38 Bridal Shower Themes for Modern Couples

The bridal shower is a celebration of the bride-to-be that welcomes both family and friends to the party. Traditionally it's been a girls-only event, but many modern couples are opting to plan a joint couple's shower. Of course, you're welcome to extend a bridal shower invitation to anyone you'd like to celebrate your upcoming wedding.

One of the first steps of planning a bridal or couple's shower is choosing your party’s theme. There’s no end to theme opportunities, and you can plan any activity or decor you like. (Just keep in mind that this isn’t the bachelorette party and that your grandmother may be there, so keep things PG.)

From tea time to beach bash, check out all 38 bridal shower theme ideas below.

Elegant Bridal Shower Themes

An elegant bridal shower is perfect for the classic couple who wants to celebrate with a beautiful and traditional party. The entertainment is food, conversation, and maybe some light party games, and the decor is chic and simple. If you’re interested in an elegant celebration, browse these bridal shower themes below:

1. Garden Gala

Start with a beautiful venue and host a garden party as everything’s beautiful and blooming. Light snacks, cocktails, and some fun games are all you need to make this party a hit. Nothing is simpler or more classy than a garden party.

2. Minimalist Mixer

Minimalism is super trendy and a great way to gather reusable decorations. When it comes to bridal shower decorations, less is more! Choose small centerpieces like lanterns and succulents, and place signs with simple calligraphy on a plain or acrylic background. A beautiful venue will carry most of the weight for a minimalist party.

3. Party in Paris

Ah, Paris—it’s everything classic romance and makes for a sophisticated party theme. French stripes, signs in French, and Eiffel Tower statuettes are easy, go-to decor. And, of course, what's a French shower without French food. Plenty of pastries, macarons, and a charcuterie board are delicious snacks that will elevate the party—and don’t forget wine to pair!

4. Vintage Soiree

Throw a party ‘70s style, or with whichever decade aesthetics you prefer. This is a perfect bridal shower theme for repurposing old furniture and decor. Collect vintage and intricate frames, as well as funky bottles and fabrics for tables and tapestries. Have your guests dress for the decade as inspiration to really throw it back.

5. Glitz and Glamor

Plan a more sophisticated evening party with glittered cocktail attire and hors d’oeuvres. Host a wine tasting as entertainment and decorate with a simple floral arrangement, candles, anything that sparkles, and a few gold accents for a glam party with your friends.

Adventurous Couple’s Shower Themes

If you’re looking for unique bridal shower themes, engaging games, and an energizing party atmosphere, then these adventurous themes are for you. These bridal shower themes are great for representing you as a couple and celebrating the things you love most:

6. Boho Bash

Bohemian themes and decor are perfect for the casual couple. The best part of a boho bash is that there are plenty of opportunities to use thrifted and repurposed decor, so you can save some money and stay eco-friendly. Grab some decorative frames for signs, boho pillows for seating, and plenty of wildflowers for a flower crown and the centerpieces.

7. Happily Ever After

What’s better than a fairytale party for your happily ever after? Greenery, fairy lights, books, and some nods to your favorite fairytale stories will bring this theme to life. You can go with a bridal shower theme around the master of happily ever after—Disney. Choose your favorite Disney stories and characters and get creative—set each table with a different centerpiece theme, or dive in with a costume party and dress as your favorite Disney couple.

8. Travel-Themed Bridal Shower

Celebrate life’s big adventure with a trip around the world themed shower. Luggage, globes, and maps are all great decor pieces that are easy to find and use. Serve international favorites with their national flags, and include global monuments in your decor—like the Sphinx, Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, or the Taj Mahal.

9. Mexican Food and Fun

If the bride is a Mexican cuisine enthusiast, then a Mexican-themed fiesta could be the perfect option for a bridal shower. Create a build-your-own taco bar and pair the food with refreshing margaritas (frozen or one the rocks—bride’s choice!).

10. Drama and Dancing

Dress up and get to dancing! Have everyone dress their best and decorate with rich jewel tones and dramatic lighting. The most important part is the perfect playlist everyone will enjoy, so take suggestions from your guests leading up to the party. Prepare fun cocktails and plenty of snacks, and you’re ready to go.

11. Under the Sea

If you’re all-in on the mermaid aesthetic, this may be the theme for you. Cool color palettes and some iridescent or silver metallics are your theme’s core. Gather seashells, glass pieces, and simple greenery arrangements for centerpieces. This is a great chance to repurpose wine bottles as candlestick holders with sand and shells inside—then let guests take home the marine-themed decor as bridal party favors.

