Out-of-the-Ordinary Bridal Shower Ideas

Out-of-the-Ordinary Bridal Shower Ideas

A New Kind of Shower
If you'd rather forgo the traditional fete (tea sandwiches and parlor games sound painful?), consider a few of these fun, activity-driven party ideas that let you and your friends laugh and learn together.

Pick A Theme
Culinary events are held nationwide for every meal of the day through companies like Hipcooks, which hosts parties in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon. Boutique hotels, including Detroit's Honor & Folly, have chefs on-site and room for parties. And cooking schools and local bakeries, where you can try preserving fruits or cake decorating, are great resources.

A honeycomb motif on the invites shown here hint at delicious treats to come.

See More Modern Invitation Ideas

A Sweet Start
At this bridal shower, the bride and her friends made mimosas out of fresh-squeezed oranges. If cocktails are more your thing, at Brooklyn Winery you can learn about the lengthy wine-making process and take home a custom blend.

See More Signature Cocktail Ideas

Set a Guest List
Traditionally, family members didn't host showers (for fear of looking like gift-grubbers), but these days anyone can take the lead. After all, with many attendees living in different cities, gathering in your hometown where your mom knows the lay of the land might make the most sense. Whoever hosts, you should weigh in on who's invited. And there's no rule as to how many parties you can have; just avoid overlapping guest lists.

Pick a Date
A shower is usually held one to three months before you get married. Any closer to the big day, and you'll be too busy with last-minute details to enjoy yourself. And it's too much to ask guests to buy multiple presents in a short time span.

Plan around a (nonreligious) holiday weekend if you're inviting out-of-towners, and they'll be more likely to make the trip. But if most guests are local, evenings are a good option, too. Once a date is set, invites should go out a month to six weeks in advance.

Time it Right
As a rule, these shindigs last three to four hours: enough time for an activity, opening presents, and a chance to eat.

The brunch buffet shown here keeps with the artisanal theme, featuring fennel-cured gravlax, deviled eggs, and pots de creme.

Plan for Gifts
Since the name implies "showering" you with presents, the organizer should allot time for them to be unwrapped. But if a bride is painfully shy, it's okay to pass on the custom.


One way to add interest to the big reveal is to ask givers to stick to a theme that ties in with the activity on deck. Art class participants might choose frames or home-decor items such as vases or ceramics. To ensure that no one is forgotten, appoint someone to keep a list of who gave what.

Gifts for Your Guests
If everyone chips in for the cost of the class, a ready-made souvenir is a nice favor, like a pair of glasses given at a winemaking class. If attendees aren't paying for the day, then whatever's made during the event can double as a takeaway.

See More Wedding Favor Ideas

Say a Traditional Thanks
Finally, while these shower ideas may be modern, a proper thank-you is always in order (don't even think about emailing, tweeting, or IM-ing to express gratitude). A written note sincerely communicates appreciation, so put pen to paper. Your best friends will be touched-and grandma will approve.






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