Bridal Shower Ideas for a Cruise Wedding

Incorporate a cruise wedding into the bridal shower details.

If the bride is planning her big day on a cruise, you might want to incorporate this into plans for her wedding shower. Whether it's a cruise around Europe or to the Caribbean, there are lots of ways to get creative and give her an event that is original, appropriate and memorable.

Invitations

Instead of the traditional paper invitations, do something a little more fun. Purchase small boats from your local toy store and write the event details on small pieces of paper that you can roll up and slip into the little boat. Or go with a message in a bottle and purchase small glass bottles that you can cork and send. It'd be easiest to hand deliver these sort of invitations to those who live locally, but you can always package them and mail them to friends and family who live out of state.

Destination Showers

If many of the bride's closest friends and family members aren't able to make it on the cruise wedding because of cost or time, considering planning the bridal shower to help them feel included. Look to see if there are any dinner cruises or riverboat rides in your area to create an experience for all those invited to the shower. You can also plan your own little getaway for guests that is close by but will give them a chance to enjoy a little vacation of their own.

Food

If the bride is a sea and seafood lover, consider a fish, crab or lobster dinner or lunch for the guests. If that is a little pricey, consider crab cakes or cocktail shrimp as appetizers for a lower-cost option. Choose other tropical foods such as fresh fruits, tropical cocktails or Hawaiian barbecue treats if the bride isn't a big seafood fan.

Favors

Consider buying small little boats and other nautical charms and creating little charm bracelets for the guests. If many of the guests will be attending the wedding on the cruise, do something unique but still practical by purchasing small makeup bags and filling them with travel-size items such as shampoos, deodorant, hairspray, lip gloss and toothbrushes.

References

• The Knot: Four Bridal Shower Trends