Since the 16th century, townsfolk convened to present items a betrothed woman needed to start her home, in cases where her father rejected a dowry offer or the suitor couldn't afford the bride price. The time-honored tradition stands, except it's a more elaborate affair that gathers family and friends to fete a bride-to-be. Selections of unique venues can host your bridal shower, and make it an exceptional occasion.
It's 16th century Holland, and a field worker can't pay the dowry for a society girl, or her father won't accept the little token he scrunches up for her hand. Knowing her predicament, friends of the bride-to-be gift her items to build her home. The pre-wedding event is now lavish; the maid of honor, bridesmaids, and closest friends handle the planning process. Consider these settings, if you are wondering where to have a bridal shower:
Garden Room
The garden room of a hotel or restaurant is a befitting event space. Besides the breathtaking gardens that can host all occasions, most of these venues have banquet halls for formal gatherings.
Backyard Venues
You can host diverse events in the backyard of a suburban house, including bridal showers; the casual setting suits laidback gatherings with foldout tables and chairs.
Rooftop Lounge
Rooftop locations are popular event spaces for good reason. They have stunning city views and lend all parties an elevated magical feel. Serve delicious cocktails and invite a live band for the occasion to take it several notches higher.
Botanical Gardens
A botanical space is the most amazing location to lavish a bride-to-be and impress guests. The serene environment and lush greenery set the stage for an unforgettable gathering.
Place the bride-to-be in an ideal location with loved ones and what you get is a beautiful pre-wedding shindig. With numerous potential bridal shower venues, you want to book the ultimate setting and these pointers can help:
Location
Traditionally, the host's home is where everyone gathers to celebrate the occasion but you can explore other great locations for a bridal shower. Popular bridal shower venues get booked for months; the best time to book a bridal shower venue is as soon as possible.
Capacity
The best event setting considers the size of your guest list, activities, and decoration plans. Pick a shower venue that can accommodate your bridal party and leaves room for additions.
Amenities/ Services
Event locations have various amenities to support different occasions and activities. Most venues have on-site parking, with the added bonus of valet services.
Catering
It's unheard of to host a shower event without serving any food. A menu tea party menu, with finger sandwiches and alcoholic and soft drink options, is befitting. You can get a rental package including catering if your venue is a restaurant.
Entertainment
Guests would love to attend a well-planned event, with delicious food and fun activities. Pick a venue with a dance floor or one that offers in-house entertainment.
You want your pre-wedding event to be unique, whether you're the blushing bride-to-be, a family member, or a maid of honor searching for inspiration. Bridal showers are special and sentimental because, for most brides, they are a one-off occasion. Like assembling the ingredients you need to bake a cake, you'll need a bridal shower space, a theme, and decor to produce the special occasion.
Understanding how wedding shower venues work can determine the best place to host your forthcoming celebration. You can throw your engagement, bachelorette, and all other events before the big day at a wedding venue. Besides producing beautiful, grand weddings, these event spaces can accommodate all occasions.
Also, consider the theme when looking for a shower venue. An exceptionally wonderful event style also inspires decoration choices, tablescapes, gifts, and guest favors. Personalize a Roaring Twenties soiree, vintage tea party, or boozy brunch for the occasion.
Hosting loved ones at an outdoor restaurant starts the event on a high note. Most have a banquet hall, where you can shelter in case the weather turns or set up some activities. For a business based on food, they can personalize your bridal shower menu.
Your idea of celebrating the occasion could involve gathering at an exclusive country club or a historic house. Start your search for an impressive event space by looking up different bridal shower venues near you.
The search for places to have a bridal shower naturally tops the to-do list, but several other steps go into planning an amazing event. The occasion fetes a bride-to-be when the big day is two to three months away. Brides usually plan showers and weddings concurrently but treat each as a stand-alone occasion. Identify the best event space with this checklist of to-dos:
Book the Best Venue: An ideal event space is subjective but you should consider your guest count. Book a venue at least three months before the occasion.
Create a Guest List: The bride-to-be has the final say about the guest list. An unwritten rule is that guests invited to the shower should come from the list of people invited to the big day. Formal invitations are not necessary, Evites will get the job done.
Set a Budget: Work with a budget that determines the rental fee of a bridal shower venue and how long you'll need the space. Rent a location with a flat or hourly rate. Ask for free parking or discounts on the catering cost.
Plan Bridal Shower Games: Keep guests interested and engaged by scheduling various activities, particularly in an outdoor space with enough room to play classic shower games. Get an entertainer to perform on the occasion, if the budget permits.
Schedule a Gifting Session: It's easy to forget the reason for hosting the pre-wedding event. Give every guest time to hand the bride-to-be a thoughtful gift.
A site with southern charm promises a hospitable celebration while a rustic space will have several photogenic backdrops. Discover unique bridal shower venues, and borrow inspiration for your themed event:
A Vintage Bridal Shower Garden Party
Vintage showers display elegance and warmth, and gardens are idyllic for such occasions. Cover the space with nostalgic charm, using antiques and lace as decor pieces. Carry the theme over to the dishware and tablescapes, and plan traditional games like "Memory Box."
Bridal Bistro Tea Party
A bridal tea party is a lovely occasion, and a cafe bistro is the ideal location for it! Make it a Victorian-style affair, with finger food and other classic tea party desserts on the menu. You can also plan a High tea, Downton Abbey, Mad Hatter, or Alice in Wonderland-inspired party.
A Boozy Backyard Bridal Shower Brunch
A bridal shower hosted in a backyard can be more fun if it's a boozy brunch! Splurge on some good liquor, if you have the budget. Set up a DIY cocktail mixing station with all the fixings. Highlight the boozy brunch with tropical accents, fun colors, and textures.
Rooftop Bridal Shower Picnic
Hosting a rooftop picnic is how you can elevate a bridal celebration. Oversized cushions and blankets set on the floor make the shower venue more cozy. For the menu, serve lemonade, fruit skewers, and mini sandwiches.
You've picked your favorite venue and confirmed your choice. Your next order of business is metaphorically writing up the fine print for your celebration. Choosing a theme gives you a road map to your destination, and these bridal shower decor and menu ideas can help:
Cocktails, Coffee, and Dessert Carts
Regardless of your theme, a beverage cart is a wonderful addition to your shower venue. Load it up with different alcohol and soft drink options so that guests can fix custom drinks at their leisure. Also, have dessert carts filled with assorted cookies, donuts, and cakes. Replicate the same for a coffee cart, with cold and hot brews and selections of fancy mugs.
Bridal Shower Photoshoot Backdrops
Most brides rent elegant garden bridal shower venues for their photogenic appeal. The glaring space at the back of our dessert table can become a photoshoot backdrop. Create outshining backdrops using wooden pieces, balloons, blooms, or macrame. Embrace the charm of different shower spaces to enhance your photos; for instance, capture the city skyline when snapping pictures on a rooftop.
Refreshing Bridal Shower Menus
The weather can affect various elements when planning outdoor bridal showers, and it's something that determines what meals to serve. Hire a caterer to deliver a personalized shower menu, unless your venue is a restaurant. Caterers can also set tables, chairs, and decor. An alternative is staining food trucks at the venue if yours is a grand occasion.
Other Decorative Touches
A flexible budget can cover lavish events but you can still go for cost-effective options. In either case, send themed invites outlining all the details about what guests should expect. Have a special decorated seat for the guest of honor, and make it a grand and royal choice.
Rent the ultimate spot, using this guide to identify the best places to host a bridal shower. Find bridal shower venues near you, and use the outlined tips to curate an exceptional event.