40 Unexpected Bridal Shower Ideas

outdoor picnic spread — Photo: Ava Moore

Whether you're a maid of honor planning your best friend's shower or a bride-to-be looking for inspiration for your own party, you likely have one thing at the front of your mind: You're looking for details that'll make the bridal shower one-of-a-kind. After all, this particular celebration should be anything but cookie-cutter—it should show off the bride's unique tastes and preferences. Mark the special day and the bright future ahead by planning a fête no one will forget.

These unexpected bridal shower ideas will help you do just that. From surprising activities and next-level place settings to personalized favors and the ultimate shower snacks, these sweet details guarantee that the bride will be toasted in style. However you decide to format this pretty party, you and your bride are guaranteed to find a detail, idea, or moment here bound to inspire something entirely unique.

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DIY Bouquets

summer bridal shower ideas flower market — Alissa Noelle Photography

An unexpected activity everyone is sure to love: Have guests create their own bouquets in place of a game. Featuring dozens of fresh blooms on full display, this makes for a great interactive experience, ensuring everyone goes home with a keepsake of the soirée.

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Chalkboard Sign

kara bridal shower signage — Stewart Uy Photography

Make the bride-to-be feel extra special with a chalkboard sign.

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Custom Cocktails

lillie riley wedding bar and sign — Meg Lucks, Abby Jiu Photography

Who doesn't love a dedicated drink corner? Ensure every guest at your bridal shower will reach for a drink with these festive beverages.

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Bottles of Wine

Send bridal shower guests home with their own wine bottles. Fishing net and tassels add a touch of flair to the celebration.

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In-Bloom Macarons

Update a favorite sweet with illustrated buds that match the shower's floral scheme. They're almost too pretty to bite into! The key word here being almost.

Unexpected Wedding Food Ideas Your Guests Will Love

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On-Trend Invite

transparent save the dates — Kelsea Holder

Two acrylic slabs make for a trendy bridal shower invitation. Bonus points if you opt for lettering in a just-as-chic metal like rose gold.

Bridal Shower Invites to Inspire Your Own

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Woven Fixtures

rifle paper co. floral bridal shower tablescape — Abby Cox

Incorporate oversize woven light fixtures strewn with beautiful blooms for a wow-worthy bridal shower.

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Celestial Theme

If she's a zodiac enthusiast, throw a shower inspired by the stars. A celestial place setting, an indigo and jet color palette, crystal centerpieces, star-themed place cards, and embroidered constellation favors will result in a look that's completely out of this world.

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Custom Favors

colleen jewel bridal shower favors — Will Anderson

Creating party favors with an illustration of the bride and her new ring is sure to bring a smile to the bride-to-be's face.

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Flower Wall

flower girl all white photo backdrop bride to be pink balloons — @feyi_mbello via Instagram

Take a cue from this ecstatic bride and fill a wall with beautiful white roses. It makes for the perfect bridal shower photo-opp.

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Memory Lane

Bring a personal touch to a quiet corner by setting up a family photo station. This is a great way to include loved ones that are no longer with you. While it doesn't make up for their absence, seeing their faces in photos will help you feel their love at the shower—and help your guests (especially the ones that never met Nana or Pop!) get to know them, too.

Tips for Honoring Deceased Loved Ones at Your Wedding

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Girls' Picnic

Throwing a bridal shower with a smaller guest list? An intimate picnic is the way to go. Splashy rugs and cozy pillows make sitting on the ground comfortable. A stylish tablescape, with taper candles and lots of blooms, elevates a casual picnic into a lady's brunch.

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Woven Favors

If you're planning on showering the bride at an oceanfront venue, send attendees home with a thank-you bag filled with beach essentials. Straw hats wrapped in flower crowns, woven totes, and slippers are an elevated, on-theme take-home.

Love These? Check Out Welcome Bags from Real Weddings

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Floral Pops

Planning a summer shower? Lemonade ice pops, filled with fruit and edible flowers, are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

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Sweet Sign

A vintage window can be repurposed as the prettiest bridal shower sign. A sweet, succinct sentiment, like "Showered with love," is the perfect add.

Creative Signs That'll Dress Up Your Wedding

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Balloon Arch

Floral installations may be trendy, but we're just as taken by this dusty-peach balloon arch. It makes a major statement, so be sure to keep the rest of your tablescapes décor quiet.

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Personal Aprons

These personalized aprons are a two-for-one. They'll serve as both place cards and bridal shower favors your guests will actually use.

Discover More Creative Favors Ideas

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Bring the Inside Out

Forget the rentals. Bring out a beloved desk or vanity when it's time to set the dessert table. Need more room? Simply open the drawers—they act as makeshift trays and look even lovelier filled with fresh blooms.

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Filter IRL

bridal shower ideas polaroid theme frame photobooth — @vivakayla via Instagram

An interactive photo frame mirrors your Instagram grid, while loads of fun props add something extra and unique to your bridal shower festivities.

