3 Tips for Throwing a Bridal Shower in Your Apartment

Being a part of a bridal shower is a fun whether you’re the host or an attendee. If you are the host, there are several key considerations to make as you plan to host the shower. The better you plan, the more successful it will be. Here are some tips for throwing a fun and memorable bridal shower in your apartment.

1. Have Plenty of Seating

As the host, you should know how many people are planning to attend the shower. The challenge for many apartment dwellers is finding enough seating for everyone. If you know that your living room furniture isn’t sufficient to accommodate everyone, pull chairs out of the kitchen or dining area and set them up in the living space. If that’s still not enough, check with your neighbors or some friends to see if you can borrow a few chairs. If you have to, set up a few pillows on the floor for people to rest against should they have to sit on the floor.

2. Spread Out the Food

At some point during the shower everyone is going to eat. In terms of what you prepare, it’s good to have a decent variety of foods without going overboard. Most people opt to serve finger foods and appetizers. Cheese and crackers are always good (you can get fancy with what kinds of cheeses you purchase), as is a vegetable plate with dip. Mini chicken salad sandwiches—or some other kind of sandwich—are nice to have for guests. Of course, you should have a cake or cupcakes to celebrate the mother-to-be as well as some punch or iced tea to drink.

In setting up, it’s good to place the food in an area where people can walk around it, like a counter or a table set in the middle of a room. Setting food up in a corner will lead to people congregating or crowding in one area. You can also set up different foods in different places, like the sandwiches and vegetable tray on the dining room table and the cheese tray on the coffee table to keep people moving while they’re serving themselves. Space is limited in an apartment, so keeping spaces from crowding is important.

3. Plan a Few Games

When you’re hosting a shower, it’s always good to have a few activities planned. Even if you think shower games are cheesy, people tend to expect them. They help fill any voids or awkward silences if the guests seem less chatty than you’d anticipated. There are all kinds of resources online with game ideas. Doing a search for “bridal shower games” should yield plenty of ideas. Common games include word scrambles with wedding terms and trivia questions about the bride and groom.

Throwing a shower is pretty simple. Your job is ultimately to be a good host. If you make sure all of your guests are comfortable and having a good time the event will be successful.

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Rachael Weiner: I’m a communications professional for a non-profit, which financially necessitates my status as an apartment dweller. Constantly “on-the-go,” I’ve resided in five different apartments across the United States over the past five years. Roommate issues, budgeting, organizing and handling problem neighbors are my specialty.