When it comes to themed events, we've seen it all at our Texas wedding and event venue. Classical garden parties. Over-the-top themed extravaganzas. Heart-warming family events.
We’ve also seen our share of successful bridal showers here.
For this blog, we thought we’d draw upon our experience to put together a list of bridal shower theme ideas.
If you’re planning a shower for a bride-to-be in your life, these ideas can be a resource for you. You can run with one of them, build upon it with your own unique touches, or mix and match from multiple bridal shower party ideas.
Whatever you go with, we have no doubt that the bride-to-be you’re honoring and your bridal shower guests will love it.
Romantic and Vintage-Inspired Wedding Shower Themes
Tying the Knot
Bring this wedding shower theme to life by decorating with knots made from ribbon, twine and twine.
Incorporate pretzels into the decor by creating a pretzel bar with a variety of dipping sauces and toppings, setting up a DIY pretzel necklace station or a pretzel ring toss game, and by displaying decorative pretzel shapes made from icing or fondant.
Greet guests with a knotted heart wreath on the front door. For favors, give out jars of honey with punny labels like "Thanks for KNOT missing this shower!"
Antique Garden Wedding Shower
Set the tone for this wedding shower with invitations featuring vintage botanical illustrations, antique script fonts, or faded floral patterns. For an eco-friendly touch, use recycled paper or seed paper.
To create the atmosphere you’re going for, focus on soft, romantic colors like blush pink, lavender, sage green, and creamy white. Use antique lace, burlap, or linen fabrics for tablecloths and runners.
For your floral arrangements, fill vintage vases, teapots, and watering cans with fresh blooms like roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and lavender. Incorporate trailing vines and greenery for a romantic, overgrown feel.
This theme would be perfect for a tea station with a variety of loose-leaf teas, antique teacups, and tiered serving trays filled with finger sandwiches, scones, and petit fours.
If you serve a meal, offer a menu of fresh, seasonal dishes inspired by the garden like salads with edible flowers, herb-infused cocktails, and fruit tarts.
Vanity Affair
Indulge the bride's girly side with a glamorous boudoir theme.
Set the scene with fainting couches, oversized ornate mirrors, perfume bottles, and makeup vanities.
Invite your guests to get dolled up with a makeup station. For party favors, gift individually wrapped soaps and bath products.
Food possibilities include pink-themed finger foods like mini sandwiches with rose-shaped bread, heart-shaped quiches, deviled eggs with edible flower garnish, or miniature pink macarons with cream cheese filling.
For drinks, you can craft a special cocktail like a "Blushing Bride" with champagne, raspberry liqueur, and a splash of cranberry juice. Or, offer a "Pink Lady" with gin, lemon juice, and grenadine. For those who prefer non-alcoholic beverages, serve sparkling pink lemonade, a refreshing cucumber mint spritzer, or flavored water with berries and citrus slices.
Another option is to set up a fun "potion" bar with juices, sodas, and garnishes like edible glitter, cherries, and fresh herbs so your shower guests can create their own custom drinks.
Funny and Light-Hearted Wedding Shower Themes
Toiletries and Towels
To set the mood at your wedding shower, hang playful signs like "Showered with Love" or "Love Stinks" (for the bathroom). Decorate with towel animals like swans, elephants, or a bride and groom. Leave instructions for guests to try their hand at towel origami. You can hang a patterned shower curtain as a backdrop for a photo booth or gift table, and fill glass vases with rubber ducks and bath beads for quirky centerpieces.
For your menu, include things like “Potty" Pies: Mini chicken pot pies or hand pies filled with the bride's favorite ingredients; "Brush"chetta, bruschetta with various toppings; or “Tub" dip, a layered dip served in a bathtub-shaped dish.
If you're thinking of including bridal shower games, the classic toilet paper wedding dress game would be a perfect fit for this them. Divide guests into teams and challenge them to create the best wedding dress using only toilet paper.
Or…have a blindfolded Toilet Paper Toss. Blindfold guests and have them try to toss a roll of toilet paper into a basket.
Another nice touch would be a DIY bath bomb station. Set up an area with ingredients for guests to create their own custom-scented bath bombs.
