Bridal Shower Games We Actually Want to Play

Coming together with friends and family to celebrate an upcoming marriage is a time-honored tradition. You can expect there to be presents, food, laughter, tears, and, of course, bridal shower games. For too long, these activities have gotten a bad reputation, but bridal shower games can be fun with the right planning. Just as many of today’s showers include both members of the happy couple, shower games have changed with the times. Today, they are activities that you will actually enjoy.

Outdoor Games

Taking shower games (and the shower) outside offers some fresh and exciting possibilities. Two games to consider are wedding ring toss or the ball and chain game:

• The Wedding Ring Toss– A take on the classic carnival game with a wedding twist. Use glass bottles in pretty colors, and paint the rings to symbolize wedding rings. Set the bottles in a decorated crate or basket and start tossing. Make it competitive by having two stations, one for the bride’s party and the other for the grooms, then set a timer and see which side can get the most rings on bottles within the allotted period.
• The Ball and Chain Game– The tongue-in-cheek humor of this option should give guests a chuckle. Create teams of two for this game. Each one must move a spray-painted foam ball with a chain from one bucket to another using only their knees. At the end of a minute, see which pair has collected the most balls in their bucket.

Trivia Games

How about testing guests’ mental prowess with wedding-themed games like:

• The Bride and Groom Photo Challenge– Create a picture display of the bride and groom at different stages in life. Number each image, then have printed sheets with the numbers for guests to guess the age of the bride or groom in each picture.
• He Said/She Said– Involves asking the bride and groom a series of questions in advance of the shower. Their responses will be printed out and given to the guest. They then guess who said what.
• Bride and Groom Trivia – Create a list of trivia questions about both, and let guests test their knowledge. Whoever has the most answers right can boast that they know the bride and groom best of all.

Some more general trivia options that shower guests will enjoy center around romantic movie quotes or love songs. Create a list of famous quotes from romantic movies, and give each chance to identify the film. Or pick a selection of love songs, play snippets from each and ask guests to guess the artist.

Keepsake Games

Use the game portion of the shower to create a date-idea or words-of-wisdom jar that gives guests a chance to impact the couple’s life in a meaningful way. For the date-idea jar, they can recommend their favorite restaurants, special places to go, and activities to do on a date during the first months of marriage.

Shower attendees contribute their advice and tips for a happy marriage in the wisdom jar. Both will be sweet reminders of the shower long after the day is over.

Retro Games

Finally, if you like the idea of a shower game that is a bit kitschy, these nods to the past may be the perfect activity:

• Clothespin Game– Each guest receives a clothespin when they arrive and get an “off-limits” word, such as marriage or honeymoon. If the guest says the forbidden word, they must surrender their clothespin to the person they are talking to, and whoever ends up with the most clothespins is the winner.
• Bridal Shower Bingo– A true old-school classic remade with a bride and groom theme. Guests receive a bingo card, which they fill in with their guesses as to the gifts the couple will receive. As the bride unwraps the presents, guests cross off the correct squares until someone yells bingo.
• My Favorite Memory – Each person writes down a favorite memory that involves the guest of honor. Once done, all the memories go into a jar. Pass the jar around the room so the guests each read one of the memories out loud. The bride will have a blast trying to guess who wrote each memory.

Let your guests know what games they will be playing on the stunning shower invitation, so they can come prepared to compete. A bridal shower is a celebration of love, but it should also be a time for the bride and groom and their guests to relax and enjoy themselves—so game on!