Fun and affordable bridal shower ideas you'll love

A little creativity can go a long way when it comes to planning and hosting a bridal shower. If your wallet needs a break from all the pre-wedding festivities and everyday life expenses (and really, whose doesn’t?), then you’ll want to put on that creative, colorful cap and start thinking about ways to save on bridal shower expenses. Remember, going affordable doesn’t mean the celebration won’t be fabulous. There are plenty of inexpensive ways to shower the bride-to-be with love. Here are some fab and affordable bridal shower ideas to get you started.

Get Cooking

Catering can get expensive, especially when it’s easy to whip up something in your kitchen. An affordable, but delicious way to go about the bridal shower menu is to have a cocktail party with a few appetizers. Put together a bar cart and offer just a few finger foods. This also works well for a small-group tea party where you make a batch of mini sandwiches and/or a few desserts. Don’t have time for cooking and baking? Enlist the help of friends and family or deem the bridal shower a potluck affair and have guests bring their favorite dish.

Host at Home

The great thing about hosting a bridal shower at your own or someone else’s house is that you don’t have to pay for any venue fees and you can use what’s around you for decor. Of course the party can be hosted inside or outside; the backyard is especially nice when the weather is comfortable. It’s doubly nice if the backyard has a garden or a pool. Other spots that are affordable and worth checking out: community centers, church meeting rooms, parks, and historic houses (check with your local historical association for info).

Skip the Stationery

Sending out pretty paper in matching envelopes is traditional and even somewhat comforting in this digital age, but it can also be quite costly. Skip the ink and paper and get in touch with your eco-friendly side by sending out digital bridal shower invitations. There are loads of non-cheesy options at places like Evite and Paperless Post. If there’s anyone on the guest list who doesn’t use email or if you need to get an RSVP from someone who hasn’t answered back, give them a quick call.

Shop Your Closet

It may be fun to splurge on all kinds of bridal shower decorations, but the costs add up quickly. Check your budget to see which decor items can be purchased and which you need to collect through more creative means. This could simply mean looking around your own house or borrowing from friends, family, and the bridal party members. Send out a Facebook message letting people know what you need and you’re sure to get a good response rate. People love to help!

Favorable Favors

Although favors are usually expected at most bridal showers, don’t feel like you have to spend a ton of money on trinkets to please the crowd. Places like Bridal Shower Co. offer favors at bulk prices and each can be personalized for an even more unique gift. Fill a mason jar or gable box with little treasures like lip balm and nail polish or go the edible route (because everyone loves something good to eat) and hand out candy bags, chocolate bars, or homemade cookies.

It’s so simple to throw a fabulous bridal shower on a budget, and cutting costs definitely does not mean cutting quality. In fact, planning a bridal shower that’s full of personal touches, rather than lots of purchased items just for the sake of it, is far more memorable. It’s the thought that counts and the bride-to-be will be oh-so thankful for the time you put into creating the special moment for her and her friends.

Cassandra Key is a freelance writer and native Texan based in the Philippines. She’s written about everything from real weddings and bachelorette parties to bridal showers and wedding fashion, and is the creator of Bridal Magic – a blog for brides with a fairy tale heart. When she’s not blogging, you can find her beach bumming, reading Francesca Lia Block novels, dancing up a sweat, and trying to incorporate a daily meditation practice.

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