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Updated May 15, 2024The 2024 Bridal Shower Trends to Know If You're on Host Duty
Celebrate the bride-to-be with these new ideas.
Photos: A Guy + A Girl Photography, Madeleine Collins Photography, Jordan Maunder Photography, Corbin Gurkin Photography, Design by Tiana Crispino
It's hard to go wrong with a party full of cake, cocktails, your favorite people and wedding presents, but planning a bridal shower is no easy feat. If Instagram and TikTok are any indication, wedding showers these days aren't your typical bash, so if you're on hostess duty and wondering where to start, the top bridal shower trends of 2024 will give you plenty of ideas. Whether you're a maid of honor or bridesmaid in the process of planning the party, or you're the one getting married and looking for hints to send to your crew, here are our predictions for the latest bridal shower trends in 2024.
2024 Bridal Shower Trends
Ready to start planning? Get inspired with these bridal shower ideas to recreate for your own party, no matter the theme or budget.
- 1. Garden Parties
- 2. Arts and Crafts Activities
- 3. Bows and Ribbon Details
- 4. Bright Bridal Shower Color Schemes
- 5. Bespoke Cocktails and Mocktails
- 6. Y2K Bridal Shower Theme
- 7. Over-the-Top Bridal Shower Decorations
1. Garden Parties
This classic bridal shower theme never goes out of style, and it's one of the top bridal shower themes for 2024. An English garden party theme is a perfect pick if the bride loves pastel colors, flowers and, of course, tea (but it doesn't hurt to add a few bottles of bubbly too). Depending on the bride-to-be's style, there are a couple of ways you can adapt the garden party-inspired theme.
"While the garden party aesthetic has been trending for some time, the overall look is beginning to shift," says Grace Lee, founder and CEO of popular bridesmaid dress brand Birdy Grey. "More bridal showers are moving away from the ultra-fancy, monochrome tea party toward something a little more relaxed and whimsical. They're incorporating different kinds of flowers, colorful tableware, fun cocktails, and printed napkins and tablecloths."
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Take inspiration from the cottagecore aesthetic by incorporating subtle retro and folk influences—think floaty sundresses, wicker baskets, gingham prints, straw hats and mismatched floral teacups. For this theme, skip the formal tables and mingle in the backyard on picnic blankets beneath oversized umbrellas instead.
For something more upscale, a Bridgerton tea party bridal shower is all about sophistication and glamour. Use luxe details like chandeliers, monograms, lace tablecloths, macaron towers and gilded tabletop accents to evoke a similar look. Attendees should dress in their swankiest attire for the soirée, and you can even provide accessories like satin gloves, pearl strands and fascinator hats as party favors.
2. Arts and Crafts Activities
Activity-themed parties are perhaps the most buzz-worthy bridal shower trend of the year. The idea behind this trend is to incorporate a fun activity or something that the attendees might not experience otherwise (bonus points if the activity involves a craft or something they can take home as bridal shower favors). "Gone are the days of the same-old bridal shower games," says Lee, who was recently married in 2021. "While bridal showers have been embracing over-the-top experiences (think: manicures and pedicures or a private yoga class), we're actually seeing this scale back."
Experiential parties are a great idea if you're not into the typical bridal shower games, or if most people on the guest list already spend plenty of time together and don't need the formality of mixing and mingling before the wedding. They're also ideal if you're hosting a couples shower, where some of the traditional bridal shower ideas may not apply.
"Now bridal showers are centered around more intimate activities that foster closeness and conversation," Lee says. "We're seeing a lot of cake and cookie decorating, but there are so many other crafts you can try. Watercolor painting, wedding dress sketching, flower arranging, or terrarium-making are just a few of the trends we're seeing. Not only will it make a bridal shower extra-unique, it also gives your guests something fun to take home after."
3. Bows and Ribbon Details
"Bows are everywhere, and bridal showers are no exception," says Lee. It's true—we're predicting that bows and ribbons will be huge wedding trends in 2024, from flowers to cakes, so you can expect to see them carrying over into other wedding-related events, too. "We're not just going to see bows on hair accessories, shoes, bags, and clothes (like our little white dresses with bows on them), but used as decor, too. There will be bows wrapped around food, drink glasses, on tables, and even hanging in trees. If you love the coquette aesthetic on TikTok or just want an ultra-sweet, romantic bridal shower, incorporate this trend into your event," Lee says.
4. Bright Bridal Shower Color Schemes
Bright color palettes aren't just trending for weddings this year—they're becoming more popular for wedding showers in 2024 too. The overarching idea is that couples want to create a fun, energy-filled environment for their family members and friends. You can choose the bridal shower color palette by thinking about what the guest of honor loves or something that reflects the current season. Hosting the party on a summer afternoon? Go with a citrus-inspired color palette of orange, lime green and yellow and decorate with fresh fruits. If the bride-to-be loves the '90s, choose a nostalgic color palette of fuchsia and turquoise. Once you've nailed down the overall theme of the event, you can move onto the next steps of planning, like choosing the bridal shower invitations and selecting your decor.
5. Bespoke Cocktails and Mocktails
Fun refreshments are another 2024 bridal shower trend to watch. "We're seeing a lot of emphasis on gorgeous, IG-worthy drinks—whether you're offering cocktails or mocktails," says Lee. "Infusing ice cubes with different things (fruit, flowers, herbs, or coffee, for example), elevates the entire experience. Not only does it look gorgeous, it also makes the drink even more delicious."
Upgrade bridal shower favorites, like mimosas and margaritas, with ice cubes in fun shapes or special drinkware. Or enlist the help of a local mixologist or bartender to create a custom cocktail recipe inspired by the bride. And if you're looking for alcohol-free options, you can still include DIY beverages, like a mimosa bar (use tonic water instead of sparkling wine) or smoothie topping station, to add a personal element that makes the party memorable—no hangover required.
6. Y2K Bridal Shower Theme
One bridal shower trend for 2024 that Lee says is too cute not to call out: a "lifetime of butterflies" theme inspired by the early 2000s. "This concept brings in the fun Y2K aesthetic trending everywhere, but it still feels sophisticated," says Lee. "It involves a pink, purple, and blue color palette complete with flowers, fun desserts, and lots of butterfly decor (of course!)." Glitter balloons, holographic tableware and a playlist of throwback hits are just a few other ways to tap into the theme—and don't forget to ask your guests to dress accordingly.
7. Over-the-Top Bridal Shower Decorations
Signage and floral arrangements are mainstays at bridal showers, but this year, couples are going beyond the basic party decorations for over-the-top ideas instead. The goal? Create a highly stylized prewedding event that wows the attendees and builds anticipation for the actual wedding day. Bridal shower decorations like balloon arches, flower walls, lavish centerpieces and ultra-personalized details (think custom cookies or monogrammed napkins) are just a few examples of how to-be-weds are pulling it off.
If you're hosting the party indoors, think of ways to add unexpected elements that will really transform the space—create a photo booth backdrop for selfies, bring in different rental furniture or splurge on fancy linens for the tablescapes. For an outdoor party, a long banquet table arranged beneath a decorative canopy feels undeniably upscale.
