A bridal shower is a much-anticipated pre-wedding event for brides. She gathers with her bridal party and closest female friends and family members to celebrate her upcoming wedding. Tamer than a bachelorette party, many bridal showers take place during the day (some over a long weekend) and involve light drinking, eating, and sometimes a spa day or other fun event, like shopping.
The bridal shower that we know today originated in Holland in the 16th Century, an offset of the dowry system, where the bride’s family had to pay her husband to marry her. Friends and sometimes distant family members would chip in and pay for her dowry for poor brides, who couldn’t afford to marry.
Today, at least in Western society, bridal showers serve a broader purpose. Marriage usually changes the dynamics of friendships and familial relationships, so bridal showers are an excellent way for her friends and family to spend more time with the bride before her priorities shift towards her husband and their family. Proving that old traditions die hard, brides today are often showered with expensive gifts or cash that can enhance or contribute to their wedding day.
Unfortunately, the social landscape is looking a little different right now due to social distancing guidelines. Many brides aren’t comfortable throwing large, lavish gatherings while Covid-19 ravishes our world without a vaccine in sight. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to mean that they don’t get to have their bridal shower; they have to get creative and throw a virtual bridal shower or even a small backyard shower. Please keep reading for our comprehensive guide on how to have an online bridal shower.
Table of Contents
What is a Virtual Bridal Shower
A virtual bridal shower is simply a bridal shower that takes place online. Of course, coronavirus is a great excuse to move the festivities into a digital space, but virtual bridal showers didn’t crop up only this year – brides have been going virtual for years.
Thankfully, it’s super easy and convenient to throw a virtual baby shower. While you’ll have to forgo or modify some group activities, it’s still possible to have a fun bridal shower online.
Why should you throw a bridal shower?
The main reasons that brides went virtual before 2020 were because of distance and expenses. If a bride had a wedding party spread out over the country, they’d have to incur a fee to fly once the wedding date arrived. It might have been too much also to ask them to come out of pocket to travel to their wedding shower, so the bride just decided to go virtual. This allowed her friends and family to still get in an extra celebration before her big day without putting more financial strain on them.
Right now, limiting the spread of Covid-19 is also an excellent case for any bride who’s considering having an in-person bridal shower.
What to do if you’re not Tech Savvy
When throwing a virtual bridal shower, the person in charge must know the in’s and out’s of any platforms they’ll use to facilitate it. The last thing you want is your video to be cut out or your audio to stop working in the middle of your festivities.
It will already be a little bit harder to keep everyone’s energy up over video chat, so you don’t want anything to bring down the mood. Therefore, the host needs to do a test run before the actual shower to ensure everything will run smoothly. But, again, stick to platforms you’re already familiar with using and make sure that all attendees also know how they work.
How to host a Virtual Bridal Shower
Prep
The excitement of a wedding makes planning things like a bridal shower a lot of fun, but don’t be fooled. The prep stage is mandatory! The only way that the bridal shower will be successful is if everyone involved is informed of the itinerary and can coordinate in advance.
Key things to plan-
The Date of the Bridal Shower:
Please choose a date when the majority of the group will give the event their full attention. An online bridal shower might not last quite as long as an in-person one, but attendees should at least have a few hours to set aside for it.
Video Chat App:
Make sure it’s easy to use, easy to access and make sure you’re prepared to pay whatever fee may come with it (though there are free options). Zoom calls, for example, are only free for the first 40 minutes. After that, there is a fee. You don’t want to run into any hiccups during the bridal shower, so make a note of details like this during this phase.
Bridal Registry :
Many brides will want to open their gifts on camera during the bridal shower, so her guests must know what store she’s registered at in plenty of time.
Invitations:
Make sure to send invitations to each person that the bride wants at her bridal shower. This usually will include every member of her wedding party and confident women from her and the groom’s families.
Video Platform Options
There are many options available to host the video chat. Each comes with pros and cons. Here’s a little bit of information about the most popular ones:
Zoom
Zoom has skyrocketed in popularity since the pandemic set in, but it’s not just for people working from home. It’s also an excellent option for bridal showers if you’re willing to pay. Unfortunately, the free users can only chat with up to 100 people for 40 minutes. After that, you have to pay. That aside, Zoom allows users to set virtual backgrounds, which might be fun for guests.
Skype
Skype is a tried and true video chat platform that has been around for years. So most people are already familiar with it and probably have an account. Skype is also free to use, though you should know it only allows 50 participants at a time.
Facebook is also free to use. There’s no limit on participants, but there’s no link for you to share, so everyone will have to jump on simultaneously. It’s not the best choice to keep the event private because Facebook uploads the video to your timeline once the session ends.
