Wedding season is right around the corner and if you’ve been picked as the maid of honor there’s a good chance you have a bridal shower to plan. Of course, the bridal shower isn’t always assigned to the maid of honor, but can also be hosted by other friends, family members or even another bridesmaid . No matter who you are, there’s a good chance you’ll want to throw an amazing bash for your loved one even if you’re budget isn’t where your heart is. Have no fear though as there’s many ways to cut back on the initial cost of a bridal shower. With a few pinches here and there you’ll be able to show the bride in your life just how much she’s loved by those around her. By following these ten tips you’ll be ready to get your ideas off the paper and into the preparation stage!
1. Host at Home
One of the biggest expenditures when it comes to hosting any part is where you’re actually going to hold the event. A lot of people will rent out buildings or ask for a party room in a restaurant which could cost you a small fortune. Another option is to buy a permit to have the party in a park, which also means you’re out money you could be spending elsewhere. Rather than going to extra lengths try to host the party at home. If the weather is nice you can provide a more spacious area in the yard, or in a common recreation area if you live in an apartment. If the weather’s cold then move around furniture to accommodate the guests. It will only be for a short while, so it shouldn’t be a big inconvenience. If you can’t find space in your home then ask a friend, family member or even the bride if you can host it in their home. You may be surprised as to how many people will gladly open up their home to you.
2. Invitations
Invitations are a pretty important element when it comes to planning a bridal shower. However, this doesn’t mean half of your budget should be dedicated to a piece of paper that’s only going to be looked at a few times. Rather than sending out paper invitations you may want to consider an e-vite instead. There’s a lot of websites dedicated to making these fun electronic cards and many of them offer them for absolutely free. Of course, with some sites you may have to pay a small fee, but it won’t compare to anything you’d pay when you go the paper route. If you’re not feeling fancy then jump on the technological bandwagon and use your social media page to create an event and invite people to it. You may have to call or invite some people by mail, but the mass of the guest lists will get the invite without a problem and can even RSVP right on the page. Of course, if you really love the old fashioned vibe of the invitations then try make your own. You can use cheap crafting supplies to create an invitation that suites the bride perfectly. You could also find a printable invitation online and use these to take care of the invitation dilemma. If you do choose to buy professional invitations then make sure to look at bulk websites so you can get the best possible deal.
3. Skip the Theme
There’s usually a lot of pressure for the host to choose a theme for a bridal shower. It can be fun to work around a theme, especially if it means a lot to the bride. Themes aren’t the greatest way to cut back on cost though. Between buying special decorations to suit the theme and ordering plates and other must have party items that depict the theme, you’re going to end up spending a lot more money on items then you should. So, instead of coming up with a theme and throwing money into it, try to stick with a set of colors. To give it a more personal touch you may want to work with the bride’s wedding colors. This will make buying accessories easier and cheaper while still making the party look like a million bucks. By doing this you’ll knock money off the cost of plates, napkins, bags, streamers and other items you need for the party. It’ll also allow you to think out of the box with décor and won’t leave you confined in your choices which often leads to buying more expensive items.
4. Craft Party Favors
If you plan on passing out party favors then it may save you a whole lot of money to just craft them yourself. You can choose the items based on things you like to make, which can make the whole thing a lot of fun. One very popular bridal shower party favor is customized soap. You can find soap kits for incredibly cheap at just about any health or craft store, which will start you out on the right track. If you’re experienced with the craft then add whatever scents you like to it. You may even want to mold them into little brides and grooms or other wedding inspired shapes. Another popular gift is candles which can also easily be made with cheap kits. You can add the candles to mason jars or decorate them with adorable bride and groom tags! Of course, there’s many other ideas online so get creative!