Coed Night at the Movies
Who says men can't enjoy the fun of bridal showers? For a modern, co-ed approach, throw an interactive movie night with cinema-themed decor.
Create a Hollywood vibe by rolling out a red carpet and having a "paparazzi" friend take photos of guests as they arrive.
You can decorate the walls with posters of the couple's favorite movies, or create custom posters with their faces superimposed on iconic movie scenes.
You can even have a project and screen: Rent or borrow a projector and screen to play the movie, or set up a TV with a streaming service.
For food, think about popcorn in different flavors (butter, caramel, cheddar), movie candy like M&Ms and Junior Mints, hot dogs, pizza, and sliders.
Create signature cocktails for the wedding shower based on the couple's favorite movie characters or genres ("The Godfather" Old Fashioned, "Bond-tini," "Harry Potter" Butterbeer).
Other fun additions include movie trivia games, movie-themed charades, or an awards ceremony with awards like "Best Supporting Role," "Most Likely to Star in a Rom-Com," or "Best Dressed."
Around the House Race
Another bridal shower idea is to transform the wedding shower into a silly scavenger hunt by hiding household supplies around the venue.
Split guests into teams and award prizes to the first group who retrieves the complete list of cleaning tools, kitchen gadgets, and other home essentials for the bride-to-be.
Decorate your wedding shower venue with household items like colorful cleaning supplies, oversized kitchen utensils, and laundry baskets filled with towels and linens.
For clues, write clever, pun-filled hints that lead guests to different locations where they can find the hidden items.
Hide the items in unexpected places, like a whisk in a flower pot or a spatula taped under a table. Make the clues as fun and challenging as possible.
The first team to collect all the items and complete the photo challenge wins a grand prize, like a gift card to a home goods store or a set of matching aprons for the couple.
If you want to go a step further, serve snacks and drinks with names that tie into the theme, like "Dust Bunny" cookies or "Scrub-a-Dub-Dub" punch.
Bridal Shower Themes for the Exceptional Bride
Retro Housewife
For the domestic diva who loves all things vintage, what could be better than a housewife-themed wedding shower?
Encourage your wedding shower guests to dress in their best 1950s ensembles, complete with pearls and perfectly coiffed hairstyles. Host a baking competition and award prizes for the most scrumptious (and authentic) dishes like tuna casserole or jello molds.
Video Game Love Story
She's a gamer at heart, so why not honor her favorite pastime at her wedding shower?
This whimsical theme takes inspiration from iconic video games. Decorate with faux coin blocks, pixelated scenery, and familiar characters.
Ask guests to come dressed as their favorite video game personalities.
You could even reenact the couple's love story through a skit or slideshow narrated in a vintage 8-bit video game style.
Texas Two-Step Wedding Shower
Give a big "Howdy!" to this boot-scootin' bridal shower celebrating the bride's love for all things Texan.
This wedding shower is a rootin' tootin' good time filled with Lone Star State charm and southern hospitality.
Embrace a rustic aesthetic with wooden accents, mason jars filled with wildflowers or sunflowers, and bandanas tied around chairs. To amp-up the Lone Star flair, hang Texas flags, string lights shaped like stars, and decorate with cowboy hats and boots.
You also can set up a photo booth with props like cowboy hats, bandanas, toy horses, and a Texas-shaped cutout.
Food and drink possibilities for this bridal shower include a spread of Tex-Mex favorites like queso dip, guacamole, fajitas, tacos, chili, and chips and salsa. Or, cater in some mouthwatering Texas barbecue with brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and all the fixings.
Bake or order custom cookies in the shape of Texas, and offer signature drinks like margaritas, palomas, ranch water, and Shiner Bock beer. Don't forget to have plenty of sweet tea and lemonade on hand.
Since The Bell Tower on 34th opened more than a decade ago, it has earned a reputation as the best wedding venue in Houston.
Our southeast Texas venue with a chapel, waterwall, and beautifully tended grounds, can accommodate both small and large weddings.
The Bell Tower on 34th
901 W 34th St, Houston, TX 77018
(713) 868-2355