Fun, inexpensive bridal shower ideas?

My niece is engaged and getting married next year. The bridal shower would be about a year from now. The co maids of honor (her sisters) have little to no experience planning larger events. The last one they attempted I had to step in and take over. My SIL and I think that could happen in this case too. I am hoping one of the 8 (!) bridesmaids has experience in these sorts of things or that the groom's mother gets involved. There will be no help or $$ coming from the bride's mother for this event. My two nieces would like to do this as inexpensively as possible, but the bride herself has very expensive taste.

My SIL and I would like to be a bit prepared to guide and offer assistance when the cry for help comes. Does anyone have inexpensive, fun bridal shower ideas?

Just because the bride has expensive taste, doesn't mean the bridal shower needs to be expensive and elaborate. The bride should be darn happy that someone is doing something for her at all!!

Have the shower at someone's house. Have everyone make something. Those fancy sandwiches are easy to make. You can put of some decorations, and hang those fancy ribbons and paper bells over a comfortable chair.  Have fruit punch, some fancy drinks like martinis or fancy coffees.

My neice just had her bridal shower before Christmas. It was at her maid of honor's apartment!!! Small, but really a ton of fun. Decorations were all from the Dollar Store. Her whole apartment was decked out with those dollar store decos with confetti all over the floor and tables. Paper bells hung from the ceiling. It was darling and did not cost much at all. There was no alcohol served, just punch, tea and coffee. Everyone was asked to bring a "finger food" and dessert. The spread was incredible and the desserts were heavenly. The MOH also bought paper plates, cups, spoons/forks from the dollar store. OH and some balloons were floating around the place too. We played a couple of really fun "bingo" type games and a "name the band" (music). It was like the "where's waldo" but was brilliantly designed with bands in mind and you had to name the ones you found. I think there were almost a total of 45 different bands that the bride/groom love. Someone went to a lot of work to prepare that sheet.

I have to say that this was one of the funnest bridal showers I have been too. Very cozy, quaint and comfortable. I don't think there was a person there that was not smiling or laughing. :happy3:

Have it at someone's house, tidy things up and make it look nice.  Like has been said, any of the dollar stores have "fancy" stuff for a low price.  A few simple decorations will go a long way- just have everyone chip in some.  I don't recall you saying how many people were to be attending, but if it's more than a few then a trip to a Sam's Club would probably be worth it.  They have lots of small party type foods so my parents go there whenever they're having some sort of event.  They have little pinwheel wrap thing and bite-sized quiches that should satisfy the bride's tastes.  Between 8 bridesmaids someone should have a friend with a membership.  Have someone make punch or something.  As far as things to do, don't ask me!  I just know general party-planning things.
 

My bridal shower had a wine theme. 

A friend hosted the party at her townhouse. There were lots of (poor) grad students attending, so everyone who could brought a bottle of wine or champagne, and/or pairs of wine glasses. It was a lot of fun and the first time I partied with my future MIL.

It would be fun to go on a wine-tasting, here they have vans that pick up your group and take you around. It's a set fee per person and nobody has to clean or prepare food. You could order appetizers at one of the wineries or end up at a restaurant before going home.

Of course these ideas only work if the bride likes wine. It's nice of you to help out with your niece's celebration.

I've hosted both bridal and baby showers, and will be giving one for my BF, who's getting married next year.

For the baby shower, I scrapped the idea of cutesy decor, and made it elegant--all in blue and white (it was a boy); the mom's name was Rose, so I added pink and red roses to the decor. I used my silver/silverplate and crystal--and the elegant stemmed glasses came from the Dollar Store!  No storks, diaper pins, etc. Just pretty. I made a buffet: chicken salad sandwiches, some other dainty sandwiches (can't remember what flavor), tossed salad, punch (a very simple one with a ginger ale base probably), and cookies and a simple cake. Everyone LOVED it. I know this isn't a bridal shower, but I just wanted to convey the idea that you don't have to get too literal with the theme--elegant is always great--you can't go wrong. In fact, I think it's refreshing not to cave in and have cutesy decor for showers of any kind.

For the bridal one (for the daughter of my BF): her fave color is pink. Since it was a tiny group (about 6-10), I decided to put the buffet set-up in my newly-decorated kitchen, which has a granite-like (Silestone) counter--a deep, rich speckled brown. Everything, especially silver, looks wonderful on it.  I simply draped some mini-floral print pink fabric on the counter, and placed the serving dishes (that silver again!) in the hills and valleys of the fabric.  I made sure the sink was both empty of dirty dishes and scrubbed clean.  At that time, we had a round black kitchen table. I used a brighter pink, with black and silver as the colors--not cute pastels--something more modern.  I even found pink M&M candy at Wegman's ($8.99/lb--pricey!) to put in the silver-plated 3-tier server.  I used more pink fabric on the table.  Again, I made chicken salad, provided good Kaiser rolls, salad, Crock-Pot shredded beef, a cheesecake, and other stuff. I made a pink grapefruit punch, and served it in the huge silverplated punch bowl that I bought on eBay for my wedding.  And Hobbes (R.I.P.) was the hit of the party--they all LOVED cats! He came downstairs, and took turns cuddling on the sofas with the ladies!

Now, for her Mom: her wedding color is garnet. I suggested that as her engagement ring is a garnet stone, and it's also her fiance's birthstone.   It will be another buffet, probably set up in the kitchen again, and I may have 3-4 round tables in the study.  I'll buy garnet faux-silk fabric for over cloths, with floor-length white ones underneath, and use white china (ok, stoneware from WalMart!).  She's leaning toward either silver or gold for her other wedding color, so I'll have touches of that somehow.  I plan to make a stack of 2 square garnet silk sachet pillows, tied together with sheer white ribbon, with some sort of costume jewelry "garnet" and "diamond" brooch pinned to the center of the bow on top of the stack for favors.  On the French doors, I'll hang a tinsel, red heart wreath on each one (from my Valentine's Day stash).

