Your Guide to Creating a Fabulous Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board

Wow your guests with an un-brie-lievable spread.

Left: Katerina Kutas Photography, Preludio Noleggio,Right: MNC Photography, 23 City Blocks Catering

Updated Nov 30, 2023

Complement your bridal shower cake and decorations with an equally impressive food presentation. A bridal shower charcuterie board is not only delicious but also makes a stunning statement on your appetizer table. There's so much versatility in this bridal shower food idea. Pair your charcuterie items with your bridal shower theme, whether it's baguettes, camembert and pears for a French-inspired event or a combination of pastries and cheeses for a bridal shower brunch. There are no set rules, which means you're free to be as creative as you'd like. As the bridal shower host, don't forget to visit The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find a venue where you can display your charcuterie work of art. Not sure where to start on creating a charcuterie board for a bridal shower? Our photo inspiration, how-to-guide and shoppable accessories will have you feeling like a pro in no time.

In this story:

Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board Ideas
What to Put on a Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board
Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board Must-Haves
How to Make a Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board

Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board Ideas

Find inspiration for your wedding shower charcuterie board with these creative ideas. Mix and match your favorite elements to put together a spread that's unique to your celebration.

Traditional Charcuterie Board With Fruit and Flowers

Put together a traditional charcuterie board with aged meats, a variety of cheeses and sauces. Bright fruit and edible flowers bring festive pops of color to your board.

Italy-Inspired Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board

Find inspiration from the fresh flavors of Italy for your wedding shower charcuterie board. Plump tomatoes, cured meats, bell peppers, blackberries and kiwi provide a variety of textures and tastes.

Individual Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board Idea

Give each guest their own charcuterie board filled with meats, cheeses, condiments and crudites. This is a great option if you have guests with food allergies or dietary needs.

Grand Bridal Shower Charcuterie Display

Go all out with a full table of charcuterie goodies. Repeat your assortment throughout the table so multiple guests can help themselves at the same time. Or create a transition from savory to sweet items.

Family Style Charcuterie Boards

Family Style Bridal Shower Charcuterie Display

Arrange medium-sized charcuterie boards for each of your bridal shower tables. Provide serving utensils, tongs and small plates so guests can pass around the board and enjoy it family style.

Bridal Shower Charcuterie With Separate Sections

If you prefer to have your fruit, cheese, meat and other items in their own space, set up a station of coordinating bowls and boards. This bridal shower charcuterie board idea also allows you to add height and visual interest to your display.

What to Put on a Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board

A well-rounded charcuterie board includes a variety of flavors and textures. Along with the traditional meats and cheeses, the best charcuterie board items include fruits, vegetables, dips and edible decorative touches.

Hard and Soft Cheeses

Include several hard and soft cheeses in your bridal shower charcuterie board. Cheddar, Swiss, parmesan, gouda, Jarlsberg and Manchego are popular hard to semi-hard cheeses. Soft cheeses include brie, burrata, blue and goat cheese.

Assorted Meats

Cured meats pair beautifully with an assortment of cheeses. Salami, pepperoni, mortadella, soppressata and prosciutto are all great options.

Crackers and Bread

Whether it's round, triangle, square or rectangle, add crackers and breads in a variety of shapes to create visual appeal. Pita crackers, herb crackers, sliced baguettes and mini toasts are all tasty accompaniments to your cheese, meat and dip and jam.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables add color and textures to your wedding shower charcuterie board. Complement your meat and cheeses with olives, pickles, tomatoes, berries, grapes and dried apricots. Figs, artichoke hearts, dates, cocktail onions and pepperoncini are excellent additions as well.

Dips and Other Condiments

Jazz up your charcuterie items with dips, jams and condiments in small jars or bowls throughout your board. Options include honey, hummus, pesto, ground mustard, pepper jelly, fruit jam and ranch dip.

Extras and Decorations

Fill in the gaps of your charcuterie board with fun extras including nuts, dark chocolate and pretzels. Sprigs of fresh herbs and edible flowers add a pop of color to any board.

Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board Must-Haves

Before you begin layering on the goodies, you'll need a set of accessories including boards, cheese knives and small bowls. Here are just a few necessities for your bridal shower charcuterie board.

Bamboo Swivel Charcuterie Board

You can't have a bridal shower charcuterie board without a place to display the food itself. This bamboo swivel board has a place for your crackers and cheeses, as well as bowls for small crudité or sauces. A small drawer on the bottom holds three cheese knives.

$88 | Uncommon Goods

Cheese Knives and Serving Set

Cheese knives for bridal shower charcuterie board

This set has everything you need for your charcuterie assortment including cheese knives, spreading knives, mini tongs and wooden honey dippers. Use the blank flags to label your meats and cheeses.

$35 | Amazon

Mini Wooden Pinch Bowls

Wooden Pinch Bowls for bridal shower charcuterie board

Keep honey, jam, pesto and sauces organized in a set of mini pinch bowls. These wood bowls are also great for small items including pickles, olives and nuts.

From $3 | Etsy

Steel Cheese Harp Charcuterie Tool

Avoid crumbling your soft cheeses by cutting them with a cheese harp. This handy steel tool easily slices cleanly through delicate goat, Camembert and bleu cheeses.

$22 | Murray's Cheese

Mini Wood Charcuterie Boards

Give each guest their own charcuterie spread served on these adorable miniature boards. Personalize with the date of the shower and a unique design. The boards also double as an adorable shower favor.

From $4 | Etsy

Stainless Steel Boska Girolle Machine

Take your charcuterie presentation up a notch with a handy boska girolle machine. Made for hard or semi-hard cheeses, the machine's scraping knife creates beautiful cheese rosettes that add texture to your display.

$50 | Murray's Cheese

How to Make a Bridal Shower Charcuterie Board

Putting together a bridal shower charcuterie board isn't as complicated as it might look. Follow this easy step-by-step guide to create a board that is sure to wow your guests.

1. Choose the Correct-Sized Board

Pick out a board based on the size of your guest list. You could also spread your offerings over multiple boards, or forgo the board altogether and arrange your ingredients over a long sheet of parchment paper.

2. Pick Out Your Ingredients

Three to four types of cheese and three to four meat options works well for a medium-sized crowd. Select a variety of crackers, fruits, vegetables and condiments that pair well together and you know the to-be-wed will love.

3. Start Assembling Your Board

You'll assemble your board in steps, starting with your cheese. Place each type of cheese on your board with equal spacing in between. Next add your meats, placing one type of meat near one section of cheese and moving around the board. Fold thin meat, like prosciutto, and fan out thicker sliced meat, like salami.

4. Fill in With Sauces, Fruits and Vegetables

Next add your small bowls of dips and sauces to the board. Then start filling in the gaps with your fruits and vegetables, placing them near complementary items. For example, nestle pickles near salami, and fruit near brie.