterns that correspond with your overall aesthetic and wording that hint at what’s to come. For example, if you’re throwing a Roaring ’20s-themed bridal shower, your invitations might say something like, “Join us for a speakeasy soiree in honor of the bride-to-be!” This will also help guests with picking their attire.

Plan Interactive Games with Prizes

Prepare a few games/ activities for your event, and make sure one or two of those games require interaction with other guests. This will help people break the ice and make new friends. Make sure to have prizes for the winners! These can be anything from beauty products to gourmet food items. Here are a few game possibilities:

  • Find the Guest: This is a great game to get guests to mingle and socialize with other guests. Give them a game sheet that instructs them to find a guest that “has three siblings,” “was born in May,” “has green eyes,” “was born in another country,” etc. Give them a time limit, and in the end, the one with the most names filled in wins!
  • Toilet Paper Dress: This classic game always gets a few laughs. Give each guest a roll of toilet paper and instruct them to make a dress out of it. The bride gets to be the judge, and she chooses her favorite creation.
  • Bridal Shower Gift Bingo: This game is played with a bingo card with different gifts the bride might receive written in each box. As the bride-to-be opens gifts, guests mark off the items on their card. The first person to get five in a row wins!

Personalize the Décor with Photos of the Couple

Incorporate photos of the bride and groom throughout the shower décor to add a personal touch. It is also fun for guests to see pictures of the happy couple from different stages of their relationship. You can display photos in frames or create a photo collage. Be sure to add how many days are left until the wedding day!

Food & Drinks

Last but not least, remember the food and drinks! After all, what’s a party without refreshments? After you’ve decided on your theme, choose foods and drinks that fit. If you’re having a garden party, serve light finger foods and summer cocktails. If you’re going for a more elegant affair, offer champagne and hors d’oeuvres.

We hope these steps help you plan a memorable bridal shower for the bride-to-be in your life. For more ideas, check out our Pinterest board!