I didn't spend a lot of money for any of these showers, even though they looked as if I did.

1.  The main thing: plenty of good, simple food and drinks. You don't have to have alcohol. I never did. Do have some diet soda for us diabetics, though, please! Many people serve regular soda, but forget that. We really appreciate it! Also, find out if any of the guests have a dietary issue. For the pink shower, I had no idea the mother of the groom was a vegetarian. Luckily, there were a few things she could eat.

2.  Make sure you have ample parking. If the guests aren't familiar with your house, put a sign by the mailbox, balloons, etc. and make it BIG.

3.  It's traditional to give the guests party favors.  For the pink shower, I gave them pink, black, and white magnetized refrigerator notepads. Only $1.00 at AC Moore. Give them something both pretty and useful. Check out the Dollar Store, too.

4.  Use flowers and greens from your garden, if you have one, and if you can. Saves money on flowers. Ive used bedding flower plants from the garden store, and re-potted them into pretty pots. Then, you could plant them outside when the shower is over. Very pretty for a Spring shower, too, and much cheaper than cut flowers.

5. For a cheap punch bowl, check the Goodwill and yard sales. People get rid of them all the time. Punch always looks so pretty on the table; if you put a wreath of faux or real flowers adound the base, you have a cheap centerpiece, and need no other flowers.   For punch, I use one bottle of cranberry juice and the same of ginger ale, with an ice ring. I often use no sugar added and sugar-free juice/soda. Everyone loves it. Don't forget to provide a ladle, and place a plate beside the bowl so guests can put the wet ladle on the plate, not the table!

6. For silverplated platters, serving pieces and crystal, check out Goodwill and yard sales. That's where I got mine.

7. Don't forget soft background music for when the guests arrive. For the pink shower, the bride-to-be's name was Sara, and I played that song (can't remember who it's by) when she walked in the door. She loved it!

For my cousin's wife's shower they had great favors; they found inexpensive little canvas bags and hand stamped seashells on them, tied a raffia ribbon on one handle and glued a small shell to it.  Then they had several large glass containers full of old types of candies and scoops for guests to fill their own bags. There was a little card tucked into each bag too with a cute saying.  (I still have my bag if this is an idea you like.)

For my shower my Aunt made cookies and put them in baggies tied with a pretty ribbon.  She was on a tight budget and had to make a lot.  They were very pretty too.  She used just a basic cookie recipe (which I have now) rolled out thin and cut out hearts; half were whole hearts and the other half had another smaller heart cut from the center.  She used a thin icing after they baked to "glue the cut out hearts to the solid ones and then added raspberry jam to the center.  Once they were done she dusted them with powdered sugar.  Tasty, pretty, and did I mention tasty? 

Those are all my ideas for now....  It's midnight. 

Thanks for the ideas everyone! I really appreciate it. As far as how many people, there is a good chance it would be 40-50. I can't fit that many in my house for a shower and my SIL can't either. I'm hoping someone else can though because that would really keep costs down. If this were during a warmer month I could have it in my yard, but that isn't possible in February or March. One of my nieces already approached me and said she would like to have it in my yard, but I had to point out to her there could very well be a foot of snow on the ground. :lol3:

Can you not find a local pub that has a room you could rent for how ever long you dont have to have alcohol even though it would be in a pub, or a hall somewhere, I know here you can get rooms really cheap some of them are free and you can do your own decorations and food in them.  

Hiring a restaurant would probably be rather expensive and you would have to probably pay the world to eat there to  

Since you are looking for fun and it is a large event around this time of year, how about a Mardi Gras themed event? It would be very different for Massachusetts and can still be very elegant. you have plenty of time to order from one of the supply houses in New Orleans and it is very inexpensive.

AbbysMom said:

Thanks for the ideas everyone! I really appreciate it. As far as how many people, there is a good chance it would be 40-50. I can't fit that many in my house for a shower and my SIL can't either. I'm hoping someone else can though because that would really keep costs down. If this were during a warmer month I could have it in my yard, but that isn't possible in February or March. One of my nieces already approached me and said she would like to have it in my yard, but I had to point out to her there could very well be a foot of snow on the ground. :lol3:

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Silly neice. :lol3: IF one of the bridesmaids (or neices) live in an apartment complex then check to see if someone can rent the clubhouse for the day. Most apt. complexes have them and I believe there is no cost involved since the person booking it for the day is a resident as long as they clean up. (or should I say, YOU clean up )

lynneanne said:

Since you are looking for fun and it is a large event around this time of year, how about a Mardi Gras themed event? It would be very different for Massachusetts and can still be very elegant. you have plenty of time to order from one of the supply houses in New Orleans and it is very inexpensive.

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But Mardi Gras has already passed...

We all went to Edinburgh dressed in the same rock and roll outfits for my friends daughters party.....Deep joy!!.

But for that many l would look into hiring somewhere as well and decorate the room up

Thanks everyone! Keep those ideas coming!

If you all don't live to far apart maby you could try a zone party 3 or 4 houses with in easy walking distance drinks in one food in another dancing in the other and so on party games in another you could add a treasure hunt to something like that could be good fun

DuckDodgers said:

But Mardi Gras has already passed...

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Yeah, but you know we laissez les bons temps rouler all year long!

lynneanne said:

Yeah, but you know we laissez les bons temps rouler all year long!

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But if you're not from a mardi gras celebrating area, it could just look like you don't know what you're doing!