Planning a pre-wedding party is no doubt one of the most exciting parts of your wedding journey. But as exciting as it can be, it can also be overwhelming.
You’ve got lots of questions to consider, and just as many decisions to make. What are the perfect bridal shower gifts to add to your registry? Do you want to host a traditional bridal shower or a more inclusive couple’s shower? Who should you invite? And what do people even do at these things anyways?
Keep reading to find the answers to all of your questions about these popular pre-wedding events, so you can throw a party that’s just as special and memorable as your reception itself!
What Is The Difference Between A Bridal Shower And A Couple’s Shower?
Traditionally, a bridal shower is an event where the bride’s friends and family gather to shower her with gifts and well wishes. The focus is solely on her as she prepares for her new life.
In contrast, a couple’s shower (or wedding shower) includes both partners and celebrates their journey together.
Wedding showers are considered more inclusive because guests from both sides of the aisle come together to honor the couple and share wedding gifts perfect for their shared life.
Understanding the nuances between a bridal shower and a couple’s shower can help you decide which celebration fits in best with the rest of your wedding planning. If you’re unsure whether to commit to one party or the other, read on to get a complete overview of what makes each party unique. You’ll also find ideas for games you can play to make sure everyone has a great time!
What Is A Bridal Shower?
A bridal shower is a party for the bride only. Guests bring her gifts to help her set up her new household, but they’re gearing their selections mostly toward the bride’s preferences.
And of course, it’s also an opportunity for her closest friends and family to come together to show their love and support as she prepares to begin a new chapter in her life!
Who do you invite to a bridal shower?
When it comes to who gets an invite, think close and cozy. It’s usually just the bride’s closest friends and family. But hey, there are no hard rules here. If the bride wants to invite her soon-to-be mother-in-law or a new friend, why not? Just make sure everyone on that guest list is someone the bride would love to have around on such a personal occasion.
The guest list usually includes the bride’s closest friends, female relatives, and other important women in her life, since a bridal shower is typically a party hosted by the bride’s close friends or family members. However, anyone can technically host a shower.
What do people do at a bridal shower?
Bridal showers mix tradition with a dash of modern fun. Sure, there’s the classic opening of the gifts—which is always a hit—but you can always spice things up with your own stylish twists.
If you’re looking to break away from the typical bridal shower activities, then think about including a DIY beauty bar where guests can create their own beauty products. It’s fun, it’s hands-on, and it’s an activity that everyone can take part in.
It’s also common to share stories around a common theme, like how everyone met the bride. But if you want to make it memorable and bring everyone in the group closer together, try having each guest share stories about their first dates.
And of course, no bridal shower is complete without a few classic games to keep everyone laughing and engaged (more on those below). Round it all off with some tasty treats, and you’ve got a great day where guests mingle, eat, relax, and celebrate the bride-to-be.
What games are best for a bridal shower?
Wondering how to keep everyone entertained at a bridal shower? It’s nearly impossible to go wrong with classic games that are all about having fun and getting everyone mingling.
The games below are perfect for breaking the ice and fostering a sense of community among guests who might not know each other very well.
Plus, they can be easily adapted to fit the theme and vibe of any bridal shower!
Toilet Paper Wedding Dress
Toilet Paper Wedding Dress is a classic bridal shower game that is sure to get a few laughs. The goal of the game is to see who can create the best wedding dress out of toilet paper in a limited amount of time.
To play, divide the guests into teams of two or three.
Then, give each team a roll of toilet paper and a pair of scissors.
The teams have to create a wedding dress for the bride out of toilet paper. Whichever comes up with the best creation wins!
How Well Do You Know The Bride?
This is a fun game that tests – yep you guessed it – how well the guests know the bride.
To play, prepare a list of questions about the bride-to-be in advance.
The questions can be about her childhood, her relationship with the groom, her favorite things, or anything else.
At the shower, divide the guests into teams and give each team a copy of the quiz. The team with the most correct answers wins a prize. To make it extra fun, you can even work through the questions one by one and give each team a time limit to provide answers!
Gift Bingo
Gift bingo is a great way to keep track of the gifts as they are opened so the bride can easily write thank you cards after the event!
To play, give each guest a bingo card with different gifts listed that were included on your bridal shower registry.
