How to Plan an Amazing Bridal Shower on a Budget

Are you planning a bridal shower? It’s one of the most exciting times to celebrate a bride-to-be! This pre-wedding celebration is often hosted by the bride’s mother, bride’s part, or friends of the bride, and other close friends and family members are invited to attend the celebration.

And while planning a bridal shower is undeniably exciting, it can also get expensive, especially when you consider key components like the venue, food and beverages, and entertainment. Luckily, there are many ways to throw a beautiful bridal shower on a budget while also celebrating the bride and her upcoming nuptials in a beautiful way.

Create an intimate guest list

First things first: look at the guest list. “A key consideration when planning a bridal shower on a budget is maintaining intimacy and reducing guest numbers,” says GiGi McDowell, founder of Fêtefully, a digital wedding planning platform. “If you make it more intimate and have fewer guests, you can review your needs and see where you can cut costs.” Trim the guest list so it only includes the bride’s VIPs. Not everyone who is invited to the wedding needs a bridal shower invitation.

Ask for a venue

Of course, you need a place to host the bridal shower. This can be one of the biggest expenses, especially when considering venues that come with high rental fees. McDowell suggests taking a shower at someone’s house. “It could be your maid of honor, one of your bridesmaids, your mother, or your mother-in-law,” she says. “Think of your close friends and family members and don’t be afraid to ask, ‘Hey, can we use your backyard for a bridal shower?’ Not only is it inexpensive, but you get the added decor of a natural landscape.”

If hosting in someone’s home or backyard isn’t an option, there are other less expensive options than a large venue. Check with local community centers, parks or botanical gardens. You may also find that a local restaurant has a small function space perfect for the occasion.

Print out invitations yourself

Extravagant invitations are not necessary here! And choosing an easier route can help save hundreds. There are many beautiful DIY bridal shower invitation templates available on Etsy. Find your favorite, personalize the details and print it yourself. Printing on card stock is a great way to make them look professional. You can also choose pretty envelopes with a patterned inside to enhance the look. Have a friend with great penmanship address or calligraph or create custom mailing labels on each envelope before mailing.

Keep the food simple

The timing of the bridal shower will determine how much food you need. “If you do something right in the middle [of the day], but just before lunchtime ends, you can still grab little bites here and there,” says McDowell. A brunch shower can also help reduce grocery costs, especially if you’re putting together a simple breakfast buffet.

Another great option? Do it potluck style! “If you’re hosting a wedding reception, ask the members of your group to each prepare their favorite dish and offer that as a meal option,” says Lara Mahler, founder and chief planner of The Privilege is Mine. “You can also choose to make your own desserts.”

Another way to personalize the shower while providing food? McDowell suggests that guests bring their favorite dish and the recipe for it, written or typed. Then a cookbook for the bride can be put together. “It’s a lovely keepsake for the bride that she can also print out and give as a bridal shower favor,” she says.

Consider batched drinks or a signature cocktail

Depending on the time of day, you may not want to serve alcohol at all at the bridal shower. By giving up alcohol, costs are immediately reduced. Mahler suggests considering bulk drinks like soda pop or even sangria if you want a low-fuss alcoholic option.

If you want to have cocktails, McDowell suggests keeping it simple with a signature cocktail. “The signature cocktail can be something simple that only has vodka, tequila or rum as the base alcohol. Then you can just add different juices, punches and blenders,” she says.

Go Easy on Games and Entertainment

The purpose of the shower is to get together and celebrate the bride. Games and entertainment are completely optional, so don’t feel pressure to plan them in the first place. If you want to add some fun games to the mix, you can find easy downloadable printables for easy bridal shower games. You can also share fun childhood memories of the bride and let people guess if they’re real or not.

If you know someone who plays music, ask them to join in the fun. Or just create a playlist of favorite songs and let a Bluetooth speaker do the work.

Keep the bride in focus

Ultimately, a bridal shower is a celebration of the bride-to-be, and your perspective will likely dictate the budget. “Remember that perspective is priceless,” says Mahler. “Think about why you shower and what the meaning is for you. If you want it to be “perfect” and have Instagram-worthy moments, you’re probably going to spend more money,” she says.

“The best tip when doing something on a budget is to stick to what’s important to you and do it your own way,” adds McDowell. “Don’t listen to the rules someone else has set for you about how much to do and what to spend.”