18 Bridal Shower Theme Ideas for Hosting the Best Bash Ever

Hosting a bridal shower is an exciting moment. It’s a fun opportunity to celebrate the bride-to-be with a soiree she’ll remember and cherish forever. 

Whether you’re planning a traditional bridal shower or a contemporary co-ed wedding shower, these bridal shower theme ideas will help you create a brilliant bash for someone special. 

18 Exciting Bridal Shower Theme Ideas She’ll Love

Design: Sandra Picco Design LLC

There are so many incredible bridal shower themes to consider, from tropical and boho-style soirees to beachy party themes and glam winter wonderlands. Along with some of these fabulous bridal shower theme ideas, we’ve also featured some of our most loved bridal shower invitations. Each of these digital invitations can be customized with your own colors and wording, so you can create an invite that’s as unique as the guest of honor. 

1. Colorful Brunch

Mimosas, bloody marys, and micheladas, oh my! Be inspired by the bright colors of brunch cocktails and host a dazzling boozy brunch. Whether you’re hosting at home or at a local restaurant, be sure to decorate with plenty of vibrantly hued balloons, streamers, and table decorations to go alongside colorful veggie-filled omelets, stacks of waffles, fresh fruit, and pastries. 

2. Vintage Tea Party

Design: Lisa Travis

Matching Invite: Afternoon Tea Invitation

Give your tea party bridal shower even more atmosphere with a nostalgic twist. Treat your guests to a selection of teas, finger sandwiches, and cakes served on vintage servingware. For decor, seek out vintage tablecloths at your local flea markets (or order vintage-inspired fabric to create your own). Use pastel-colored teapots and bouquets of pretty flowers in vases as centerpieces. 

3. Taco Time Fiesta

Taco ‘bout a fun bridal shower party theme! Gather the bridesmaids and other bridal besties to embrace the fun and flair of a Mexican-inspired fiesta. Serve a menu of tacos, margaritas, and all the fixings — our list of taco party ideas is a great place to start planning. Don’t forget to hire a mariachi band (or simply create a fun playlist) and decorate your space with colorful streamers, fresh flower bouquets, and papel picado banners. 

4. Hooray for Hollywood 

If your guest of honor loves the glitz and glam of Tinseltown, plan a Hollywood theme party. Go all out on this bridal shower party theme by setting out a red carpet runner (replete with stanchions!) and don’t forget a photo booth. 

Showcase the guest of honor’s favorite movies on a projector screen (you can turn the volume off) while playing fun tunes and engaging in party games. Hand out popcorn and candy, and ask people to dress in their most paparazzi-worthy ensembles. Want more ideas? Check out our guide on hosting the ultimate red carpet event. 

5. Garden Party

Design: Jamie Alexander

Matching Invite: Delicate Wildflowers Invitation

With floral arrangements often playing a big role in the wedding day itself, it makes perfect sense to host a garden party bridal shower. This theme also works perfectly for a spring wedding. Host the event in one of the bridal party’s backyard or book a lovely outdoor space at a local hotel or nature center. Let the flowers and greenery serve as inspiration for your centerpieces, signage, invites, and party decor. 

6. Champagne and Cocktails

Does the bride love all things bubbly and sweet? Well, a champagne and cocktail themed bridal shower is the way to go! Go big with a champagne tower as a centerpiece, and offer plenty of mixers to create different sparkly drinks. Invite a mixologist to show party guests the ropes, and play bridal shower games that match the theme.

7. Whimsical Wonderland

Take guests on an adventure with a whimsical wonderland-themed bridal shower. Perfect for winter weddings or whimsical wedding themes, you can keep things warm indoors by creating a scene brimming with greenery and woodland creature decorations. If weather permits (or if you’re not hosting during a cold time of year), head outside and string fairy lights, set up a bonfire, and serve comforting bites on wooden servingware. 

8. Retro Dance Night

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Matching Invite: Bach Boots Invitation

Put on your dancing shoes and host a retro dance night for the bridal shower. First, choose an era — do you want a 70s theme party, 80s party, or 90s theme bash? Once you have the decade down, you can create the ultimate playlist or hire a DJ to spin. For decor, break out the neon lights, hang a disco ball, and make sure there’s plenty of space to dance the night away. Encourage guests to come dressed in their best retro duds and give out prizes for the best costumes and dancers! 

