41 Unexpected Bridal Shower Ideas to Bookmark

By Sarah Schreiber
Updated August 18, 2020
Ava Moore

Make your ladies-only pre-wedding party one to remember.

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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's about the bride, and there's no one quite like her. Mark the special day and her bright future by planning a fête absolutely no one will forget.

Enter the following unexpected bridal shower ideas, which 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. While a bridal shower is, at its core, about the beautiful bride-to-be, a hostess should always consider her guests. Colorful accents, a thoughtful menu, and upgraded take-home treats only enhance the moment and are sure to get every attendee excited for the main event: the wedding.

While we were impressed with just about every detail from these real celebrations, we were blown away by their locations. They proved that celebrating the bride is even more fun when the festivities are held in unexpected places, like a park (for a picnic bridal shower!) or garden. 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. Click through for all of the unexpected bridal shower inspiration you never knew you needed.

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DIY Bouquets

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

Stewart Uy Photography

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

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Custom Cocktails

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

Mi Belle Photography

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

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In-Bloom Macaroons

Mango Studios
Unexpected Wedding Food Ideas Your Guests Will Love

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.

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On-Trend Invite

Kelsea Holder
Bridal Shower Invites to Inspire Your Own

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.

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Woven Fixtures

Abby Cox

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

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Celestial Theme

Jack Rodriguez

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

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

@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

Kara Miller
Tips for Honoring Deceased Loved Ones at Your Wedding

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.

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Girls' Picnic

Ava Moore

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

Penelope Photos
Love These? Check Out Welcome Bags from Real Weddings

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.

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Floral Pops

Alicia Mink Photography
How to Plan the Perfect Summer Bridal Shower

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

Jay C Winter
Creative Signs That'll Dress Up Your Wedding

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

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Balloon Arch

Ashley Kelemen

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

Lauren Renée
Discover More Creative Favors Ideas

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

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Bring the Inside Out

Ether and Smith

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

@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

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

Allison Kuhn Photography

If margaritas are the bride's absolute must-have, adorable Patron shooters make for 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

Sugar and Cloth

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

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Sitting Pretty

Arte de Vie Photography
See Head Table Ideas from Real Weddings

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.

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Subtle Blooms

Mademoiselle Fiona
Affordable Centerpieces That Still Look Elevated

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. They won't break your budget, either.

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Fringed Light Fixtures

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

Sleepy Fox Photography

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

Caroline Tran Photography
Discover Even More Bridal Shower Cakes

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!).

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Look Up

Ether and Smith

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

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Parasols