45 Best Bridal Shower Menu Ideas
- Fruit, Cheese, and Nuts. Serving fruit, cheese, and nuts on the bridal shower buffet provides variety and munchies for guests more prone to grazing.
- Quiche, Petite Sandwiches, and Finger Foods. Quiche and petite sandwiches are standard mains for a bridal brunch or afternoon tea. ...
- Simple Salads. ...
- Muffins, Scones, and Cakes. ...
- Cookies, Tarts, and Sweet Bites. ...
Full Answer
What is the best food for a bridal shower?
Cheap Food Ideas for a Bridal Shower
- Bridal Brunch. Instead of planning a bridal shower to take place during the evening, save on food costs and go with a brunch theme.
- Dips Only. When a bridal shower is populated by a bunch of ladies, they often want to sample just about everything on the food table.
- “Family Recipes” Pot Luck. ...
- Dessert Bar. ...
- Tea Party. ...
What food do you serve at a bridal shower?
What Kind of Food Do You Serve at a Bridal Shower?
- Bride-focused Food Choices. Since you’re throwing the bridal shower in the bride’s honor, you should honor her preferences by choosing her favorite foods or foods that have important family or ...
- Bridal Shower Foods: Snacks and Small Meals. ...
- Budget Bridal Shower Foods. ...
- Green Bridal Shower Food Ideas. ...
What should I do at a bridal shower?
What Your Bridal Party Should and Shouldn't Pay For
- Bridesmaids’ Attire. Being a bridesmaid is pay-to-play, and ponying up for a bridesmaid's dress is expense number one. ...
- Bridal Shower. The cost of the shower is covered by the hosts. ...
- Bachelorette Party. This one is a little more tricky. ...
- Hair and Makeup. This wedding day cost also has some fuzzy lines. ...
- Wedding Travel and Hotel Rooms. ...
- Gifts. ...
What are the best finger foods for a bridal shower?
Easy Finger Foods for Bridal Shower Ideas and Finger Food Recipes
- Delicious Finger Foods for Bridal Shower Parties. ...
- Tasty Finger Food for Bridal Shower Brunch. ...
- Finger Food for Bridal Shower Luncheon. ...
- Bridal Shower Menu for Themed Bridal Showers. ...
- Easy Bridal Shower Recipes You Can Do. ...
- Desserts for a Fancy Bridal Shower. ...
What food do you serve at a bridal shower?
Serving fruit, cheese, and nuts on the bridal shower buffet provides variety and munchies for guests more prone to grazing.Charcuterie Board Recipe. ... Pear & Goat Cheese Appetizer. ... Ricotta & Goat Cheese Flatbread with Pomegranate & Fig Balsamic. ... Sweetly Spiced Crispy Pecans. ... Healthy Candy Apple Wedges {Paleo}More items...•
What do you serve at a 1pm bridal shower?
It's tea party themed, so we're doing finger foods.Sandwiches on dinner rolls (deli meats and cheeses)Fresh fruit.Cookies for dipping in tea.Cupcakes.A variety of herbal teas.Iced tea.Lemonade.
What food do you serve at a bridal shower brunch?
26 Easy Brunch Recipes for Bridal Showers and Post-Wedding...Sheet Pan Pancakes. 20 pancakes in one pan. ... Breakfast Egg Cups. ... Berry Crepe Cake. ... Peach and Blueberry Sheet Pan Pancakes. ... Boozy Bears. ... Bacon-and-Egg Hash Brown Cups. ... Egg & Cheese Breakfast Ring. ... Sheet Pan Omelets.More items...•
What is usually done in a bridal shower?
What do You do at a Bridal Shower? Most bridal shower guests spend time mingling, eating, playing games, and honoring the bride-to-be. As a guest, you'll want to remember the celebration is all about the bride and her special day ahead, so most activities during the day will reflect this.
Who pays for the food at a bridal shower?
Traditionally, the bridal shower is hosted by the maid of honor and the bridesmaids or a few close family members. As a result, the hosts are responsible for covering food costs, as well as additional expenses like bridal shower games, decorations and favors.
Who typically pays for the bridal shower?
Often, the maid of honor and her fellow bridesmaids throw the bridal shower and pay for it, and the mother of the bride contributes. With this model, the bridal party pays for the bridal shower for the most part and split the price, but the parents of the bride may contribute some part of the expenses.
Do you serve cake at a bridal shower brunch?
Who says you can't have dessert at brunch? Ultimately, cake is a bridal shower staple worth serving.
Do you have to have a cake at a bridal shower?