9. Rainbow Celebration

Go colorful with a rainbow-themed celebration for the guest of honor. This bridal shower theme idea is perfect for a Pride-themed or rainbow-themed wedding. Choose bridal shower decorations across the whole color spectrum with bright balloons, tableware, signage, and floral displays. 

10. Halloween

Does the bride love to defy convention? Does she have a fondness for Halloween? Well then, throw out tradition and throw a spooktacular bridal shower! Even if the wedding isn’t in October, you can still host a Halloween-inspired party. Decorate your venue as a spooky haunted house, complete with jack-o-lanterns and plenty of cobwebs. Ask your guests to come in costume and enjoy a frightfully fun time. 

11. Party in Paris

Design: PrettyMeJoy

Matching Invite: Tres Chic Invitation

Many brides-to-be would love to jet off to Paris, but that’s not always possible. Bring the City of Light to them with a Parisian-themed party instead. Set up a photo booth with a backdrop featuring the Eiffel Tower and props like berets, mustaches, and baguettes. Plan a menu of delicious French food paired with French wines and champagne. For a little French flair on a classic party game, try printable Paris bingo. 

12. Pretty in Pastel

Your theme doesn’t have to be grand to make an impact. You can go as simple as choosing a specific color palette, like pastels. From your linens and napkins to the bridal shower cake and bridal shower invites, opt for pretty pastel shades in pink, blue, mint, yellow, and lilac or focus on one color that matches the wedding colors. 

13. Eco-Friendly Chic

If the bride is planning an eco-friendly wedding, continue the theme with her bridal shower. This is the perfect way to honor those values while still hosting an amazing party. Look for natural elements like fresh wildflowers, potted plants, and items you can reuse from home. Seek out eco-friendly party decorations, tableware, bridal shower favors, and vendors that all have green credentials — opt for recyclable, multi-use decorations and locally sourced food and drinks. 

14. Tropical Pool Party

Design: Claudia Owen

Matching Invite: Palm Leaves Invitation

For those lucky enough to have access to a pool, a tropical pool party or Hawaiian theme party makes for a wonderful bridal shower. (It’s also one of those bridal shower theme ideas that perfectly suits a summer wedding.)

For this party idea, be sure to add colorful inflatables, poolside decorations, and cozy places for your guests to sit. Play pool games, enjoy tropical drinks, and have fun making a (literal) splash for the bride-to-be. 

15. Boho Backyard Party

Whether you have a big yard or a cozy corner, a boho backyard theme works beautifully as a bridal shower theme idea. Showcase your DIY skills with handmade macramé bunting, fill Mason jars with candy as party favors, and set up a flower bar where your guests can make their own flower crowns. 

16. Dessert Party

For the bride with a sweet tooth, you can’t go wrong with a dessert-themed bridal shower. Head to an ice cream parlor or dessert shop, or create a DIY dessert bar at home with cupcakes, donuts, ice cream, waffles, and toppings. Decorate the space with oversized dessert cutouts and shaped balloons, plus plenty of pastel-hued accents.

17. Beachside Picnic

Design: frau brandt

Matching Invite: Boho Beach Party Invitation

If there’s a beach close by, head there for a relaxed alternative to the typical bridal shower. Enjoy a morning or afternoon by the sea with a beautifully prepared picnic, beach games, and a dip in the water. This is perfect ahead of a summer wedding or beach wedding, or if the guest of honor simply loves spending time by the coast. 

18. Around the Globe

A travel-themed bridal shower is ideal for any brides who love to see the world. Gather photos from the guest of honor’s previous travels, and theme the event around the places she’s excited to visit next. Encourage your guests to bring bridal shower gifts that will help the bride-to-be enjoy her travels — like a travel wallet, electronic accessories, or a great book to read.

Host the Best Soiree with These Fun Bridal Shower Theme Ideas

The guest of honor deserves an amazing celebration before her big day. Use these bridal shower theme ideas to inspire your celebration, then read through our bridal shower checklist to help you plan an incredible soiree. 

Once you’ve found the perfect bridal shower theme, choose a bridal shower invite to match. Browse our collection of bridal shower invitations for the one that suits your celebration best. Then, customize it with your own colors, font, and details. You can create your design in a matter of minutes, send it out to your guest list, and easily track RSVPs in one simple dashboard. For more ideas, don’t miss these wedding shower themes for the modern bride.