As the bride opens her gifts, guests mark off the items on their cards. The winner is whoever gets 5 in a row first!
Who Organizes A Bridal Shower?
Planning a bridal shower often falls to the maid of honor—it’s a responsibility tied to tradition, and the perfect opportunity to show just how well she knows the bride by personalizing every detail.
But let’s not forget, traditions can change: organizing this special day can be anyone’s game!
You could ask a family member who loves planning parties or a close friend who’s always up for hosting to do the heavy lifting for you.
Unsure who to choose? Look for someone who not only has the time and energy but also a knack for picking out amazing decor.
And if you’re dreaming of a flawless event but prefer to keep it stress-free for everyone who attends, consider bringing in a professional planner. They can handle everything from selecting top-notch vendors to cater your shower, to arranging a venue that’s as unique as you are.
Whoever plans your party, the main qualification is that they should be enthusiastic and organized.
The goal is to create a day filled with laughter, love, and memorable moments that will be cherished forever, so whoever takes on this duty should be ready to sprinkle a personal touch on every aspect of the bridal shower.
What Is A Couple’s Shower?
A couple’s shower (also known as a wedding shower), is all about celebrating both halves of the happy couple together.
A bridal shower is traditionally just for the bride, but a couple’s shower invites friends and family from both sides to join in the fun.
Here, the gift-giving focuses beyond the bride to include items that the couple can enjoy together as they start their new life—common gifts include things like matching robes, luxury bedding, or the latest tech gadgets they can use in their home.
Other than that, it’s pretty much the same as a bridal shower! Gifts are given, guests eat great food, and mingle, relax, and play games to celebrate the couple’s future life together.
Who do you invite to a couple’s shower?
When planning a couple’s shower, the guest list is all about including people who matter to both of you as a unit. Start by inviting friends, family, and even co-workers who have a close relationship with either or both of you.
To be sure no one important gets overlooked, here’s a practical approach to crafting your perfect guest list:
- Begin with a joint session where both of you sit down with your laptops or phones.
- Open your social media accounts and scroll through your friends list. The idea is that this helps to jog your memory about people who are significant in your lives, but who you might not interact with every day.
- Also, sift through your phone contacts and recent messages—sometimes seeing names listed can remind you of someone you love who you might have initially missed.
- Add the names of everyone you want to attend to the list!
Once you have your list, sending out personalized invitations can add a special touch. Think about using designs that match the style of your wedding or the unique theme of your couple’s shower.
What do people do at a couple’s shower?
Just like at a bridal shower, guests mingle and celebrate the happy couple at a wedding shower. The real difference in terms of activities is which games they might play.
Instead of being primarily focused on women’s interests like at a bridal shower, games at a couple’s shower are meant to keep people happy and having fun no matter whether they’re men or women! That said, they are usually just variations to the same games played at a bridal party.
Everything else is the same – you’ll eat delicious food, open gifts, and enjoy the company of the bride and groom’s closest companions and family members.
What games are best for a couple’s shower?
Rev up the fun at your couple’s shower with games that blend humor, challenge, and a bit of friendly competition.
From spins on bridal party classics like “Who Knows the Groom Best?” where guests guess quirky facts about the groom, to interactive challenges like “Match the Couple,” where everyone tests how well they know both of you, it’s easy to find something every guest can enjoy.
If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve provided a few options below to help you find inspiration. But don’t be afraid to stray from the list and get even more creative!
Where Were We
This game is great for couples who want to share their love story in photos, and challenge guests to know where certain photos were taken!
To set it up, gather 10 photographs and create a sheet with 10 fillable lines. Remember to give each photo a number.
Then, show each photo one by one and have guests figure out where each was taken.
The person who guesses the most correct locations wins!
Match The Couple
Looking to put everyone’s knowledge of the happy couple to the test?
“Match The Couple” is the ultimate game for digging into how well everyone really knows the bride and groom.
It involves having guests write answers to questions from the bride and groom on beautifully designed game cards that match the shower’s theme.
Here’s how to play:
- Before the shower, have the couple come up with a mix of serious and silly questions about their adventures and dreams together.
- Create game cards for all of the guests. Each card should have one of the questions the happy couple came up with, and a space for guests to write their answers.