How to set up the Registry
Some brides might just let their bridal party freestyle their gifts, but for those who want a registry, there are many options out there!
5 Registry Suggestions:
The Knot
The Knot is a universal registry that lets you add an item to your wedding registry from any site. It also allows you to create cash funds for everything you can imagine, from puppy adoption to honeymoon contributions and more. In addition, the transaction fee is only 2.5 percent – one of the lowest in the industry.
My Registry
My Registry allows you to add items from any of your favourite stores. In addition, you can add a gift fund for travel experiences and manage your list with your smartphone.
Williams Sonoma
Williams Sonoma allows you to add gifts from Pottery Barn and West Elm. In addition, you can make a free, private appointment with one of their registry specialists to get one-on-one guidance. You can also get gifts and 10% off for six months!
Amazon
Amazon is, naturally, one of the most-used registries in the world. Any of its millions of items can be added to the list. Plus, there are some pretty sweet perks too! For example, the bride and guests can both earn up to 5% when using the Amazon Prime Store Card. There are also options for group gifting, gift financing, and more!
Wayfair
Wayfair lets brides save 20% for six months on anything that’s still available on the Registry. Brides can also receive gifts when guests purchase qualifying products. There’s also an option to send thank you notes.
An online platform for having a virtual shower on such as WebBabyShower makes it easy by allowing users to link to registries like Amazon and Target.
Gift Ideas
When thinking of gifts for a bridal shower, think of things that will bring the bride comfort. Soft plush robes, bed linens, and scented candles will always be a great option. You can also purchase items that will help populate her home with her spouses, such as dinnerware, picture frames, and vases. Books and chocolates, which the bride enjoys, are also great gifts. Note: some gifts, such as gag gifts, might not go over as well with a virtual bridal shower.
Invitations
Invitations are usually a focal point of the planning stage, but the bride may not feel like she needs elaborate, paper invitations for an online bridal shower. Even if she opts for electronic invitations, they should still be formal and relay the tone of the shower (unless it’s informal). A few services that can be used are Evite, Paperless Post, and Canva. Within the invite, be sure to include a link to the bridal shower registry. In addition, platforms such as WebBabyShower have a built-in invitation system.
Theme Ideas
By the time it’s time to plan the bridal shower, everything for the wedding ceremony should already be set up. To save time, you can match your bridal shower theme to your wedding theme.
Or, you can come up with something else entirely. Don’t be afraid to take inspiration from the seasons. For example, during Fall, you can incorporate lots of oranges and reds into your decor. Or, you can base the theme on one of the bride’s hobbies, such as travelling.
Dress Theme
Attire might not be quite as crucial at a virtual bridal shower, but the bride can still dress up if she chooses. The Knot compiled a list of styles that are popular among brides of today.
Food
Many brides opt to have everyone eat the same foods simultaneously to create a sense of togetherness. Things like cupcakes, sandwiches, fresh fruit, and wine are easy items that every guest will acquire before the shower.
If you have specific food items, like a unique cookie with the bride and groom’s initials, then you should make arrangements to have them delivered within a day of the bridal shower.
Games
Games will be a big focal point of a virtual bridal shower. The end of the gathering is for the bride and the attendees to have fun, and having the shower online shouldn’t cut into that. Be sure to set aside an hour or two just for the games portion.
As for the games, there are a ton of free trivia games that can be played over a video chat. You can also make a game out of trying to find out who knows the bride the best! Make sure to form this game around questions about her upbringing, college days and the dating stage between her and her groom – keep the questions PG. Gift Bingo is also a fun option!
On The Day Of The Bridal Shower
On the morning of the bridal shower, you can decorate the bride’s background with flowers and garland – or anything to make things feel extra festive. Of course, the guests can also decorate their backgrounds, but if things are supposed to be coordinated, make sure their decor was sent to them ahead of time.
Next, you should set up the video chat and make sure it’s working correctly.
A couple of hours before, ping the guests to remind them to check their tech. It would be best if you also took this time to prepare any food on the bride’s end that will be involved in the big day. The guests are responsible for preparing their food.
Once the bridal shower kicks off, make sure that the guests are aware of the itinerary. Every bridal shower will include different activities and run at different schedules. Just make sure everyone knows the plan.
When it’s time to eat, make sure that everyone has options within their own space. If someone forgot or couldn’t get the group food, let them eat what they have on hand. What matters most is that everyone is eating together. You can lightly scold them later for not being prepared, but don’t embarrass them in front of the group – or the bride.
If you’ve scheduled a group activity, like a virtual spa day, then make sure everyone knows that, while generally safe, anything broadcast online can be intercepted. So they may not be able to get as comfortable as they would if they were relaxing in loungewear in someone’s home or hotel room.
