Organizing a bridal shower is a fun and rewarding experience. You get to plan a celebration for someone you care about dearly, and it’s a chance to be creative, thoughtful, and play a role in the days leading up to the wedding.
But planning a bridal shower can also be tricky at times. There are many moving parts and it’s hard to know when to make arrangements or what to prepare.
To help you out, use this comprehensive bridal shower checklist. Consider it your guide to everything you need to know, think about, and plan for a bridal shower to remember.
Bridal Shower Checklist:2-3 Months Before the Event
It’s time to start planning the ultimate bridal shower. A few months before the event, you’ll want to firm up the main details and work out the invitation list.
Confirm a Budget
Every celebration has a budget. Whether your bridal shower plans are big and extravagant or small and intimate, there’s a price tag involved.
One of the first steps to planning a bridal shower is to establish or confirm the budget. This will help set the tone for the event. You’ll have a good idea of which venues to consider, whether to hire caterers or host a BBQ, and how lavish the decor will be.
If your job is to plan the bridal shower but someone else is footing the bill, make sure you check in with them regularly. They’ll appreciate being kept up to date with what’s planned and be relieved you’re staying within budget.
Choose the Venue
Once you know the budget, you can start looking at potential venues. There’s a whole range of choices here to suit every taste, budget, and theme.
Many bridal shower planners opt to host the event at their home, or the home of a close relative of the bride-to-be. Not only does this keep things affordable, but it’s a lovely way to celebrate a big life moment in familiar surroundings.
If you want to host the bridal shower elsewhere, choose a place that’s special to the bride. Does she have a favorite restaurant, bar, or hotel? If so, ask if they rent out the space for private bookings and consider having a surprise party at this “secret” location.
Decide on a Date
It’s not an event without a date, so this will be one of the first few things to tick off your bridal shower checklist.
There’s no set time when a bridal shower should take place. Some brides celebrate with their loved ones one to two months before the wedding. Others prefer their bridal shower closer to the big day. It all depends on when you can line up the bridesmaids and other must-have guests, the venue, and the bride-to-be.
If your bridal shower isn’t a surprise, it’s a good idea to ask the bride when she’d like to be hosted. For surprise showers, make sure someone close to your guest of honor keeps her calendar free (or faux busy) for the date you have in mind. The maid of honor or the groom would be a great choice for this.
Plan the Guest List
This is where so many bridal shower hosts get stuck — planning the guest list. It can be complicated, especially if your bride-to-be has a large group of friends and family who would love to be there.
You’ll want to get the guest list sorted out early, so you can send out invitations in good time. While it’s not required, some hosts also send a save the date for bridal showers around this time. A bridal shower is one of the pre-wedding day events that people enjoy the most, so they’ll want to keep their calendar free to attend.
Not sure who should make the list? Read our guide on who to invite to a bridal showerfor the top tips and etiquette.
Decide on a Theme
Now is a good time to think about theming, styling, and decor. Even the most casual and minimal of bridal showers has a theme of some kind, so it’s a chance to get creative.
Look to your guest of honor for inspiration on the bridal shower theme. If she’s involved in the planning, ask for her ideas and what she’d enjoy most. If it’s a surprise, draw inspiration from the things she loves including movies, TV, music, and books.
Think about the colors she’s drawn to, if she’s a fan of the DIY approach, and if there are any seasonal touches you can incorporate. Plan something personal and fun, with a nod to what’s important to the bride.
Along with your theme, think about whether your event has a dress code. You’ll want to decide this now so you can mention it on the bridal shower invitations. Chances are your dress code will tie in with your event theme — think co*cktail dresses for an evening at the bar or something more casual for brunch at the future mother-in-law’s home.
Bridal Shower Checklist: 1 Month Before the Event
You’re a month away from the festivities. Now’s the perfect time to get the invitations out and plan the finer details of the day.
Photo by Kaizen Nguyễn on Unsplash
Send the Invitations
With a month to go before the bridal shower takes place, now is the perfect time to send out invitations.
Since bridal showers are generally intimate gatherings of close family and friends, there’s often little travel planning needed. Still, you’ll want to send the date to guests about a month in advance so they don’t make other plans.
When you send your invitations, be sure to include all the key details about the bridal shower. Include the date, location, and any relevant information such as party theme, dress code, or gift registry.
Set the Schedule
As the event edges closer, you’ll want to narrow down the running order of the day. This way, you know exactly what’s happening and avoid getting flustered on the day of the event. It also gives you a chance to book any vendors or suppliers you might need.
It’s up to you whether to have a full list of activities or keep things more casual. Whichever option you choose, you’ll want to have a rough idea of when the main moments will happen — like your meal, toast, and gift opening.
