What is a Bridal Shower? The Ultimate Guide To Planning in New Zealand
Are you finding bridal shower ideas and all the planning overwhelming? We’ve created the ultimate bridal shower guide that will inspire your entire event and all the details to turn your bridal shower in New Zealand into a joyful riot – but with no fighting.
Instead of watching the bride opening gifts, we’ve got the best bridal shower ideas, like Pinot & Picasso, and games that will make the event a fun experience that will melt your stress away.
What is a bridal shower?
Picture this: it’s like a pre-wedding soirée where the bride gets to kick back, relax, and bask in the love and attention of her closest pals before saying “I do”. Think of it as the ultimate girls’ day out with the bride’s closest friends and family members.
Hen Party vs. Bridal Shower: Spot the Difference
Alright, let’s clear this up right off the bat. While a hen party might involve some wild antics and feather boas, a bridal shower is all about celebrating the bride in a more relaxed, intimate setting. It’s like comparing Taylor Swift’s eras; think of a bridal shower as more ‘Folklore’ or ‘Fearless’ vibes and a hens party as ‘1989’ or ‘Reputation’ mood—both epic, just different vibes, you know?
A bridal shower party is often hosted during the day, either in the morning or afternoon. A hens party can be a full day event or even a whole weekend filled with activities.
Bridal Shower Theme Ideas
Now, here’s where the fun really begins. Who says bridal showers have to be all tea and scones? Spice things up with a killer bridal shower theme that reflects the bride’s personality. From floral fantasies to movie magic and everything in between, the sky’s the limit.
Why would you want a themed bridal shower? You get to be more creative with the bridal shower decorations, and you get to craft an event that shows just how well you know the bride to be! Now while bridal shower planning can be tricky and sometimes overwhelming, here are some popular bridal shower theme ideas:
Floral
Bring the garden party indoors with a bloomin’ beautiful floral theme. You could even host a flower crowns workshop at the bridal shower or create your own bouquets. To be even more simple, you can just have fresh blooms surrounding the space.
Relaxed Vibe
Keep it chill with a laid-back vibe. Even if it’s just hosted at someone’s home, you can still make the event special with inviting the bride’s close friends and family. Something that is laid-back? The beach. Have your bridal shower decorations reflect beachy vibes with sunglasses and Aperol Spritzes.
Bride’s Favourite Year/Movies/Theme Dress Up
Whether she’s obsessed with ’80s classics or Barbie, let the bride’s fave decade or movie take centre stage. This bridal shower theme allows everyone to get creative with costumes, decorations and even the food & drinks menu. So get ready to roll out that red carpet.
Favourite Colour
Bridal shower themes can be as simple as have a colour scheme. Use the bride’s favourite colour to inspire your dress code and party decor for the bridal shower. You could even play on the wedding and have the bride dress in white and all the guests dress in one colour like black.
Fancy Dress Code
Any theme will do! From Disney to dressing as the bride to be herself, you can make the bridal shower all that more fun with a flare of fancy dress.
Bridal Shower Food Ideas
No party is complete without some delicious grub to fuel the festivities. From mouthwatering desserts to savoury bites, it’s important to ensure you’ve got a spread that everyone will enjoy. Don’t forget to make the table settings look Pinterest-worthy – apart from the bride, the food might be the most captured scene of the bridal shower.
Fresh Fruit & Dessert Table
Keep it sweet and refreshing with a spread that’s as pretty as it is delicious. Just a few food ideas you could have on this tasty table could be chocolate-covered strawberries, cherries, macarons and cupcakes. Are you drooling yet? Cause we are just thinking about it.
Local Bakery
Support your local bakers and treat the party to some scrumptious goodies like cinnamon scrolls, chocolate croissants or even fresh bread for finger sandwiches.
Private Chef
If you want the bridal shower food to be the talk of the party, you can hire a private chef to cater for the event. This ensures you can make sure all dietary requirements are not your responsibility!
Doughnut Bar
Add to your to do list to add some delicious doughnuts to your bridal shower. Let guests decorate their own doughnut or look into a local caterer who specialises in the doughy goodness.
Custom Cookies
A special touch for bridal shower food is custom cookies. Have these as bridal shower favors to serve when guests arrive.
Best Bridal Shower Ideas in New Zealand
Sure, you could host your bridal shower at home, but why not take the party on the road? New Zealand is chock-full of amazing experiences that will make your bridal shower party that much more memorable. We’ve got 10 best bridal shower ideas in New Zealand that cater to any type of bride.
Sip and Paint Class
Pinot & Picasso is the ultimate sip and paint experience with studios across New Zealand. You can book the studio out for your own private bridal shower or join a morning class with your bridal shower guests. With guidance from local artists, you’ll transform a blank canvas to a colourful masterpiece that you can all keep as a memorable keepsake of the day – we know the artwork will look lovely in your home!
Just bring your favourite BYO drinks, fun party decorations and get ready to unleash your inner Picasso!