- At the shower, give a game card and pencil to each guest.
- Then have everyone fill out their card with their answers to each question.
- After everyone completes their game card, have the couple read the real answers aloud. Each guest gets a point whenever they get a correct answer!
- Whoever has the most correct answers wins a special prize, like a unique bottle of wine or decorative item that matches the shower’s theme.
This game is a great option if your shower planner loves to dive deep into the details. Depending on what that theme is, a game card design could include striking visuals like rose gold borders and pink peonies for a touch of elegance.
Creating the cards requires a bit of work, but the outcome could be well worth the effort when you see the bride’s face as she realizes how much attention to detail went into their design.
Find The Guest
If you’re looking to break the ice and kick off your couple’s shower with a splash of fun, “Find The Guest” is the perfect game.
It’s ideal for creating lively interactions, especially if your guest list includes people from various circles who haven’t met before. And it’s perfect for brides and grooms with a sense of humility, since it’s mainly focused on the guests.
In Find The Guest, everyone mingles together to find other people who have things in common. It’s a great way to get people talking when they may have never met before.
This game does require some pre-party set up. Here’s how to get it all ready:
- Prepare the game sheets by writing a list of characteristics that complete the sentence “Find the guest who…”. For example, your list might look something like this:
Find the guest who…- Has the same favorite color as I do
- Was born in the same month as me
- Lives in a different state than mine
- Isn’t related to the bride
- Prefers dogs over cats
- etc…
- Do this until you have 15-20 statements.
- Create copies of the game sheet and pass them out to all of the guests.
- Have guests walk around the room and find people who match traits that were mentioned on the list.
- The first one to complete them all wins!
Who Organizes A Couple’s Shower?
The ideal planner for a couple’s shower is someone who knows the bride and groom really well—someone who’s been part of their best moments and knows exactly what makes their relationship tick.
This could be a lifelong best friend or a close sibling, or even that one cousin who’s just always had a knack for throwing epic parties.
There’s no set tradition when it comes to who plans a wedding shower, but they should have a real love for organizing.
The kicker is that they’ve also got to have the time.
Planning a couple’s shower isn’t a small feat. So make sure your chosen planner isn’t just talented but also ready to spend serious time diving into the details.
When Is The Best Time To Have A Couple’s Shower Or Bridal Shower?
Traditionally, bridal showers are held between six weeks and three months before the wedding date. This window allows the bride ample time to invite all of her guests, and it gives time for the planner to work out the tiny details.
Hosting the shower well before the wedding also helps to spread out the festivities, which can keep the excitement going and reduce stress as the big day approaches.
That said, when you have your bridal or couple’s shower could depend on different factors.
For example, you might consider scheduling your shower closer to the wedding date if many guests are traveling from out of town and you want to minimize their travel demands.
Should I Have A Couple’s Shower, A Bridal Shower, Or Both?
It’s up to the happy couple to decide whether they want to have just a bridal shower, just a couple’s shower, or both. If you’re not sure what to do, consider the following factors:
- Do you want a more intimate gathering or a large party?
- Do you want all of your guests to meet each other before the wedding?
- Do you want to have a separate shower for the bride and her closest friends and family?
Answering these questions will help you determine what you want to get out of your pre-wedding shower(s). Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what will make you and your spouse-to-be the happiest!
Where Can I Find Inspiration For A Couple’s Shower Or Bridal Shower?
Many great resources are available to help you plan the perfect couple’s shower or bridal shower. Check out magazines or wedding blogs (like our own) for inspiration.
And don’t forget to ask your friends and family for their input if you’re feeling stuck! They might have some great ideas that you haven’t thought of yet.
Host Your Shower At Dallas Oasis
So in conclusion, should you have both a couple’s shower and a bridal shower before your wedding? We say yes!
With so many things to think about before your wedding day, it’s easy to let the pre-wedding parties like the bridal shower and couple’s shower slip out of mind.
But these parties are great opportunities for your loved ones to get to know one another before the big day. Plus, they can be just as fun as your actual wedding day!
Now that you know the difference between these two types of showers, contact Dallas Oasis to schedule a tour and start planning your wedding parties today! Our multiacre estate offers various indoor and outdoor accommodations perfect for hosting everything from your pre-wedding showers to your ceremony.
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