Four Ways to Spice Up a Bridal Shower
Photo: Sivan Lewin
Everyone wins with spirited party games that honor the bride.
Socializing and opening presents are at the center of bridal showers, but when games are planned, guests will have a more memorable and enjoyable time. The best activities are ones that the guest of honor will appreciate: a funny multiple-choice quiz about her childhood, or a lively true-or-false game. Don’t forget to award prizes to the winners; soaps, fancy chocolates, or scented candles would all do nicely.
Guess the Bride’s Age
Assemble a dozen or so photographs of the bride, showing her at different ages. Mix them up so they’re not in order. Give pencils and paper to everyone, pass the photos around, or display them someplace where everyone can see, and have guests write down their guess as to how old the bride was in each picture. A prize goes to the person who gets the most ages right.
Couples Quiz
Type up multiple-choice quizzes with trivia about the bride and groom. (Ask relatives for anecdotes from their childhood and teen years.) For example, “What is Steve’s all-time favorite cereal?” or “Which famously bad hairdo did Maggie sport at age 6?” Give each guest a quiz and a pencil. Reading the questions aloud makes the game more entertaining. Whoever gets the most answers right wins a prize.
True or False?
Hand out pencils and slips of paper, and have guests sit in a circle. Ask each person to think of three facts or anecdotes that describe her relationship with the bride or groom — two true and one false. Have each guest tell her stories (while trying to keep a straight face).The others write down which statements they think are false. The guest who identifies the most tall tales wins.
Love Bingo
Print grids of 16 squares onto card stock. Number squares randomly, 1 to 16. For paddles, glue a craft stick between two card-stock rectangles; write bride’s name on one side, groom’s on the other. Number 16 cards 1 through 16; on the back of each, write something about the bride or groom (“hates bugs” or “Madonna fan”). Each player gets a bingo board, paddle, and candy “chips.” The leader reads the cards; with the paddle, players indicate who the statement is about — the bride or her groom. If correct, they place a chip on the square with the card’s number. Whoever gets four in a row first wins.
Visit MarthaStewartWeddings.com for: Printable Templates to Create Shower Favors, Decorations, Prizes, and More
