Dinner Options for Bridal Showers

A dinner menu sets the tone for your bridal shower.

It's up to the bride-to-be to select which dinner option makes her feel most comfortable and pampered on her special day. Traditionally, the bridal shower is a time to visit with close girlfriends and receive homemaking gifts. In the midst of stressful wedding planning and a major life transition, a bridal shower dinner is designed to be an oasis of love and a show of support from a woman's closest confidants.

Restaurant Fare

If you are not in the mood to overhaul your living room and kitchen for your bridal shower dinner, take the girls out to your favorite restaurant instead. Guests aren't expected to pay for a shower dinner in a restaurant, so the tab is on you or whomever is throwing the shower for you. Call ahead to make reservations, and work with the restaurant's event organizer to create a personalized menu for your shower. Get a solid RSVP from each lady, so you are not stuck paying for guests who flaked at the last minute.

Home Cooking

If you love to cook and want to treat your loved ones to a feast, consider making relatively easy-to-assemble dishes for your bridal shower dinner. Prep veggie and fruit plates in advance or purchase them at the store. Put together casseroles and lasagna dishes before the day of the event, and pop them into the oven while you are cleaning and decorating for the party. Bake brownies and pies in advance since they keep for days.

Potluck

Let your closest female friends and family members get in on the fun of creating your bridal shower dinner. Have each guest commit to bringing a single appetizer, main course or dessert. Ask them to bring along her recipe for their dish, written out on a 3-inch-by-5-inch card. As each guest arrives, put the recipe cards into a recipe box so you can cook your loved ones' dishes again in the near future. Make sure you stay on top of organizing this type of shower so you don't end up with 20 desserts and no main course.

Jack & Jill Barbecue

The Jack and Jill bridal shower breaks tradition by allowing guys in on the action. A barbecue works well for coed showers because you can send the guys out back to grill while you open up all your gifts from the ladies. Steaks, burgers, brats and hot dogs are standard fare for Jack & Jill barbecue showers. Have plenty of sangria or a wide beer selection ready to wash down all the protein.

References

• The Knot; Ask Carley Q&A; Bridal Shower: Who Pays for Bridal Shower Food?
• The Knot; Bridal Shower Theme: Potluck Party
• The Knot; Couple Showers: Coed Themes & Ideas; Amy Elliott