Inspirational Bridal Shower Theme (Slideshow)

Bridal showers are all about indulging yourself and your best friends ... and sometimes, indulging means candy. Hosting a candy bar at your bridal shower is super easy and, if you do your shopping right, not too expensive! For a quirky and cute candy-themed shower, you need to gather two things: candy (duh) and décor. Decide what kind of candy bar you want to have — fruity, colorful candies like jelly beans and gummy worms, or decadent chocolate. Why not have a combination of the two? (Hey, you can throw fruit in there, too — there's nothing wrong with chocolate-covered strawberries!) Once you know the route you'd like to go, you can determine how you want to style your shower! We recommend heading to a thrift shop and scouring the vintage dishes. Mismatched plates, bowls, and jars could create the perfect homes for your treats. If you're looking to be a little more organized, you could head to a craft store (like Michael's or JoAnn Fabrics) and peruse the aisles for the perfect items to make your party pop. Bright colors like hot pinks and neon yellows are reminiscent of those neon gummy worms we all loved as children! With "candy" as the theme, the possibilities for decorating are endless.  

— Emily Gable, Equally Wed

Let's be real. Most of us have, in some way, been involved in summer camp. Maybe you only went for a weekend, or maybe just a week — or maybe you spent every summer of your childhood and teenage years away from home, tucked away in the midst of nature, discovering yourself through camping expeditions, staying up late into the night talking, and meeting some of your best friends. Summer camp, in whatever form we experienced it, holds a special meaning in our hearts. Why not rekindle that feeling with a summer camp-themed bridal shower? Actual camping doesn't need to happen (unless you and your girlfriends are feeling adventurous!), but all the fun and memorable things about camping can be just as meaningful in your own backyard! Snag a few boxes of graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. Pull out that old wooden farm table that you've been waiting for a special occasion to use. Simple decorations (like mason jars and found branches) are subtle and beautiful. Patio lights can be strung from tree to tree, providing that perfect ambiance. Spread vintage blankets on the ground and roast marshmallows with your best friends. Play camp games, like bags or lawn golf. A summer camp-themed bridal shower can be one of the most relaxing, low-key events you can enjoy in the days leading up to your wedding.

— Emily Gable, Equally Wed

There are lots of tea salons that host bridal parties. If someone wants an at-home party, they can search for vintage, mix-and-match teacups and saucers, serve finger sandwiches, and give out tea bags with customized labels as favors. At Alice's Tea Cup in Manhattan, you can also hire a tea-leaf reader for entertainment.

— Marisa LaScala Articles Editor, Westchester Magazine

If you have access to a beautiful backyard or garden, this will make decorating really easy and less expensive because they are already so beautiful with all their flowers and greenery. For the centerpieces, use teapots as vases and fill them with flowers. Set the table with pretty but mismatched china that you can collect from thrift stores. Using a gold pen, write the guest's names on teacups that double as both place cards and personalized favors. Incorporating gold birdcages with moss and flowers could add to the decor.

You'll save money on food by hosting an afternoon tea party, rather than a full dinner meal. Serve cucumber sandwiches, quiches, fruit, and other classic tea party food. Fill pretty bowls with berries and set one at every table.

Every good tea party has a plethora of pastries and sweet desserts. Petits fours, mini tarts, and French macaroons are great choices that not only taste good but look beautiful, not to mention a decadent cake, topped with a small tea cup and saucer.

Everyone could come wearing their Sunday best. You could supply the ladies with lace gloves and fascinators or mention that it is a themed event on the invitation.

L&L designed a lace invitation suite to capture the personality of this garden wedding. It is available to download for free here. Use paper doilies to make envelopes for the invitations, cupcake liners, and more; they're so pretty and super inexpensive!

Use the teacups that the guests used during the shower as favors and keepsakes of the special day.

— Meredith M. of Love & Lavender

If you have access to a beach, why not have a fun beach day. You could rent a white tent and find a great location on the beach. Decorate the tent with colorful bunting banners draped across it. You could have a few tables that would have simple, casual centerpieces of mason jars and vintage bottles filled with bright, cheerful flowers. You could even save wine bottles for an even more budget-friendly approach. You could ask everyone to bring a beach chair.

Barbecue is perfect for a summer beach bridal shower. It's casual, delicious, and it won't break the bank! Serve hamburger patties and mini buns that would be perfect along with chips.

Ice cream cones and a spread of delicious cakes and pies should be served. You could challenge your friends and family to a bake-off and have them each bring their signature baked goods. Stick little flags into each dessert with the name of baker. Then, have everyone vote on the best dessert! You could have a beach bonfire and serve s'mores. You can make cute little s'mores packets as favors by simply repackaging graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows, all of which are very inexpensive.

Provide Frisbees and volleyballs for fun and games on the beach — some of the more adventurous guests may even jump in the water! A bonfire with s'mores would end the evening perfectly.

We designed our bunting banner invitation suite with this board in mind–and to help you stay on budget, it's free!