Fun Bridal Shower Themes

12. Karaoke Lounge

Take a break from wedding planning and plan a karaoke party at home or out at a lounge — either way, you’re sure to have a good time. Prepare challenges with your favorite songs in a draw bag, or choose a genre to build your theme around. Push the theme further and ask your guests to come dressed as their favorite artists and perform to a music video.

13. Ice Cream Party

When there's ice cream, there is always fun in store! Hire an ice cream truck to come to your event. You could also take it a step further and do a full ice cream sundae bar. Get several flavors of ice cream, and splurge on toppings—sprinkles, syrups, and more. Don't forget the cones or waffle bowls to enhance the event.

14. Game Night

Game night is perfect for a night in with your friends, and everyone will warm up to each other quickly. Bring your favorite games and snacks, and get the party started. Decorate using Jenga pieces as a guest book for your friends and family to sign, and candy dice to top cupcakes. Or take it outside and play lawn games.

15. Nautical

If you (and the engaged couple!) love being on the water, consider using a nautical bridal shower theme. Host your event by the sea, on the beach, or on a boat for added cohesion. However, it's also perfectly acceptable to have a blue and white palette and maritime touches for a land-centric party.

16. Candy Crush

Celebrate your engagement to your crush with candy! Sweet, delicious, and super aesthetically pleasing, candy is an affordable and easy way to cover decor and favors for your guests. Arrange gumball bowls, giant lollipops, and macaron towers as centerpieces, and serve colorful and bubbly drinks for a great summer fun party theme. Not a fan of candy? Have homemade pastel color treats instead.

Laidback Wedding Shower Themes

These laidback shower themes are for the casual couple looking to host a great party all of their friends and family can enjoy. Find 10 bridal shower themes and trending party ideas that are all about you and your guests, instead of heavily themed decor and entertainment:

17. Pajama Party

For the ultimate laid back event, invite guests to dress in their pjs. Host an evening event that goes late into the night, or have a morning brunch. The sky's the limit for this casual, fun event. It's also an ideal theme if you're hosting a lingerie shower where the bride can also give her attendants their wedding day robes at the event.

18. Fruit Fest

Fruit themes are fresh and fun and bring a bright tropical vibe without the need for grass skirts. Vibrant fruit arrangements are great centerpieces by themselves, but some flowers and decorative trays wouldn’t hurt. Don’t forget the fruit cocktails, coconuts, and novelty straws — this party is all about the drinks.

19. Sock Hop

Go back to the ‘50s with a fun sock hop themed party. Bring circle skirts and polka dots back for a night, and prepare a rocking playlist that will have everyone dancing. Retro signs and glass Coke bottles make for fun decor, and malt milkshakes are the perfect dessert.

20. Wine Tastings

Schedule a wine tasting for your wedding shower. Not only is this perfect for a co-ed event, but you can organize it in various ways. Hire a limo and go from winery to winery doing several tastings. Or you can head to a winery with a vineyard on site and spend a few hours walking through the vines and sampling. Either way, a DD is vital, so put that on your list.

21. Brunch and Bubbly

The bridal brunch is simple and welcoming to all of your guests, and gives plenty of opportunity for the couple’s family and friends to get to know each other. The menu is full of brunch favorites, like waffles and scones—and, of course, you stock the bar with champagne, juice, and other mimosa bar staples. Light floral arrangements and simple table settings are all you need to host a nice brunch.

Unique Bridal Shower Themes

Some themes just don’t fit in a box. If you’re still looking for the perfect party idea, try one of these creative and trendy bridal shower theme ideas:

22. Breakfast at Tiffany’s

What’s more glamorous and classic than Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Decorate with Tiffany blue, or even get some Tiffany’s gift boxes and candles as centerpieces. Channel your inner Holly Golightly with a little black dress, and gift pearls and sunglasses as themed favors to your guests.

23. Bold and Bright

Fill your party with bright colors and bold decor to bring a ton of energy and fun to your party. Choose a handful of your favorite colors, or cover everything in rainbows. Either way, you’re setting yourself up for plenty of photo-ops and unlimited possibilities.

24. Classic Hollywood Chic

You can still have a glam party in the winter with a throwback to the silver screen. Decorate with jewel tones and gold accents, and centerpieces of pearls and ostrich feathers. Roll out the red carpet to a photobooth with props of faux-fur boas, beads, and other vintage accessories and a vintage-inspired photo backdrop.

25. Potter Party

Invite all of your witch and wizard friends to celebrate with butterbeer and chocolate frogs. You can find recipes for all of your favorite magic treats and gift DIY wands and house badges to your friends. Marathon the movies, host a trivia game or play a quick Quidditch match. There’s plenty of Hogwarts fun for everyone.