When it’s time for games, make sure that someone is tasked with keeping score and keeping the fun rolling at an acceptable pace.
If the bridal shower is to have a movie night, make sure everyone knows which platform you’re going to stream from so that everyone can sync up.
The end of the bridal shower is the time for gifts. If the bride is comfortable, this will be the time when she opens her presents on camera. It might seem like a minor aspect, but her guests being able to see her face as she opens the gifts they bought her will mean a ton!
Afterward, the bride will probably give a sappy speech and thank everyone for gathering with her. But, even if it’s not happy, she should thank them for taking the time out of their schedule to celebrate her big day.
Next up, the wedding!
Summary: Online Bridal Showers
- Choose the Right Platform:
- Select a reliable and user-friendly online platform for hosting your virtual bridal shower. Popular options include video conferencing tools like Zoom or platforms specifically designed for virtual events.
- Send Invitations:
- Create and send digital invitations to guests well in advance. Include the date, time, and instructions for joining the online bridal shower.
- Plan the Program:
- Structure the virtual bridal shower with a well-planned program. Consider including activities like games, gift opening, toasts, and interactive elements to keep guests engaged.
- Decorate the Virtual Space:
- Create a festive atmosphere by decorating the virtual space. Use virtual backgrounds, banners, or props that match the bridal shower theme.
- Coordinate Deliveries:
- Coordinate with guests to send gifts or party supplies in advance. Consider including a gift-opening segment during the virtual event to share the excitement with everyone.
- Organize Games and Activities:
- Incorporate fun games and activities that can be enjoyed virtually. From trivia quizzes to bridal bingo, choose games that can be easily adapted to an online format.
- Virtual Photo Booth:
- Set up a virtual photo booth where guests can take screenshots or use filters to capture memorable moments during the online bridal shower.
- Virtual Gift Registry:
- Create a virtual gift registry to provide guests with options for selecting and sending gifts. Include the registry details in the invitation or share it during the event.
- Record the Event:
- Consider recording the online bridal shower to share with the bride later or with guests who couldn’t attend the live event. Seek permission from participants before recording.
- Thank You Notes:
- Show appreciation by sending personalized thank-you notes or emails to guests after the online bridal shower. Express gratitude for their presence and thoughtful gifts.
FAQ: Online Bridal Showers
How can I host a successful online bridal shower?
Hosting a successful online bridal shower requires careful planning and attention to detail. Start by selecting a reliable video conferencing platform that can accommodate all the participants. Create a detailed schedule and send out invitations well in advance, including any necessary login information. Consider incorporating interactive elements like games, virtual photo booths, or digital guestbooks. Coordinate with guests to ensure they have any required supplies or materials for activities or surprises.
What are some fun virtual activities or games for an online bridal shower?
There are plenty of fun virtual activities and games that can be enjoyed during an online bridal shower. Consider playing virtual trivia about the couple, organizing a scavenger hunt where guests find items around their homes, or hosting a virtual cooking or mixology class. Other ideas include interactive polls, DIY crafts, or a virtual “open mic” session where guests can share heartfelt messages or stories.
How can I create a festive atmosphere for the online bridal shower?
Creating a festive atmosphere for the online bridal shower is essential to set the celebratory mood. Encourage guests to dress up in their favorite party attire, decorate their backgrounds with festive banners or balloons, and prepare special treats or cocktails to enjoy during the event. Utilize virtual backgrounds or themed filters to add a touch of decoration to the video call. Playing background music or sharing a curated playlist can also contribute to the overall ambiance.
What are some creative ideas for virtual gift-giving during an online bridal shower?
Virtual gift-giving during an online bridal shower can still be a memorable experience. Guests can choose to send gifts directly to the couple’s address or organize a surprise gift drop-off with the help of a local organizer. Another option is to create an online registry where guests can contribute to larger items or experiences, such as honeymoon funds or home renovation projects. During the virtual shower, guests can share stories or well wishes about the gifts they have chosen.
How can I involve long-distance guests in the online bridal shower?
Involving long-distance guests in the online bridal shower is a great way to make them feel included. Prior to the event, consider mailing them a special package with party favors, game materials, or personalized notes. Plan interactive activities that can be enjoyed virtually, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to participate and share. Encourage long-distance guests to prepare surprise video messages or organize a group toast to celebrate the couple.
Are there any special considerations for online bridal shower etiquette?
Online bridal shower etiquette is similar to traditional bridal showers, with a few adjustments for the virtual setting. Ensure that all participants have a stable internet connection and understand how to use the video conferencing platform. Ask guests to mute their microphones when not speaking to minimize background noise. Encourage active engagement by using features like chat boxes or virtual hand-raising for questions or comments. Remember to express gratitude and appreciation to all guests for their participation and thoughtful gestures.
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