I recently co-hosted a bridal shower for my best friend Lauren in Chicago. It was my second time helping plan a shower, but the first time I took the lead, and I learned a lot. Even though I run a party blog, planning an entire event still feels intimidating at first. Pulling together venue, food, decor and details — especially when most of it is DIY — takes time and focus. This time, however, I managed to stay calm and actually enjoy the process. Below are the practical tips that kept the planning organized and enjoyable, and that helped us throw a stylish, thoughtful bridal shower without losing our minds.
Tip #1: Delegate
Let go of the urge to do everything yourself. Bridal showers often involve co-hosts who live in different cities or who have different budgets and tastes, so sharing responsibilities keeps planning manageable. For our shower we agreed on a color palette—coral and orange—and then divided tasks:
- Venue – I handled the online search; Maria and the bride’s parents did in-person scouting.
- Food & Drink – I coordinated the menu while an aunt brought dessert.
- Paper Goods – We worked with a designer for printable stationery files and printed locally.
- Decor – We kept most decor simple and hired florals to elevate the tables.
- Games – A co-host organized the activities.
- Gifts – The invitation included guidance on the type of gift to bring.
Tip #2: Be Specific When Choosing a Venue
If you can host at a friend or family member’s home, that simplifies things. If not, choose a venue that already aligns with your vision. We wanted a clean, modern setting and pizza, so searching terms like “modern Italian restaurant” led us to an ideal spot. Using keywords such as modern, rustic, industrial or organic helps narrow options and avoids places that would clash with your decor or theme.
Tip #3: Choose Affordable, Custom-Looking Paper Goods
Custom stationery can be expensive, so consider purchasing editable or printable designs from an independent designer. We bought a custom printable and printed the files at a local office supply store on heavy cardstock. To make DIY invitations feel high-end, use the thickest paper your printer handles—110 lb. cotton stock looks professional—and add thoughtful touches like coordinating envelopes and homemade liners. This approach gives a custom look without the full stationer price tag.
Tip #4: Collaborate and Bring in Experts Where It Counts
DIY everything can quickly become overwhelming. Focus your energy on a few meaningful elements and hire professionals for the rest. For our shower we prioritized place settings and centerpieces and relied on the venue’s simple backdrop for the rest. Highlights included:
- Place Cards: Oranges served as place settings and paper leaves made for charming name cards pinned to each fruit.
- Place Mats: Coordinating wrapping paper was trimmed into placemats for an instant, on-theme look.
- Favors: Sets of coordinated coasters doubled as favors and table decor.
- Tableware: We used the restaurant’s plates and glassware to save money and keep things cohesive.
- Florals: Professional florists created modern arrangements in white vessels, tying together corals, pinks and oranges for a polished result.
- Balloons: Large white balloons weighted with fruit made an impactful, budget-friendly statement.
Tip #5: Plan Games with the Bride’s Comfort in Mind
Not every bride wants to be the center of attention. Choose activities that are fun without putting the bride on the spot. We played two low-pressure games:
- “They Were HOW Old!?” — Guests guessed ages from a set of numbered photos of the couple, filling in answers on pre-made game boards.
- Trivia — Teams answered predetermined questions about the couple, so the bride wasn’t required to improvise answers in front of everyone.
Both games engaged guests and felt lighthearted. Small prizes like notepads worked perfectly as rewards.
Tip #6: Get Creative with Gift Ideas
When guests are scattered across cities, coordinating gifts can be tricky. We asked guests to ship larger items to the bride’s home but still wanted her to have something to open at the shower. On the invitation we suggested that anyone who wished could bring a vintage dessert plate to start the bride’s collection. Guests sourced plates from thrift stores, personal collections, and antique shops, creating a unique, meaningful assortment. This idea became a treasured keepsake and a fun conversation piece at the shower.
All photos by Studio DIY
Keeping the plan focused, delegating, and bringing in professionals where it mattered made this shower manageable and memorable. Letting others help allowed us to celebrate together without stress. Have you hosted a bridal shower? What tips helped you keep planning simple and fun?