ICYMI, the festivities were in full force a few weekends ago as we celebrated one of the final events leading up to mine and Richard’s wedding…the bridal shower!
My family put a lot of hard work into planning this event, and it really did pay off in the end. The entire day was just so much fun, and getting to spend time with all of my loved ones in one place truly was priceless.
I still can’t believe how well everything flowed, along with all of the beautiful and unique decorations that turned a normal shower into an elegant, Gatsby-themed soiree.
While I wish I could do it all over again and relive this epic day, I’m guess I’m going to have to settle with reminiscing! I do have a few tricks though to share with anyone who might be planning a shower themselves, as there were certainly a few things that stuck out about this day that made it particularly special for me…
5 Unique Bridal Shower Ideas You’ll Actually Want to Steal
1. Choosing a Fun Theme
One of the things that I think makes a party stand out is a fun theme. Our wedding is 1920s themed, so my mom of course had this in mind when she was planning the shower.
We first made sure to choose a venue that complemented the theme of the party (very vintage feeling — and even had a speakeasy in the basement!), and then my mom worked on the decor to make sure it all flowed.
I know that it was a lot of work for her, but the little details were seriously so impressive and definitely helped this event stand out.
2. One-of-a-Kind, Personalized Bridal Shower Games
There of course needs to be entertainment at any shower, but ditch the games that have been overplayed and head straight for one-of-a-kind, personalized activities.
Etsy now has lots of options for unique bridal shower games, many of which can be personalized.
One of the best surprises was at the end of my shower was when it came time to play the last game, which was a scratch off to find my “perfect match”.
The scratch offs had a photo of me on it, and then people rubbed off the foil to see if they found Richard which meant they won! Some of the losing cards were pretty funny, including photos of celebrities like Justin Bieber, Kanye West, and even our dog, Meeko.
It definitely made people laugh and also brought a personal touch to the whole event.
3. Unique, DIY Bridal Shower Decorations
Another way to make things really pop is with unique bridal shower decorations. I have to admit that my mom really nailed this for my party!
Some of the decor at my shower included items like handmade feather pens and DIY ostrich feather centerpieces.
We also found vintage suitcases on Facebook marketplace, which worked perfectly for holding the favors. We even plan on using them at the wedding as well!
I’d definitely recommend perusing Facebook marketplace, as well as your local Craigslist and wedding swap Facebook groups. You never know what you’ll find, and people are often looking to get rid of things for a negotiable price.
4. Petite Treats
Another fun bridal shower idea is to opt for small little treats for dessert as opposed to a cake. This may sway from tradition a bit, but it seemed to be a big hit with everyone.
From miniature oatmeal cookie sandwiches to truffles and cheesecake bites, petite treats are the perfect way to end any shower on a light, elegant note.
5. Something Special/Sentimental
The last thing that I think can make this day extra special for the bride is, whenever possible, incorporating something special and/or sentimental into either her outfit or the decor.
For example, my grandma passed away in March this year. I was remembered and honored her on this special day in my life by attaching one of her sparkly pins I inherited from her to the belt of my white jumpsuit.
I’ll admit, it was kind of an afterthought when I was finishing getting ready for the day but it was something that really made me feel special.
One of the other great things about doing this is that I’ll always be able to look back on these photos and have a piece of her with me on such an important and joyous day during this phase of my life.
Have you ever planned a bridal shower? What do YOU think makes the day special?