— Meredith M. of Love & Lavender

A soothing spa environment with calming music in the background is the perfect theme for a bridal shower. A low-lit room with candles will enhance a tranquil and contemplative communion of sisters. You'll gather to a relaxing yoga practice to calm the nerves and encourage hope for the future. All of this is to create good karma. After the meditation is over, your party is invited to sample appetizers that nourish the body and soul.

— Dr. Alan Viau, editor, Canada's Wedding Chaplain Journal. He is celebrating 10 years as the most requested wedding officiant in Ottawa.

Modern patterns such as polka dots, stripes, and imperial trellis can be made into a theme in and of themselves! They're fun to mix and match and go with many different color schemes. Additionally, it's fairly easy to find decor with their designs.

Mix patterned table cloths with solid color napkins. Signage with menus and drink options can also incorporate these fun patterns, as can the invitations. A ribbon wall with different colors of ribbon strung on a piece of rope or twine and set behind the cake or buffet is a great accent to go along with this theme as well.

Party favors could include cute patterned boxes with a cupcake, or a mini manicure box complete with nail polish, nail file, and a little bottle of lotion.

— Heidi Jimenez, Zenadia Design

Relive the summer picnics that you used to have with gingham checkered table covers, bright colored candles, balloons, and baskets of bright flowers. Party favors include jams, jellies, and preserves. Invitations are gingham print. For food, think southern styled dishes with at-home crafted alcoholic or carbonated beverages, complemented with ice cream to make floats.

— Dr. Alan Viau, editor, Canada's Wedding Chaplain Journal. He is celebrating 10 years as the most requested wedding officiant in Ottawa.

Host this Southern-style fête for the preppy girl who loves pearls and monograms.

Set the Scene

Plan a luncheon in a charming outdoor space — think a terrace, backyard, or garden.

Get everyone excited with this Derby-themed invitation! Use sweet spring pastels like mint, blush, and azalea. Decorate with crepe paper medallions, a floral wreath, and pretty ivy garland balloons! Mix patterns like florals and stripes for a preppy look, incorporate pops of mint with jadeite dinnerware, and top it all off with horseshoes at every place setting. The Derby is nicknamed "Run for the Roses," so decorate with this classic bloom. Arrange pink roses in trophy vases for a festive touch.

Cue the Music

Set the mood with some catchy country tunes and songs of the South.

Games, Anyone?

Get out your gambling chips and see how well you know your bride with Bridal Betting.

Toast the Bride

With mint juleps of course! Make them pretty with striped paper straws.

Please pass the...

Serve up a menu of Vichyssoise soup shooters, shrimp salad tartines, and fruit salad.

Julep cupcakes in scalloped liners, garnished with a fresh sprig of mint, and rose cupcake toppers make a great dessert!

Parting Gifts

Give the girls monogrammed mint julep cups and "You're the Sweetest" ribbons as favors.

— Alex Merriman, editorial assistant, WeddingWire

Gather the girls together to celebrate the creative, cultured bride, who appreciates food, wine, and travel.

Set the Scene

Set up a laid back afternoon in the countryside among the company of good friends and good food with cheerful earth tones like spring green, flax, and lavender.

Create a rustic look with a wooden "eat" sign, a burlap banner, and paper artichokes displaying love quotes. Dress up a farm table with a fresh green table runner and terra cotta place card holders. Keep the place settings simple and top each with a little bundle of herbs tied with bakers twine. Fill galvanized French flower market buckets with pretty purple wildflowers like lilacs, hyacinths, or delphinium. You can also get festive by arranging colorful produce in porcelain berry baskets!

Cue the Music

Set the mood with a blend of lighthearted, indie acoustic tracks.

Toast the Bride

With fresh blackberry sangria in pretty purple glasses.

Please pass the...

Serve up creative dishes made with seasonal produce! We like arugula salad with beets and goat cheese, spring vegetable flatbread, and chilled zucchini pasta with

homemade pesto. A naked cake topped with berries makes a perfect dessert!

Parting Gifts

Give the girls pretty, reusable farmers market bags and homemade gourmet treats like herbed salt or infused olive oil.

— Alex Merriman, editorial assistant, WeddingWire

Throw this bash for the fashion-forward, cosmopolitan girl who's always rocking bright lipstick and high heels.

Set the Scene

Go punchy and bold with fuchsia, coral, and gold colors. Add glitz to a chic, contemporary setting like a trendy restaurant or a modern loft. Dress up your space with a fringe "Bride" banner, two-toned paper diamonds, and a tissue tassel garland.

Channel modern glamour with gold charger plates, graphic print linens, and fun acrylic accents. Arrange big, bright peonies in gold cube vases for centerpieces.

Cue the Music

Set a celebratory tone with energetic, upbeat pop songs.

Games, anyone?

Get the party going with a "What's in Your Purse?" scavenger hunt.

Please pass the...

Enjoy a light lunch of frisée salad with ginger dressing and California rolls. Dust white meringue kisses with edible glitter for a glam dessert!

Toast the Bride

With blood orange margaritas on pink and orange cocktail napkins!

Parting Gifts

— Alex Merriman, editorial assistant, WeddingWire