Patriotic Bridal Shower
Planning a 4th of July Shower or celebrating with a military family? Check out these Yankee Doodle Dandy ideas!
Invitations
Purchase some simple flag invitations and insert the following wording:
<Bride-to-Be’s name and <Groom-to-Be’s name> are about to be united
and we’re celebrating in patriotic style.
Come to our Red, White and Blue Bridal Shower
On <date>
From <start time> to <end time>
At <location>.
Please RSVP to <hostesses name> at <hostesses phone number>.
Make it easy on yourself by typing the wording into your word processing program, printing it, and cutting out the printed text with scalloped scissors. Run a line of glue (a glue stick works best) along the top of the cut-out wording and paste into the invitation cards. You can also glue a printed map into the top flap of the card to make it easy for guests to find the location.
Décor
The most important thing to remember when decorating with red, white and blue is not to overdo it. Red, white and blue are all strong primary colors, so pick one main color and just add splashes of the other two. Check out this slide show featuring patriotic décor from Better Homes and Gardens. Notice in the first slide how the professional designers who staged the shot used a lot of white with blue accents and a few pops of red? That’s how you keep your shower looking festive and elegant with a red, white and blue color scheme.
You can recreate the floral arrangements in the Better Homes and Gardens examples very easily:
- Create a bright red centerpiece by filling a white and blue dish with roses, geraniums, daisies, or any other red flower you like. If you don’t have a blue and white dish like the one pictured in the first slide, use a white pot and a wrap a blue ribbon or a wide band of blue paper around the pot. To secure the flag in your arrangement, use a bit of green floral cushion material in the bottom of the dish.
- If blue is your main color, like in slide 2, fill a vase with blue blooms. There are lots of plants with blue flowers, including hydrangea, ageratum, blue lace flower, iris, delphinium, bachelor’s button, forget-me-not, and nigella damascene. There are even blue roses!
- For a dramatic pop of red, arrange scarlet gladiolas—cut long— in a tall white vase.
- If white is your accent color, use large bold flowers so they will stand out against their bright background. Try placing your white flowers in a white vase and wrapping a band of blue or red paper around the vase.
If you’re holding the shower in backyard, some tiny white lights framing the deck or wrapped around trees will give a starry effect without being overbearing.
A bit of star-shaped confetti and some strings of curling ribbon sprinkled across the tables will help anchor your centerpieces to the table.
Don’t forget to decorate your refreshment tables! Kristy “The Recipe Diva” suggests you:
- Tie a big blue and white ribbon around a metal beverage tub and place it on your buffet table. Fill it with ice and some personalized water bottles with a red, white and blue label, complete with the name of the happy couple and the date of the wedding! You can order personalized Red, White and Blue Bridal Shower/Bachelorette Party water bottle labels from BadaBadaBingo.com!
- Hang some cardboard stars from the ceiling above your buffet table.
Refreshment
Serve all-American foods like fried chicken wings, Joan’s Apple Dip, Babes in Blankies, and Pizza Pinwheels. Round out the menu with a fresh vegetable platters.
Red, White and True Punch served in clear glasses is a perfect beverage for this party theme.
For dessert, wow your guests with Love Me Tender Trifle.
Activities
- Play Yankee Doodle Candy. Fill a glass container with red, white and blue candies. Make sure you count how many candies you put in the container. During the shower, have guests try to figure out how many candies are in the container. The guest who guesses closest to the actual number receives a prize.
- Play BINGO. What’s more American than BINGO? Ok, maybe Moms and apple pies, but you get what we mean. Pick up a set of personalized Bride Bingo cards and some patriotic prizes for the winners. Your guests will love it.
Favors
Use these cookie cutters when you make the Love Me Tender Trifle, then give the cookie cutters as favors! Print the Love Me Tender Trifle recipe on an index card. Punch a hole in one corner of the index card and thread a bit of ribbon through so you can attach the card to the cookie cutter. Now you have a lovely favor and your guests can make trifle at home!
Looking for more bridal shower theme ideas? View our complete list!