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Unusual Centerpieces

bridal shower centerpiece with geometric hurricanes — Sugar and Cloth

An array of geometric-inspired centerpieces adds intrigue to an already powerful table. Gold-rimmed and transparent, these vases offer something extra to a colorful affair.

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Tequila Shots

mini patron bottle — Allison Kuhn Photography

If margaritas are the bride's absolute must-have, adorable Patron shooters make an appropriate favor. How fun would it be to take a shot all together at the beginning of the party using these little guys?

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Letter Board

A hot pink letter board isn't just the way to express a hilarious bridal shower joke, but it's also about as Instagrammable as it gets.

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Sitting Pretty

chair decorated with flowers — Arte de Vie Photography

Make opening presents a whole lot prettier by decking out the woman-of-the-hour's throne with blooms, moss, and lots of leafy greens.

See Head Table Ideas from Real Weddings

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Subtle Blooms

cristina-jason-wedding-centerpiece-1728-s112017-0715.jpg — Mademoiselle Fiona

While we're all about grand gestures and big statements, a quiet centerpiece makes a different kind of impact. A milk jar filled with pink, cream, and peach peonies is elegant without feeling over the top. It won't break your budget, either.

Affordable Centerpieces That Still Look Elevated

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Fringed Light Fixtures

jen tim wedding reception elegant tropical decor on long table — Anneli Marinovich

Add a little oomph to your summer bridal shower décor with fringed hanging lanterns in your wedding colors. These merge seamlessly with the tablescape for a picture-worthy event.

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Incense Bar

Banish all negative energy on the day of the party by burning fragrant herbs. Send guests home with their own bushels, paired with relevant essential oils, so they can do the same in their own homes.

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Regal Confection

blue bridal-shower-cake with crown — Caroline Tran Photography

If you're planning on serving quite a few guests at the shower, a three-tier might be necessary. Opt for a simple, gold-dusted cake, topped with a crown fit for a queen (like the bride!).

Discover Even More Bridal Shower Cakes

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Look Up

On the décor front, the smallest bridal shower details can have the biggest impact. Take this dainty bird cage, for example. Hung from a pergola's rafters and filled with sprigs of eucalyptus, baby's breath, and peachy-pink roses, it becomes an elegant overhead display.

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Parasols

Beat the heat and shelter from the sun with adorable parasols. They're perfect for outdoor bridal showers—plus, they stand pretty at the entryway to the party.

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Terrarium-Inspired Centerpiece

geometric bridal shower centerpiece — Chloe Moore Photography

Pixies Petals spiced things up by filling hexagonal glass vases with sand, roses, thistle, and protea.

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Love You Like XO

Take notes from this sparkly scene, designed by Whitepeacock Weddings, when planning your bride's shower. A sequined table runner brings the dessert table to life, while Beyoncé-inspired cookies appropriately sum up the occasion.

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Kids-Inspired

wedding favors crayons sunglasses — Vitae Weddings

Whether the bride is a kid at heart or you're thinking of ideas for a kid's table at the bridal shower, this fun place setting is sure to brighten up anyone's day.

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Incense

Give the gift of calming scents with an incense bar. Guests can choose which smell suits their needs, and the colors incorporate a fall element to this autumnal bridal shower.

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Fruit Focused

citrus bridal shower centerpiece — Kandi Daniel Studios

Forego a classic floral centerpiece and opt for sliced fruit. Citrus like oranges and grapefruit add bright spots of color that guests can enjoy throughout the bridal shower.

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Salty Favors

Pretty pink Himalayan sea salt makes for the perfect bridal shower gifts. A color-coordinating pink ribbon makes them great to set out on a table near the entryway.

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Restaurant Décor

rustic wooden wedding reception tables with industrial chairs — Elizabeth LaDuca

Just because you're hosting a bridal shower in a restaurant doesn't mean you need to take the restaurant's décor at face value. Add high and low staggered candles and scatter seasonal fruit—like figs and pears—for a fall feel.

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Showstopping Centerpiece

bridal shower ping table setting decor under tent — Johnny Cirillo

A bright pink faux tree like this is sure to stop guests in their tracks. Each table gets their own pink foliage that's elevated enough so guests can still see and speak to one another.

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Origami Garlands

bridal shower hanging pink origami decor — Johnny Cirillo

Birds of a feather take flight in this beautiful pink origami garland. Placed above the dessert table or buffet, it makes for a lovely addition to bridal shower décor.

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Pumpkin and Pampas Grass

fall engagement party ideas billye donya 0718 — Billye Donya Photography

An unexpected duo, painted pumpkins and pampas grass make this bridal shower table simply serene.

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Oversize Lighting

top city bridal shower venues north italia — Courtesy of Fox Restaurant Concepts

When looking for a venue for a bridal shower, take a restaurant's existing décor into consideration. We love the floating orbs in this Arizona-based restaurant.

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