Guess what? Even with friends and family located all over the USA, you can still organize a bridal shower and invite your loved ones to attend!
That’s right, a virtual bridal shower is just as memorable and special as an in-person celebration.
With a little preparation and a small degree of tech-savviness, everyone can still get together and enjoy the moment.
Here’s everything you need to know to pull off a virtual bridal shower.
Planning & Prep (4-6 Weeks Before)
Planning a virtual event is similar to planning an in-person bridal shower, and Bella Bridesmaids has an excellent rundown containing all the bridal shower-related tips and tricks.
If you’re hosting a virtual celebration, here are some key considerations required to pull off your event:
Connect with the Bride Beforehand
Start by connecting with the bride. You’ll want an idea of the dates and times that work for her, and have her send a guest list that includes everyone’s contact information.
Check in with her about the vibe—does she want a spa day theme? How about a tea party—or better yet, a 1920s theme?
Don’t forget the games and activities, either.
Games that work well for a virtual get together include:
- Bingo: Create digital bingo cards for guests to mark during gift opening, or any wedding-related words that the bride says
- Pictionary: It can be wedding themed—Zoom has a whiteboard, or sites like skribbl.io have whiteboard features too.
- The Newlywed Game: Have the bride guess her fiancée’s response to pre-recorded questions you asked.
- Scavenger Hunt: Conduct a virtual scavenger hunt where people have to find things in their homes.
- Bride Trivia: How well does everyone know the bride? Create a trivia game about the bride, and find out!
After coordinating with the bride, it’s time to start planning.
Choose the Date & Time
With loved ones in different states, you’ll have to consider different time zones.
You may also want to keep the celebration to around an hour and a half—maybe a little longer—since screen fatigue is real.
Weekends tend to be best for most people, and submitting a poll beforehand (you can use Doodle or another polling site) is an excellent way to assess everyone’s availability.
Choose the Platform
Choosing the right platform is important as well. Most people are familiar with Zoom, but there are many other options.
Once you’ve decided how you’ll meet, include the platform you’ve chosen in the invites—as well as links to download it, and basic tech support and work-around info for those who may not be familiar with it.
Be sure to conduct a test meeting and work through any issues beforehand.
Send Invitations
There are tons of sites that let you create paperless invites.
Be sure that guests RSVP, and if gifts are expected, include a link to the registry.
If it’s a themed event or requires any other special instruction—for example, if the bride plans to open gifts during the virtual shower—be sure to let guests know to purchase in advance.
It may help if you send out an agenda or some indication of what guests can expect, something like:
- Welcome
- Games
- Gift opening
- Toast and well-wishes
Finally, include clear and detailed instructions on how guests can access the virtual event.
Event Preparations (2 Weeks Before)
Now’s the time to make sure you have everything you need.
You may want to put together party packs that you send to guests containing things like party poppers, background decorations, macaroons, and a teacup and saucer—or whatever style of glass suits your theme.
Appoint a computer literate person to fill in as tech support, and have a backup plan should technical issues arise.
Think about how you’ll open the event—you want ice-breakers to help welcome everyone. Perhaps attendees can share how they know the bride, and add their favorite memory with her.
If you’re including any special touches—maybe a slide presentation or something—have that ready to go.
The Virtual Bridal Shower
When the day arrives, log in early to set up. Have your timeline ready, and be prepared for guest-related tech issues.
Enhance the mood by having music playing softly in the background, and greet each guest as they arrive.
It can be helpful to quickly go over the basics of whichever platform you’re using to host the event, such as where to find the “mute” button and more.
Once the guests are there, brief everyone on the agenda. If there are a lot of attendees, encourage guests to be as concise as possible.
Games and other activities are an excellent way to keep things moving and mitigate the issue of dominant talkers.
Encourage all guests to appear on camera, and don’t forget to take screenshots throughout the occasion!
Final Tips for Success
Do your best to keep the energy level high and the activities simple enough so everyone’s able to participate.
Often, virtual events don’t always go exactly to plan, so remain flexible and have fun, regardless. Prioritize joy and meaningful connection over perfection.
Just like an in-person bridal shower, make sure to send thank-you notes to the guests after the event is over. You can also share event screenshots and highlights.
Conclusion:
Above all else, remember the goal is to honor the bride-to-be by bringing loved ones together to celebrate. Once you’ve accomplished that, everything else is a bonus.
