11 Small Bridal Shower Ideas That Aren’t Boring

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Contrary to what most think, bridal showers aren’t picture-perfect formal events with over 40 people in attendance. More often than not, they’re made up of around 20 people who gather in a pretty, but laid-back location to celebrate the bride.

With a smaller group, many brides and hosts find themselves searching everywhere for small bridal shower ideas. There are plenty of tips for hosting a party with 40+ people in attendance – but not many for smaller parties.

In this post, you’ll learn the best small bridal shower ideas to relieve some stress from planning.

Who should have a small bridal shower?

Small bridal showers can be an excellent fit for a variety of couples.

Some couples choose to have a small bridal shower if they are on a tight budget and will be hosting it themselves. Others have a small bridal shower because the majority of the people they would invite live out of state and are already traveling for the wedding.

Typically, small weddings result in smaller pre-wedding parties, including the bridal shower. While this is typical, couples have as big or small a bridal shower as they want, leading to a wide range of sizes.

What are bridal showers really like?

If you search on Pinterest or any popular bridal blogs, you’ll be under the impression that super glam, 30+ people bridal showers are expected. The reality is, while gorgeous, these expensive bridal showers aren’t that common.

Some people are able to DIY their bridal shower and make it just as well-decorated as if it were professionally hosted. Even though this is possible, it takes time, energy, and a super-organized host.

Many bridal showers are perfectly fine being much more scaled back than the picture-perfect parties we’re used to seeing on TikTok.

What do you do at a simple shower?

Simple or smaller bridal showers tend to be more laid back than larger ones.

Larger bridal showers have more people in attendance. With a larger group, more structure is needed. First, it’s unlikely that everyone knows each other. Structured games help break the ice and eat up some time. Second, a bigger group is much more to manage and needs structure so everyone is entertained throughout the event.

How do you make a small bridal shower fun?

Making a small bridal shower fun is all in catering to the group of people that are invited.

Many hosts choose to ditch the idea of a “shower,” where the idea is to literally “shower” the recipient with gifts. Instead, they’ll host a brunch or fancy luncheon that celebrates the bride-to-be.

Some small bridal shower hosts stick with traditional “shower” activities – complete with a gift opening. However, if this is you, you can make key changes to cater to a small group and make the bridal shower fun.

These hosts set up structured activities around the venue but let guests opt into them at their own pace. Rather than having a timeline of activities that everyone has to participate in, guests spend time choosing what they would like to do. This approach avoids uncomfortable settings and allows for more unstructured time to chat.

Who is invited to small showers?

Most couples having a small bridal shower do so because not many people are involved in the wedding. This results in a naturally smaller guest list for the bridal shower.

The people typically invited to bridal showers include immediate family members from both sides, the bridal or wedding party, and close friends. At the very least, both sets of parents, potentially both sets of grandparents, and the bridal or wedding party are expected.

Small Bridal Shower Ideas

Now that you know why someone has a small shower, let’s review some small bridal shower ideas. Rather than showing you pictures of designer-level bridal showers to take inspiration from, we’re compiling small bridal shower tips from actual people.

1. Host a brunch, luncheon, or teatime

A dressed-up lunch is the perfect happy medium between casual and fancy for a bridal shower. You could try hiring those fancy picnic hosts who set up a picnic at a location of your choice.

Research what’s in your budget and local to you, and go from there.

2. Center the Party Around an Activity

Similar to a lunch but not as food-focused, you can center the bridal shower around an activity.

To find an activity that will work well for this event, look for private activities with small bites for people to snack on. Private wine tastings, DIY art shops, and cooking classes would work well for this type of bridal shower.

3. Skip the cheesy games

The smaller your bridal shower, the fewer games you should have. With a large group, everyone enjoys the structure and ability to participate with those around them. At smaller bridal showers, cheesy games can get awkward quickly.

4. Read through what people actually like to do at bridal showers

Rather than dig through article after article of fancy, million-dollar bridal showers, read through forums like Wedding Wire or Reddit to see what other brides or bridal shower hosts have done.

Learning from other people who have thrown small bridal showers can be especially insightful. They can provide great budgeting tips, show you how to keep everyone entertained, and share what didn’t work at their bridal shower.

5. Ask the people you’re inviting what they’d like to do to celebrate

Depending on how well the group already knows each other, you may feel comfortable asking them for suggestions. As the group gets smaller and smaller, you’ll turn to more casual methods of communication, like a group text. These casual communication methods allow you to shape the event around the guest’s ideas.

6. Communicate a set end time

On the other hand, if the bridal shower guests don’t know each other very well, you can communicate a set end time in advance. This occurs when the guest list is spread all over the country. The wedding is the first opportunity for everyone to meet each other!

A set end time reduces any discomfort among the group. Set just enough time for everyone to chat and participate in the activities, but don’t stretch out the unstructured time too long. On average, 2-3 hours is perfect for small bridal showers.

7. Pick a laid-back venue

If the bridal shower isn’t at someone’s house, pick a laid-back venue. The venue plays a big role in setting the tone of a small bridal shower. When choosing a casual space, make sure it’s still fitting for a bridal shower. If possible, book a private room where you can put some decorations up.

8. Invite people personally – don’t stress over invitations

While there’s no hard rule over whether or not you need physical bridal shower invitations, this is a step you can skip. If the guest list is a small group of people you know well, you can create a private Facebook event or just text everyone the details.

9. don’t Underestimate the Power of Decor

Many hosts worry that with a casual space, it won’t event look like a bridal shower.

This is where the power of decor comes in. You can transform a space, on a budget, we might add, with the right decor.

Pick a theme that the bride likes and build out key decor pieces from there. To reflect the theme, you’ll want a photo booth, table decorations, and a few signs around the space.

10. Use this as an opportunity to thank everyone

Your bridal party and the family members who are close to you are supporting you immensely throughout wedding planning. Use the bridal shower as an opportunity to thank them as you head into the last stretch. This doesn’t need to be formal, but with a small group, there are plenty of opportunities for one-on-one conversation.

11. Pick a few activities that offer lots of room for chatting and pictures

We can’t emphasize how meticulously you must select your bridal shower activities for a small group. Think through how well the group knows each other and plan accordingly. If the group knows each other well, choose activities with lots of room for chatting. Additionally, pick a venue and decor that make for good photos.

On the other hand, if the group doesn’t know each other well, you’ll want more activities to allow breaks in the conversation and keep everyone comfortable.