How To Throw a Picture-Perfect Bridal Shower

As a thirty-something woman, I’ve thrown dozens of bridal showers in my time, and have learned so much from each of them. So when it came to my own shower, my sister and I happily took over the planning reins from my other girlfriends who were busy planning my EPIC bachelorette party (more on that soon!). 

The shower, which took place at Silver Trumpet Restaurant and Bar, turned out better than expected, and I got so many compliments asking which party planner I had hired. While I’m no pro, I wanted to share my tips that will instantly take your shower (or any party for that matter) to the next level. 

Photo: Jenn Kostich of Dearly Beloved Photography

1. Flower Power

Photo: Jenn Kostich of Dearly Beloved Photography

I believe that flowers are a cornerstone to an elevated-looking event. While florists are pricey, having tons of gorgeous flowers instantly makes an event look polished. Keeping budget in mind, my sister and I decided to pick up the bulk of our flowers at the local flower mart, which saved us a ton of money.  (For instance, we covered an entire room and a patio for $320!)

We picked up vases at the dollar store, spritzed them with spray paint, added the flowers, some sparkly tulle to the table, and voilà! The space was transformed. We paired them with some STUNNING eternity boxed roses from Venus Et Fleur for an extra touch. 

2. Décor Details

Photo: Jenn Kostich of Dearly Beloved Photography

I added in thoughtful details that matched my style, paired with a rose gold wine bowl from Mark & Graham, which brought everything together.   

3. Do It For the ‘Gram

Photo: Jenn Kostich of Dearly Beloved Photography

Create a designated area where your guests will be incentivized to take pictures. These initial boxed roses were a conversation starter, and created the perfect backdrop for instagrammable moments. I had spotted a tulle-covered umbrella at a recent runway show during New York Bridal Fashion Week, and asked one of my crafty bridesmaids to create it. It turned out perfectly, and was such a fun, original prop for a bridal shower!

4. Picture-Perfect

Photo: Jenn Kostich of Dearly Beloved Photography

Whatever you do, hire a professional photographer for your event - even if it’s just for an hour or two! They will make sure that all of the details of the day are captured, and ensure that you can spend time with each of your guests. I collaborated with my incredible photographer Dearly Beloved Photo on a shot list in advance, so when it came time for the shower, I didn’t have to think about capturing photos all night. I loved how she had me pose with each of my thirteen guests. Having professional one-on-one photos with the important women in my life is so special to me. I plan on sending them each a print of the photo, with a thank-you card! 

5. What’s in a Theme

Photo: Jenn Kostich of Dearly Beloved Photography

Establishing a theme is a great way to ensure that your event looks cohesive in photos. Since I’m the soon-to-be “Mrs. White”, we asked all guests to wear white to my shower on our pretty Minted invitations. It was fun to see how each person incorporated the shade into their own personal style. My sister and I both wore gorgeous flowing white gowns and headpieces from BHLDN, for a more formal spin on the theme.  

We had Glamsquad come and give us professional hair and makeup, and they were fantastic in incorporating our headpieces into our hair.

6. Favor

Photo: Jenn Kostich of Dearly Beloved Photography

The lasting impression of your event are the favors. I wanted something simple, yet elegant for each guest. I chose my favorite Tocca “Florence” scented candle (a nod to our wedding destination), and paired them with a customized matchbook from For Your Party. We wrapped the candles in sparkly tulle and tied with a pearl ribbon. Each guest also had a gold eternity rose at their place setting, which they took with them at the end of the night.   

– Jordan Landes-Brenman is an NYC-based fashion and beauty blogger at HauteHouseFlower.com, with an Instagram following of more than 280K. She is currently planning her October 2019 destination wedding to her fiancé/photographer in Florence, Italy.