Cocktail Making
Shake things up with a mixology class that’s sure to get the party started. This bridal shower idea will have you learning how to make your favourite cocktails surrounded by friends. Not only will you learn new things at a cocktail bar, you’ll also get to enjoy sipping on your creations too.
Dance Class
Bridal showers ideas can get your heart pumping in different ways. Bust a move and learn some killer dance moves that’ll have everyone shaking their groove thang. From hip hop to jazz or even pole dancing, a dance class will sure to spice up the bridal shower.
Makeup class
Master the art of glam with a makeup class that’ll have you looking like a million bucks. This bridal shower idea will be great practice before the wedding day for the bridal party too!
Wellness Day at New Zealand Hot Springs or Spa
Who could say no to some pampering? Move over sheet masks and essential oils. Bridal shower ideas like a massage or pamper day will be just what the bride and her bridesmaids will love. Relax, rejuvenate, and soak away your worries at a luxurious hot spring or spa in New Zealand.
New Zealand Wine Tasting
Cheers to the bride-to-be with a wine tasting tour through New Zealand’s finest vineyards. From white wine to fine drops of red, enjoy sipping on the best wine New Zealand has to offer with this bridal shower idea.
Cooking class
Whip up some culinary delights with a cooking class that’ll have you feeling like a top chef. Choose the bride’s favourite cuisine or her guilty pleasure like a chocolate-making class.
New Zealand Boat Trip
Set sail on the high seas and enjoy breathtaking views of New Zealand’s stunning coastline. Bridal shower ideas like this will showcase the very best of New Zealand and make you fall in love with the country all over again.
New Zealand Adventure
Bridal shower ideas that aren’t for everybody? From bungee jumping to skydiving, take your bridal shower to new heights with an adrenaline-fuelled adventure in New Zealand.
Pool Party
If your bridal shower is in the summer, make a splash with a poolside bash that’s equal parts chic and fun.
Bridal Shower Games
No bridal shower is complete without a few party games to get the bridal shower started. Here are some crowd-pleasers guaranteed to keep the good times rolling:
This or That Game
Get to know the bride (and her guests) with a fun game of choices. See who knows the bride best with fun questions like would she rather to go out or stay, drink coffee or tea? You can keep it PG or add some rowdy questions in there.
Mr & Mrs
Put the bride to the test with a trivia game all about her love story. See whether she remembers who planned the first date, or where they met or who takes the longest to get ready. With fun games like this, be sure to cross-check the answers with the groom before the game!
Favourite Memory
Get the guests to share their favourite memories with the bride and reminisce about the good ol’ days. From embarrassing childhood stories to recent memories, it’s bound to have the bridal shower laughing and maybe even crying.
New, Blue & Borrowed Scavenger Hunt
Send the bride and guests on a hunt for items that represent her past, present, and future.
FAQs
Do you give gifts at a bridal shower?
Gift-giving at a bridal shower is a longstanding tradition. Guests typically bring gifts that help the bride to prepare for married life. These gifts can range from practical household items to sentimental keepsakes. It’s a chance for friends and family to show their love and support before the big day.
Who hosts a bridal shower?
For a traditional celebration like a bridal shower, the maid of honour or bridal party take the lead in organising and hosting the bridal shower.
However, it’s not uncommon for close friends or a family member, such as the bride’s mother or sister, to also host or co-host the event. The key is to ensure that whoever hosts the shower understands the bride’s preferences and personality to plan a celebration that reflects her style, from bridal shower ideas to party games.
What should you wear to a bridal shower if there’s no theme?
When there’s no specific theme for the bridal shower, the attire can vary depending on the venue and the vibe of the event. Generally, guests opt for semi-formal or smart casual attire. This could mean a cute sundress, a nice blouse paired with pants or a skirt, or even a casual chic jumpsuit.
The goal is to look polished and put-together while still feeling comfortable enough to mingle and celebrate the wedding shower.
How to plan a bridal shower on a low budget?
Throwing a memorable bridal shower doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some budget-friendly tips:
- Choose a budget-friendly venue, such as someone’s home or a public park.
- Get creative with decorations by DIY-ing centrepieces and using inexpensive materials like balloons and streamers.
- Plan a potluck-style meal where each guest brings a dish to share.
- Opt for digital invitations instead of printed ones to save on costs.
- Consider DIY-ing bridal shower favors or opting for budget-friendly options like homemade cookies or small succulents.
- Look for deals and discounts when purchasing party supplies and decorations.
- Keep the guest list small to minimise expenses.
Remember, it’s the thought and effort that counts, not the price tag!
How long should a bridal shower last?
The duration of a bridal shower can vary depending on the preferences of the host and the bride. Typically, a bridal shower lasts anywhere from two to four hours. This allows enough time for guests to mingle, enjoy food and drinks, play games or participate in activities, and celebrate the bride.
However, there’s no hard and fast rule, so feel free to adjust the duration based on what works best for the guest of honour and the guest list.
