It is wedding season. So you now when there is a wedding there must be a bridal shower planned as well. However, with the way friends and family are located all over the world, some may not make it to a traditional bridal shower. So what do you do? You host a virtual bridal shower.
You guys, I had the bright idea a couple of years ago to host a virtual bridal shower for a couple of ladies in my I Am A Wife Facebook group.They become wives on June 27 and on July 3. They are some lovely ladies and have really put in the work to learn what it means to be a wife but also love themselves enough to be the wife God has ordained them to be.
So I wanted to celebrate with them on this milestone and with us all meeting via Facebook and not living in the same city, it was only fitting that I hosted a virtual bridal shower.
As a person who loves to plan and host events, I went all in for this virtual bridal shower just as if it was a live event. We had entertainment, food, prizes and a few good laughs!
What is a Virtual Bridal Shower
I am so glad you asked. Well since my group is an online group of wives from all over the country, I had to do something virtually so that everyone could attend. So a virtual bridal shower is a traditional bridal shower but held online. The shower can be hosted via Skype, Google Hangout, Periscope, Blab or even on Facebook, like what we did.
How to plan and host a virtual bridal shower
Planning a virtual bridal shower takes just as much or even more planning as a traditional live bridal shower. The shower must have invitations, a guest list, and plan for food and prizes.
Here are the steps I took to host the virtual bridal shower:
- Pick a date that majority of your guest list would be able to attend the virtual bridal shower. Make sure the bride to be is available on that date.
- Be very cognizant of any holidays coming up and don’t pick a date that most people will not be online.
- Send out virtual invitations. You can use Evite or create an online event on Facebook.
- Use a platform that everyone is familiar with. If you have never used Google hangouts or Skype do a test run to understand the dynamics of each platform.
- Get prizes for the attendees and brides. Ask others to purchase gifts for the bride via her registry.
- Decide on a virtual bridal shower food to serve during the party.
- Decide on 3-4 games you will play.
- Decide on what type of entertainment, if applicable, you will show doing the virtual bridal shower.
A virtual bridal shower deserves your 100% attention to be successful. Don’t skimp on any of the details when it comes to planning the virtual bridal shower.
Free Virtual Bridal Shower Invitations Options
You cannot host a party without creating and sending out invitations so you know a virtual bridal shower must have invitations. Since this is a virtual event, you have the options to send invitations via mail or email.
To create invitations, think about using these sites/stores:
- Eventbrite
- Canva (and you can get the invitations printed by Canva)
- Sendout
- Shutterfly
- Simply purchase some remade cards from the store
Games for the virtual bridal shower
We played 3 games at ours. Due to this being a virtual shower, you don’t want to hold the guests online for a long period of time. We held our shower for one hour and it was jammed pack with fun and laughs.
We played the following games:
1. The traditional purse game: The attendees had to email my assistant a list of items in their purse before the party started. You will ask everyone if they have a certain item in their purse and if they do, they get a certain number of points. Once the game is over, everyone will count up their points and the lady with the most points win.
2. ABCs of Wedding Night Must Haves: The guest must use the alphabets to list things the bride must have on her wedding night. The one that completes the list wins. If there is a tie, the bride will choose the best list and the winner.
3. Who is the Groom: Put some pictures in a collage with the groom picture and have the attendees to guess which one is the groom.
There are so many other games that you can play at a virtual bridal shower. Your imagination is your only limits.
Food
Since this was a virtual bridal shower, we shared recipes leading up to the shower with our guests. This gave them an opportunity to fix these items at home and have the night of the virtual bridal shower. Thanks to our sponsor, Chewsy Lovers, for sharing great recipes and ideas with the attendees on tasty food to have at a bridal shower.
Chewsy Lovers made some delicious red velvet cupcakes with a coconut spin. Make sure you visit their blog for the recipe!
Prizes
I was blessed to get sponsors for our virtual bridal shower. However, you can ask each guest to purchase gifts for the bride via her bridal registry and you can purchase gifts for attendees like you would for a traditional bridal shower.
Thank you to the wonderful sponsors:
Seattle’s Best, Anointed Wives, Be Fly Butterfly, Brown Suga Chic, Bridal Tribe Magazine, Chewsy Lovers, and of course Still Dating My Spouse.
Please take a moment and visit our sponsors!
Overall, a virtual bridal shower is a lot of fun and doable. You must plan and have patience because remember you are dealing with technology.
Please let me know if you have hosted a virtual shower or even would think of hosting one? Leave me a comment below!
Kitty Bradshaw says
This is an interesting idea. I’m sure we will see it more and more. I’m not sure yet if I would do it but I like the idea.
Mandi says
I am so glad I stumbled upon this article! My sister in law lives in WASHINGTON and I live in ARKANSAS! Her parents live in ALASKA. Her grandparents live in OKLAHOMA! To have everyone come together is almost impossible. Doing a virtual bridal shower will be such a fun way to bless this bride to be!