26. Blue and White

If you're in touch with decor trends, you've probably seen blue and white palettes everywhere. It's a classic! So, why not include it in a wedding shower? Scour thrift shops and antique stores for blue and white elements like dishes, vases, and more. Some can even be gifted to the bride-to-be. The added touch of decorative cookies brings an element of sophistication to the event.

27. Retro

To have a retro bridal shower, pick an era and go all out. You can mock the Roaring 20's or go with the hippie vibe of the 1970s. It's all up to you. Use Pinterest to search for inspiration for the various decades, and take cues from color palettes, fashions, and photo styling for your own era-inspired bridal shower.

Bridal Shower Themes for Fall

28. Backyard Bonfire

The best way to relax with your favorite people is around a bonfire with s’mores, tunes, and drinks. Make sure you have plenty of seating and snacks, and this party is good to go. If you want to build decor, collect old tins and trays to display the snacks and place lanterns and string lights around the party to add to the vibe.

29. Rustic and Cozy

Rustic-themed showers are having a moment. Whether you go with rustic farmhouse BBQ (think DIY mason jar flower arrangements, gingham linens and napkins, and homemade sweet tea), or a more comfy, cozy cabin vibe (think enjoying hot cocoa in pajamas in front of the fire while you play bridal shower games), this bridal shower theme is sure to appeal to brides that are more country than city.

Bridal Shower Themes for Winter

30. Trim the Tree

Invite your guests to help you trim your holiday tree with DIY ornaments. Collect some craft instructions for your guests and gather supplies to create keepsake ornaments for you and your partner. Cookies and eggnog are sure to get everyone in the festive spirit. (You could even have guests wrap bridal shower gifts in holiday paper!)

31. Winter Wonderland

Snow and ice are nature’s glitter, so embrace the sparkle and celebrate a winter wonderland. Glitter centerpieces and warmth from candlelight are sure to set the mood. Pinecones and frosted evergreens are great for adding texture and colors, too.

32. Flannel and Frost

Decorate your party with evergreens, flannel fabrics, and lanterns for a warm and inviting atmosphere for everyone. Cider drinks and spiced cookies are the perfect treats, and your guests will love playing group games and mingling.

Bridal Shower Themes for Spring

33. Lovely in Lemon

Fruit themes are hugely popular, and lemons may just top that list. They’re bright, refreshing, and so fun for a party. Decorate with yellow and white flowers with plenty of greenery, and of course lemons themselves. Host a lemonade and iced tea bar with a variety of flavors — lemon cupcakes and cookies are a must (and make for great take-home party favors!).

34. Tea Party Time

Tea parties are a bridal shower classic and a great way to include everyone on your guest list. Rent or thrift adorable teaware, then gather some fresh flower bouquets for your tables, and voila—your decor is pretty much finished! Simple and sweet pastries and a collection of teas to sample is all the entertainment you need with good company at your wedding shower. (You could even send home personalized tea bags as bridal shower favors!)

35. Gives Me Butterflies

The bride-to-be is in love, so focus on the feeling. Throw a butterfly themed bridal shower at a butterly garden or botanical center. Release butterflies and have lovely, themed details, such as butterfly nets and vintage prints featuring the flying insects. It's perfect for spring!

Bridal Shower Themes for Summer

36. Fair Food

Everyone loves the fair, and even if you’re not into rides, how can you say no to fair food? The carnival aesthetic is a lot of fun to play with — saturated colors and novelty lights can take you a long way, and a Ferris wheel statue would be great. Of course, the centerpiece of this theme is the food! Rent decorative machines if you can, and serve caramel corn, corn dogs, and more. For an added splash, serve drinks topped with cotton candy.

37. Beach Bash

Beach themes are a bridal shower favorite. Subtle colors, seashells, and elegant candles can really elevate this theme if you’re looking for something more sophisticated or romantic. Of course, you can always plan a beach party with a pool, fun shades, and plenty of games.

38. Tropical Luau

A tropical bridal shower is the perfect way to bring fun, sun, and the tropics to your party. Plan a party by the pool with fruity drinks, beach decor, and fun inflatables that double as photo props. Pool parties are great for large guest lists and as a theme for a couple’s shower.

Whether you’re hosting a throwback bash or a comfortable night in, your guests will be happy to receive their invites, so choose the bridal shower theme that suits you best. Once you have your theme and decor ideas, the fun (and the countdown to the big day can really begin! So get to planning, add some fun printable games or activities, and enjoy your perfect party.