How to Begin Planning a Bridal Shower, On a Budget

Planning a bridal shower on a budget can be a challenge, but it's not impossible.

Are you planning a bridal shower for an engaged friend, but don't really have a lot of extra money? Learn strategies and tips to save money on a shower.

Make your plans ahead of time and save yourself and other hosts a lot of money. Read on to learn tips and strategies that can save you money.

Things You'll Need

• Co hostesses, Up to 5
• Date
• Plan
• Location
• Budget

Instructions

1. Recruit co hostesses. If this is an old college friend, contact other college buddies that were friends with the bride, to help.

   If this is someone you go to church with, ask several other ladies of the church to help you give a bridal shower.

   Is the bride a neighbor? Ask other neighbors that the two of you hang out with to help. By adding other hosts, you can split the costs of all supplies, food, gifts, and other shower items.

2. 

   Discuss a date for the shower with the bride.

   Try to make it at least 5 weeks away. By allowing yourself 5 weeks of planning, you can plan a bridal shower and save money, catching sales, and buying supplies - a little at the time.

3. Make a list with the following titles at the top: Invitations, Food, Flowers and Decorations, Gifts, and anything else that you know the event needs.

   To begin planning a bridal shower, seek out all talents: Invitations can be made on the computer, hostesses can bring two food items each, someone's mother that can make pretty flower arrangements, another person can bake cakes really well. Use the resources you have before buying services, such as those of florists and bakers. Think out of the box for do it yourself jobs.

4. 

   Determine the location.

   Since the bridal shower is on a budget, think frugally. Use someone's home, the church, or another location that is low cost for the shower. Many public libraries, hotels, and restaurants have meeting rooms that they rent out for next to nothing, for special events.

5. Make a budget for each category of things you need.

   Determine the cost of decorations, flowers, food, gifts, invitations and stamps, games, or anything else needed for the event. If there are 4 hostesses, divide the final cost by 4. This determines the amount each person is responsible for.

6. 

   Cut the cost of decorations. Borrow or bring tablecloths, silk arrangements, ferns, and other flowers or greenery that can really detail the event.

   Have the other hostesses do this also. You end up with plenty of greenery and flowers. Buy pillar candles and place on a flat mirror for added detail.

   Another frugal option is decorating with fruit. Buy lemons and limes and place in a clear vase. This adds a green touch to any gift table.

7. 

   Cut the food costs. Make the appetizers. Even if there is no one to bake a cake, the hostesses can bake and bring everything else. Place food on an elegant tray or in the beautiful crystal bowl you already have.

   If there is no cake decorator in the group, consider a cup cake tree. Everyone can bake cupcakes and decorate them in the brides chosen colors.

   For plates, cups and silverware, consider buying in bulk from a party supply store. Party City has clear, plastic, shower plates, cups and plastic utensils to match as a set. Calculate the number of guests while planning a bridal shower.

8. 

   Cut gift costs. Look for sales on items every bride needs: Towel Sets, mixing bowls, photo frames, and sheet sets.

   Use a laundry hamper as the gift basket and place items inside, as a gift from the hostesses. Remember, you have the option of gathering all funds for one big gift or buying individually.

9. 

   Cut costs for games. Some bridal showers simply don't have games, so you can opt out. If you decide to play games, consider these options:

   Have each guest write one word or idea relating to marriage and have teams act it out in charades.

   Another frugal game is the toilet paper bride. All guests are split into 3 teams, given a pack of toilet paper and papers clips.

   One person from the team is the model and each team has five minutes to create a toilet paper wedding dress, complete with veil. The guest of honor chooses the winner.

Tips & Warnings

• For around $250.00, you can have a wonderful bridal shower. Add 4 more hostesses and each person spends around $50.00.

• Planning a bridal shower on a budget means thinking out of the box and using what you already have.