Jennifer says
Thank you for sharing. We just canceled my daughters bridal shower due to coronavirus. She also lives across the country from all of our family and friends. We are all disappointed and I am now planning a virtual shower to shower her with love.
Still Dating My Spouse says
I hate that you guys had to cancel the shower. This pandemic is causing us to live differently. I’m glad you found the article. I’ll upload the games article this week. Please check back.
Mother of the Bride says
Also doing a virtual shower due to coronavirus. The Shower is April 4. We are using Facebook and limiting the viewing to only invited guests. Some different game ideas would also be helpful. I did not purchase prizes before the quarantine started, now due to social distancing I was thinking of using gift cards as prizes, something I can mail easily. Do you think that is too tacky? Wedding still happening but with no guests, we are hoping for a celebration in the Fall. Tough times.
Still Dating My Spouse says
Absolutely not tacky at all. You could even send virtual gift cards to those that win prizes. I wrote an article today about party favors and games. Please take a moment to review it. Congratulations on the wedding. Everything will go just find. Relax and just have fun. https://wp.me/p2dtCi-26I
Kelly crowley says
We had scheduled our sisters shower for May 16th and were sending out invites — Now trying to figure out polite fun wording for it to obviously be a virtual shower at this point!!
Help on wording for invite!
Susan says
Yes this is so sad for all. My I have a shower booked for April 26 and would love to try this. Is there a limit of people that can be invited through facebook. I was thinking of trying this out and was going to give out a gift card for a local cupcake business to get cupcakes after things settle. Would love to know more.
Still Dating My Spouse says
On Facebook, you can have as many people as you like. If you want this to be private, create a private Facebook group and host the shower in the group.
Still Dating My Spouse says
Hmmmm you don’t need anything fancy. Just where you would list the location say “Online Bridal Shower” or you could say held on Facebook (or whatever system you will use to host the virtual shower)
Sue says
We’re also in the same situation as many others. Had to cancel my nieces bridal shower for March 21. Now we’re trying to wrap our brains around how to do a virtual shower. Has anyone used Zoom for something like this or is Facebook better? The problem is, we have a few folks that don’t have Facebook. Thanks for any help you can offer. All suggestions are welcome. Thanks and good luck to everyone who is having to make changes.
Still Dating My Spouse says
Zoom would be perfect. Especially since some of the guests are not on FB.
Julia says
Thank you! While we have time, May 20, we realize we may have to plan the virtual event. Potentially doing the shower both ways for those that cannot attend!
Joy says
My daughters college graduation in May is cancelled. Her bridal shower is to be may 3rd. The venue has to cancel. Her wedding is still undecided. The reserved a beautiful barn for wedding and reception with accommodations for bridal party to spend the weekend. Dresses are bought. Every detail is complete. Spain honey moon cancelled. She’s such a hard worker and over all great person. my heart goes out to all brides and grooms dealing with such disappointment. We will try to figure out a way to have a shower knowing that it’s the best we could.
Lorie R says
Changing my daughter’s bridal shower on May 2 to a virtual one due to Corona restrictions. We will be having the bride-to-be at our home with her maid of honor to open the gifts that hopefully will be sent prior to the shower. Plan to use some type of program to have guests online so they can see her while she opens her gifts. Unfortunately all attendees who choose to participate will be online due to social distancing restrictions. Obviously we won’t be having any food and we cannot even send food to attendees at theIt homes because everything is closed. Would you suggest we send them some type of package in advance so they somehow could feel included? Not even sure what I would put in the package. So difficult to make this not feel just like a “gift grab” but also difficult to even send anything in advance due to today’s shipping delays. Any suggestions would be helpful. Wedding is June 6 and have not cancelled as of yet so rescheduling the shower is really not an option since the wedding may still take place. Waiting til right after April 30 to make final decision. Thanks for your help
Cherie says
Our daughter had to cancel her bridal shower. She is still getting married May 2 changed from May 16 just because. I know she is so disappointed. I am now going to change to a virtual bridal shower. Why not? Thanks for the info.
Still Dating My Spouse says
Have fun.
Kristine says
What about something we can all wear online? Suggestions? What about something we could all eat together? Toast together? I could purchase and send to participants in the mail. Looking for ideas. Thanks!
Janet Baccash says
My daughter’s bridal shower for May 16 was cancelled. Not rescheduled because NJ is center of pandemic, so we will do two zoom showers one with bridesmaids and friends and one with some relatives. She is living in MD, so I won’t even be with her! This breaks my heart. Anyway I thank you for the ideas!
Michele says
Thank you for some great guidance on having a virtual wedding shower!!! I am definitely doing this for my daughter to be (in-law)! Can’t wait to see what we can come up with! We are going to mail a party box to the participants with games and favors! Thank you again for encouragement and inspiration! You are amazing!