Like weddings, bridal showers often include cake. But because they're not weddings, don't feel the need to offer something big day-ready, like a traditional white confection. If you do want to slice into a cake, play with creative colors and flavors to fit the vibe of your celebration.
What do you serve at a bridal luncheon?
What Is Served?For a Classic Luncheon. Sweet Corn Bisque. Nicoise Salad with Seared Tuna. or. Spinach Salad with Pecan-Crusted Chicken. ... For a Brunch. Fruit and Yogurt Parfait. Quiche Lorraine. or. ... For Afternoon Tea. Scones with Chive Crème Fraîche and Smoked Trout. Selection of Finger Sandwiches. Individual Berry Pavlovas.
How long should a bridal shower last?
between two and four hoursWeichelt says bridal showers should ideally last between two and four hours. Anything shorter and guests will feel like they didn't have a chance to spend time with the bride; anything longer and they'll be itching to head home. Three hours might just be the sweet spot, then.
What's the difference between a bridal shower and a wedding shower?
A wedding shower is a more modern and inclusive take on the time-honored shower for the bride. Wedding showers are also more appropriate for same-sex marriages where there is no traditional "bride." The bridal shower is traditionally hosted by the maid of honor.
What time should a bridal shower start?
between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.A bridal shower usually starts between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and lasts between two and four hours. If the bridal shower theme includes brunch, you'd want to host the event on the earlier side, while an afternoon tea would be on the later side.
What to wear to a bridal shower?
Dress with seasonal veg, creamy dressing, and toasted nuts for extra crunch.
Why do people have bridal showers?
Because a bridal shower is a celebration with family and friends, food and drink options that make you feel like you’re back at home are a great way to thematically tie the menu together.
How to serve your favorite flavors together?
The easiest way to serve your favorite flavors together is to pile them onto a stick! Combine fresh veggies, fruits, cheeses, and meat for a festive appet izer option that’s also easy to eat.
Is alcohol necessary for a bridal shower?
Be smart about the bar menu. Alcohol isn’t necessary for a bridal shower, but it definitely doesn’t hurt. “If you’re keeping it lighter in the day, having one or two signature cocktails along with beer and wine is totally acceptable,” says Hammond. “If you’re going more into the evening, a full bar is also appropriate.”.
Is it necessary to have one gender on the bridal shower list?
There’s no need to confine the guest list to one gender, to pick a theme that matches your wedding, or to even have the bride be the guest of honor. There is, however, one tradition you’ll want to stick to: keeping guests full and satisfied with a tasty party menu. “A bridal shower is a time to indulge in all the things ...
Cucumber Party Sandwiches
You only need three ingredients (plus a few spices from your pantry) to make these dainty sandwiches, which you can cut into triangles or any shape you desire with cookie cutters.
Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Especially delightful in summer when berries are in season, these easy two-bite appetizers are as simple as slicing and toasting a loaf of Italian bread, then topping with creamy goat cheese, sliced strawberries and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
A variation on a traditional savory cheese ball, this one incorporates chopped pecans and miniature chocolate chips for a perfectly spreadable, crunchy concoction. Serve with salty pretzels to keep it from being overly dessert-like.
Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls
Hit up an Asian food market or supermarket well-stocked with international items to source ingredients like rice vermicelli, rice wrappers and fish sauce. Once you nail the rolling technique, these transparent bites look so pretty on a platter.
Spring Vegetable Tart
This colorful tart can be the centerpiece of your appetizer table. It's made with a flaky crust of puff pastry and topped with goat cheese plus mixed greens, broccoli, carrots, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes and any other sliced vegetable of your choosing. Go ahead and slice into squares for easy serving.
Chef John's Scones
For a bridal shower, you'll likely want to double the batch as this recipe normally only makes eight scones — each moist inside with a golden top, thanks to an egg wash before baking. Don't forget the fresh strawberry jam or clotted cream to serve on the side.
Pigs in a Blanket
Who doesn't love a little nostalgia? This easy appetizer we all loved as kids can be made using cocktail wieners instead, and any kind of prepared biscuit or roll dough of your choosing. Elevate it by serving with a variety of sauces for dipping, like spicy mustard.