Plan Games and Activities
Many bridal showers are filled with games, activities, and fun ways to mark the occasion. Whether you want to include one or many, it’s best to plan these in advance.
The activities you plan will be influenced by your theme and venue. If your bride is a real foodie, try cupcake decorating or making handmade chocolates. If you’re enjoying an afternoon at the vineyard, this might include wine tasting and a tour.
When it comes to bridal shower games, there’s lots of inspiration around. They can be cheesy and fun, or heartwarming and full of nostalgia. Popular choices include themed bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts.
Arrange Food and Drink
With a month to go before the bridal shower, now’s a good time to make plans for the food and drinks to be served.
Some bridal shower hosts opt for a caterer and hired-in bar for parties at home. This can take the pressure off the host and the bridal party, who would otherwise be in charge of these elements. Other hosts prefer a more casual approach, with a buffet of homemade food. BBQs and potluck dinners are also popular.
If you’re hiring a venue for the bridal shower, they’ll likely offer to provide catering and bar service as part of your booking. If not, they’ll be able to recommend vendors who can cater your event.
Buy or Make Decor and Party Favors
Your bridal shower theme is all set and you’re excited about how it’s all going to look. A month before the event is a great time to start shopping for supplies like decor and favors.
If you plan to make the decorations for the celebration, give yourself enough time to get everything ready. It’s likely you’ll need some volunteers to help — if you do, call on the bridal party or the bride’s close friends for their support.
Before you shop for decor and supplies, make a list of everything you need to buy. Depending on your party’s theme and budget, this could include balloons, floral displays, arches, streamers, banners, and more. You’ll find plenty of inspiration in our guide to affordable bridal shower decor ideas.
Bridal Shower Checklist: 1 Week Before the Event
There’s now only one week to go until the bridal shower. It’s time to finalize details and make some final preparations.
Check In With Vendors
If you’ve booked vendors and suppliers to help bring your bridal shower to life, you’ll want to check in with them a week before the event. This gives you the chance to confirm details and identify any potential problems.
Order Flowers
Fresh flowers are beautiful, but they don’t last forever. If you’re using a florist, arrange for the flowers to be delivered to you the day before the event. If you’re taking the budget-friendly DIY approach, it’s best to pick up florals early on the day of the shower or the day before. This gives you time to set up displays and centerpieces.
Buy a Gift for the Guest of Honor
Your guest of honor will be inundated with bridal shower gifts from her closest friends and family members. When you’re organizing the event, it’s easy for gift buying to slip your mind. Add this to your to-do list so you can pick up a thoughtful gift for the bride before the event.
Order Food to Prepare
If you’ve chosen to prepare the food for the bridal shower yourself, order it or buy it several days before the party. You’ll want to make sure it’s fresh enough to last but with you early enough that you don’t panic. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare food — especially if there’s a large number of guests.
Check RSVPs
Most guests will RSVP to the bridal shower shortly after receiving the invitation. Some, however, will leave it until the last minute or forget to reply at all. Send a gentle nudge to any guests who have yet to RSVP so you can put together a final guest list for the day.
Bridal Shower Checklist: Day of the Event
The day has finally arrived. You’ve worked so hard to create a beautiful, memorable event. Now it’s time to set up the venue, make some last-minute checks, and enjoy the party.
Set Up for the Party
If you’ve hired a venue, arrive early so you can set up with plenty of time. Some venues will allow you to set up the day before. If that’s the case, do as much as you can so you aren’t scrambling the day of the event. Make sure you rope in some friends to help you, too, especially if there are a lot of guests expected. The same goes for bridal showers hosted at home, although you’ll likely have more freedom with set-up timing.
Prepare Food and Drink Areas
Make sure the serving space and bar area are set up, organized, and ready for your guests. If you’re providing the food and drink, set this up as early as you can day-of so you can focus on other activities. For hired-in catering and bar setups, confirm your vendors have everything they need and are ready to serve.
Have Fun
As the party organizer, it often feels like your work is never done. Don’t forget that you’re also a guest, so once everything is set up you can let your hair down. Whether the bridal shower is lavish or simple, what people will remember is the excitement and joy of the day. Don’t sweat the small stuff — enjoy the party and have fun!
Your Bridal Shower Checklist Is Complete
The key to a brilliant bridal shower is to be organized and plan ahead. Once you have a bridal shower checklist and you stick to it, you’re on your way to having an event that will run effortlessly.
If you’re still looking for inspiration on how to theme or style your event, our guide on bridal shower ideas, tips, and trickswill help you plan the perfect event.