5. Games
When it comes to parties, nothing keeps your guest entertained quite like games. This doesn’t mean you have to go out and spend a fortune on board games or bride inspired games though. There’s a lot of bridal games you can use that won’t cost you a lot of money. Some may even be accomplished simply by using supplies from your own home. When it comes to games you can use your imagination to come up with something fun, or you can browse the web or asks others for ideas. Some cultures have traditional games they play while many just wing it! One cheap and easy game is the toilet paper wedding dress. This only requires toilet paper and you can save by buying the cheap stuff! Simply ask guests to pair up and one will create a spectacular toilet paper wedding gown on the other. They can switch places afterwards. Another fun game, mostly aimed at the bride, is to set out ingredients for a cake and have the bride try to make it from scratch. If it works out well you’ve got extra food, if not then at least you got to share a laugh! You can also create trivia or true and false games using facts on the bride and groom. There’s a lot of other fun ideas online so start browsing early!
6. Wedding Prep
If your bridal shower is going to be closer to the wedding then try to use the time to get some wedding prep done. This is a great way to help get some of the massive amounts of prep work finished, while also keeping the guests entertained. You can easily set up a craft area for everyone to sit and chat as they create tiny bags and fill them with birdseeds, construct center pieces or even simply work on name tags for the seating chart. There’s probably a million different things that need to be done and this is one way to get them out of the way so you can concentrate on more important things. It might be hard to pull off the wedding prep if you’re having a larger party, so you may have to do some extra planning to make it work. However, setting up stations for the party is one way to help everyone mingle with different groups while also allowing people to do more while they’re at the party.
7. Potluck
Food can be pricey, especially if you’re looking to feed a lot of people over a few hours’ time. Rather than bearing all of the burden of providing the food, ask your guests to bring something along with them. When they RSVP they can sign up to bring something off of your list or you can give them free reign. This will allow you to feed everyone without sinking a lot more money into the party and it will allow anyone close to the bride to feel like they had a part in the planning of the party. If you want to spice things up then add a theme to the meal. You can ask people to bring foods that remind them of the bride, or you can even ask the bride to offer suggestions.
8. Share Stories/Advice
When everyone is tired from an afternoon of games and wedding prep have the guests sit down and relax together. During this quiet time you can all share stories about how you met the bride or special memories the two of you may share. Everyone can also offer up advice for her new married life which may be more precious than the gifts she receives. With such a broad spectrum of advice, the bride will be thankful that you planned out such an incredible time which will prepare her for the upcoming years. If everyone is having trouble coming up with something to talk about you can always write down topics on pieces of paper and have everyone draw one out. This will help break the ice and spark some amazing conversations. Of course, you could always ask the bride if she has any questions too, which is another great way to get the conversation rolling.
9. Keep It Small
You don’t have to invite everyone on the bride’s wedding guests list to the bridal shower. In fact, if you’re wanting to save on cash this should be the last thing on your mind. Instead, keep your invitation list small. Try to make sure close family and friends are on the list as well as all of the bridesmaids and some of the groom’s close family. This will help cut down on the amount of people you need to feed and entertain, which will certainly make your budget a whole lot happier. With fewer people at the party it will feel closer knit which can make the party cozier and easier to manage.
10. DIY Decorations
Decorations shouldn’t leave you hurting for money after the bridal shower. Instead, come up with your own décor items to keep your budget low. One great way to spruce up the party is to use white holiday lights. These will light up the room and bring attention to the glamour of the bride. You may also want to collect photos of the bride and groom throughout the years to place around the home. This will make the party décor much more personal which will make the bride feel incredible that you spent the time on her. Banners are another great way to customize your party without having to spend a lot. You can make one easily out of poster boards or rolled paper. This is where you can show off your creativity too! If you have your own garden then you may want to cut some flowers to add to the mix too! The more items you find for decorations at home the better off your budget and shower will be!
Planning a bridal shower should be more fun than stress so don’t let a tight budget get in your way of having a good time. With these ten tips you should knock out a lot of the expenditures which will allow you to enjoy your planning and enjoy the special time with the bride even more. With such a successful party, you’ll feel great about sending your bride into married life!