Strawberry Wedding Bell Cookies
To ring in a joyous occasion like a bridal shower or wedding, I’m often asked to make these festive cookies. You can use different flavors of jam to suit your tastes. —Laurie Messer, Bonifay, Florida
Crab Wonton Cups
These tasty little crab tarts make excellent appetizers served warm and crispy from the oven. You can add them to your list of holiday finger food as well. They’re true crowd-pleasers. —Connie McDowell, Greenwood, Delaware
Honey Champagne Fondue
This special champagne fondue has wonderful flavor from Swiss cheese and a hint of sweetness from honey. It clings well to any kind of dipper. —Shannon Copley, Upper Arlington, Ohio
Hearty Muffuletta
Famous in Louisiana, muffulettas are cold cuts, cheese and olive salad layered into an Italian bread shell. I was happy when a friend and co-worker gave me this recipe so I could make them myself. More than a meal, it’s a dining experience! —Ruth Hayward, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Rosemary & Thyme Lemon Cocktail
A bubbly drink means it’s time to celebrate! Try dressing up the usual hard lemonade with sprigs of rosemary and thyme for a refreshingly different cocktail any time of year. —Moffat Frazier, New York, New York
Pomegranate Magic Bars
Pomegranates make dessert festive and bright with a burst of juicy sweetness. These pomegranate bars are no exception. —Lisa Keys, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Tuna Croquettes
This tuna croquettes recipe is one of our favorites. My husband and I grow our own cucumbers and dill, which makes the dish taste extra fresh. Reduced-fat mayonnaise and sour cream can be used in place of full-fat versions. —Sherri Melotik, Oak Creek, Wisconsin
How to make tea party special?
To make the treats for the tea party special, offer a variety of teas at a tea station: Set out different bags of tea, hot water, lemon, sugar, honey, and milk so guests can mix up their own . As for the food you serve, think small.
Do bridal showers break the bank?
You’ve already spent money on decor, games, and gifts – you don’t need to completely break your bank by serving up a pricey feast. Bridal showers work best if there’s a clear theme for the food, and this is beneficial since creating a theme can help take some of the pressure off of serving an extravagant main course.
Is food expensive for a bridal shower?
Food can be the biggest source of stress for anyone throwing a party, but this is especially true when the party is a bridal shower. The edibles can be expensive if you don’t closely watch your budget. Still, you can reconfigure your shower plans by choosing a menu that helps cut down on your party planning costs and still impresses ...
Do bridal showers have dips?
Dips Only. When a bridal shower is populated by a bunch of ladies, they often want to sample just about everything on the food table. Make it easier to do so by creating a shower menu based solely on sampling.
Charcuterie Spread
Open your Instagram feed on any given weekend and you'll likely see one or two of your friends indulging in a lavish cheese board. Charcuterie spreads are having a moment, and we love the idea of treating your guests to an Instagram-worthy arrangement of various meats, cheeses, veggies and creative garnishes.
Breakfast Bar
Who says breakfast has to be saved for one time of day? Whether you're planning an elegant brunch-themed celebration or the couple has a penchant for breakfast food, you can't go wrong with delectable snacks like pancakes, waffles, scones, fruit and pastries.
Croquembouche Tower
Give your dessert table an elegant makeover with a tower of treats rather than a horizontal spread. "Statement desserts like croquembouche-style treats always offer a 'surprise and delight' experience, as well as a beautiful way to give a dessert table height," explains Erin Emmett, Founder and Pastry Chef of Pistachio Culinary Studio.
Alcohol-Infused Cake
There's regular bridal shower cake, and then there's alcohol-infused cake. A hint of liquor will take this party to new heights that'll wow your friends and family.
High-Tea Party
Your bridal shower theme can offer plenty of inspiration for the food you serve. If you're throwing a garden-inspired or Bridgerton -themed shower, for example, a tea party menu is a must.
Innovative Flatbreads
Skip the traditional pizza party in favor of personalized flatbreads for guests to enjoy. While you can stick with the basics, like mozzarella and balsamic Caprese flatbreads, consider experimenting with unique pairings too, like goat cheese and peaches or aged cheddar, pancetta and apple slices.
Soft Pretzels
It's a known fact that soft pretzels are universally loved. For shower hosts that are looking to serve a variety of snacks and easy-to-eat party food, you can't go wrong with soft pretzels.
What is a bridal shower?
A bridal shower is mostly about showering the bride-to-be with gifts and love and playing silly games — but that doesn’t mean the food should be an afterthought.
What is a good treat for a celebratory party?
A cake is a must for a celebratory occasion — so it’s worth grabbing forks for this. Other sweet treats can be one- or two-bite items that can be picked up while the party winds down.
What to serve with a bridal shower brunch?
Spinach and Mushroom Quiche. A flavorful quiche is a good way to add some substance and something savory to the bridal shower brunch menu. The quiche could be pre cut into slice or cut into squares and arranged onto a platter with utensils. sharp cheddar cheese.
What time does bridal brunch start?
A cheerful bridal brunch typically starts around 10:30 am and goes until the early afternoon. An informal brunch is a great way to start a lazy Saturday or Sunday. Let your invitees leisurely wake up as they treat themselves to a delicious selection of dishes.