Tips for Planning a Bridal Shower Brunch That’s Unforgettable: PART 1/2 

If you’re looking for tips for planning a bridal shower brunch that’s unforgettable, you’ve come to the right place. 

Bridal showers are all about getting together with the bride’s closest friends and family before she ties the knot. Last-minute marriage advice is shared, presents are given, toasts are made, and all have a good time. This event is all about celebrating the bride, so making it special for her is a must.

So why not put a modern twist on this age-old tradition and throw a bridal shower brunch! Nothing blends “girl-time” and “sophistication” quite like a well-planned brunch with all the trimmings. And there’s no better way to show your bride she’s special.

So now you’ve decided you want to plan a bridal shower brunch,  but how do you make sure the event is unforgettable? We’ve got you. We put together a 2-part guide full of tips and things to keep in mind to help make sure the bridal shower brunch you throw for your bride is one for the books! 

In this first part, we cover the aesthetic aspects of planning a bridal shower brunch. Stay tuned for the next part where we cover the food and drink elements that will really make your event stand out. 

Here are our first 6 tips for planning a bridal shower brunch that’s unforgettable, focusing on the aesthetic aspects of the event:

1. Venue
2. Invitations
3. Decorations
4. Entertainment
5. Game prizes and party favors
6. Gift for the bride

1. Venue

When planning a bridal shower brunch, the first item you need to nail down is the venue. 

There are several different things to consider when choosing the perfect bridal shower brunch venue. Ultimately the most important thing to keep in mind is that it suits the bride’s taste. The bridal shower is all about her, after all.

If there are too many great options out there and you’re stumped, one helpful tip is to match the venue to the theme or style of the wedding. And when choosing a location, make sure there’s plenty of space and excellent lighting. You’ll definitely be taking tons of cute pics, so great lighting is a must. 

Want to go all-out on an unforgettably elegant brunch? Consider a more historic setting. Find a grand stately home, luxurious castle, upscale hotel, or charmingly stylish bed and breakfast in your area and book a room for a bridal shower brunch that makes your bride feel like the queen she is. 

If your bride is more on the modest side, it’s okay to opt for a more informal, private setting. Shoot for a secluded room if a venue has one. Or even host your event in a spacious home of a friend of the bride if that is what she prefers and is more comfortable with.

2. Invitations

Next up when planning a bridal shower brunch is to make sure the invitations are on-brand with the event’s overall tone. 

If you’re throwing an extravagantly elegant bridal shower brunch, your invitations should reflect that. Or if you are planning a more informal get-together to match the bride’s personal tastes, your invites should be more informal and subdued as well. 

Either way, the tone of the invitation should give the guest some insight into what to expect and how to prepare for the event. 

There are tons of cute and stylish templates for bridal shower invites to order from online, or DIY ideas if you’re creatively gifted. Or if you’re wanting to save on paper (and your budget!), you can opt to choose from plenty of clever and fun e-vite options.

But most important of all, make sure this is a VIP only event for the bride’s closest friends and family. At the wedding, she’ll be swarmed with the well-wishes of guests of varying levels of acquaintance. So make sure this is a relaxing and intimate event before the big day with just her go-to gals who mean the most.

3. Decorations

If you’re planning a bridal shower brunch that tops them all, the decor needs to be on-point.

Incorporate popular themed phrases such as “Bridal Brunch” or “Brunch & Bubbly” into the decor with jumbo balloons and bold, sparkly banners. Don’t be afraid to be over-the-top kitschy and cute by adding signage on the tables with more brunch-y phrases to keep the theme going. In fact, lean into it. 

Keep it festive, and don’t forget this is a celebration! Don’t shy away from experimenting with bold colors and varied flower arrangements. As long as it complements the bride’s style, feel free to make a few daring choices with the decor to create a memorable event.

Include a statement centerpiece with a surprising characteristic regarding height, texture, or shape.

Overall, when it comes to decorating, make your decor tell a story with its conceptual or personal elements. The “devil is in the details”, from lighting and linens to florals and food. Make sure it all weaves together and flows naturally to make the theme of your decor the star attraction. Well, second only to the bride, of course.

4. Entertainment

When planning a bridal shower brunch, it’s up to you to keep the party going. So be prepared with a few entertaining tricks up your sleeve to keep everyone occupied. 

A few personalized games are always a crowd-pleaser at bridal showers. The guests all likely know the bride from different phases of her life. So any game that takes you all down memory lane or displays knowledge of the bride can always be fun and insightful. Any games that result in marriage advice, wedding tips, or ideas for dating-for-married-couples are always a good idea.

If games aren’t your bride’s style, consider hiring an entertainer! No, not like a clown (unless that’s your bride’s thing…). But a well-chosen comedian, musician, performer, or instructor of a learned activity can turn out to be fun, unexpected, and a big hit. Even planning out a playlist of music for the event can be a game-changer when setting the mood and making everyone feel comfortable. 

5. Game prizes and party favors

Planning a bridal shower brunch would not be complete without some clever and cute game prizes and party favors to send home with the guests. 

If you’re planning a few games, you need to plan some prizes for the winners! Make them cute and brunch-themed, like a themed coffee mug with a bag of quality coffee, a DIY bloody mary or mimosa in a jar, or some adorable brunch-y magnets.

Not all guests will win a prize but don’t send them home empty-handed. Party favors are a must! Make them festive and edible with champagne-flavored gummies, personalized honey jars, or bubbly champagne splits decorated with fun, themed labels. Or other non-edibles that are still on-theme, such as personalized bottle openers or champagne or coffee-colored nail polishes. 

Just a small “thank-you” for coming and helping to make the bride feel special will go a long way. 

6. Gift for the bride

Last, but certainly not least, when planning a bridal shower brunch, don’t forget to get a gift for the bride!

A bridal shower is an opportunity for the bride’s closest friends to individually get her something special and/or useful for on the wedding day or in her marriage. But you should also all get her something together for her to remember this special event, preferably for the married couple to enjoy together.

Obviously, let’s keep it brunch-themed. Something simple like a few gift cards to her favorite brunch spots can come in handy after the wedding. Or something more sentimental, like a journal filled with the guests’ individual entries of recipes and ideas for creating the best brunch at home. Or maybe something useful, like a brunch-themed gift basket for the couple to use on their honeymoon or when they first get back and don’t feel like making anything or going out. 

Either way, this little token from everyone together will make the bride feel extra special and just add to the memories. And that’s really what planning a bridal shower brunch that’s unforgettable for your bride is all about. 

Make sure you stay tuned in for the second part of our guide to planning a bridal shower brunch where we cover some of the most important aspects: the food and drinks.  

Love this content and want more? Read more about wedding planning on our blog. Are you helping to plan a wedding and still need to nail down a venue? Give us a call to schedule a tour and see why Jennings Trace might be your perfect place.