9 Different Types of Wedding Showers to Have | Emmaline Bride (2024)

Are you planning a shower for the bride and you’re curious: what kinds of wedding showers are there? And what are the bridal shower themes 2022 has to offer?

No longer are bridal showers one type, one kind, or one style.

There are many different types of wedding showers from which you can choose including a tea-themed shower, a bbq couples shower, stock the bar, a garden party, champagne toasting, and more!

These types of wedding shower themes are fun to host and even more fun to attend. And they’re all wildly popular right now, btw.

(NOTE: If you’re still looking to plan a distance celebration, read: Virtual Bridal Shower: 5 Things You Need Right Now.)

Read on to find out the 9 types of wedding showers there are plus ideas for which invitations to use for the corresponding kinds of wedding showers mentioned.

Let’s get started!

1. Brunch and Bubbly

TYPE: Bridal Shower with Brunch and Champagne, Extra Bubbles, and Mimosas. Probably donuts with these, too, by SEVENTHandJ.

GUEST LIST: All her favorite ladies!

INVITATION: This design by Pink House Press. Cute!

I’m loving this one, too: “brunch for the bride”! Cute style by Lea Delavaris.

2. Tea Themed

TYPE: A tea wedding shower for those who enjoy a spot of tea! Love this charming tea party invitation by PaperSunStudio.

GUESTS: Usually just the ladies! Your choice!

This is a fun wedding shower where the theme is a tea party or kitchen themed: guests bring gifts that have a cooking or kitchen element or tea specific gifts like these to them. The invitation should have a tea inspired theme, like this one by Angela Marzuki.

Or this style of invite by Chasity Smith:

And I also admire these invitations for types of wedding showers with a tea theme (by Inkblot Design:

3. We Do BBQ

TYPE: Couple’s wedding shower with barbecue, food, brews, and relaxing outdoors.

GUEST LIST: Everyone — couples invited! Great for an outdoor venue.

I’m also loving this BBQ bridal shower invite by Paper Sun Studio:

Here is a helpful guide: 50 Best BBQ Themed Wedding Ideas.

4. Tropical Luau

TYPE: Couple’s Shower with a Tropical Theme. Bring on the luau: leis, Mai Tais, and a pool party!

GUEST LIST: Couples!

Get these decorations to deck out your space.

5. Bridal Brunch

TYPE: A bridal shower with just the girls! Plan for a big pancake breakfast, fresh juice bar, and delicious cupcakes.

GUEST LIST: Just the ladies!

Have this bridal shower at a favorite brunch hotspot, restaurant, country club, or event space. Make it cozy at home, if you’d like! Serve up tons of breakfast food and use invites like these by Haley Warner.

Make it extra festive with these invites by chocomocacino. I love all the desserts featured here!

And one of my favorites: this fruit-inspired brunch invitation. By Laura Moyer.

Cheers! Plan a chic brunch style shower for the bride with these invites by Juliana Zimmerman.

6. Stock the Bar

TYPE: A fun, evening soiree where guests bring gifts to stock the bar.

GUESTS: Friends/family. Definitely a couple’s shower!

Swanky and old-fashioned, this stock the bar is one of the most popular types of wedding showers. Guests bring themed gifts and can also shop from a registry. Highlight the party by serving a signature co*cktail for the couple. Make sure you have plenty of fun co*cktail accessories like these napkins, cups, and stir sticks.

Send invites that are on-theme, like these! They’re perfect for types of wedding showers like these. Invitations by Sarah Brown.

One of the best subsets for these types of wedding showers is a beer themed shower! Same idea, but it can take place at a brewery, beer garden, outdoor space, restaurant, or at home. (Read: 50 Best Beer Wedding Ideas for Brewery Weddings.)

These invites are amazing by Fig and Cotton.

Loving a couples’ themed shower and need invites with a stock the bar theme? Try these by Sara Hicks Malone: “bride, groom, buddies, & booze”. :)

Or this pretty co*cktail-themed invite for a bridal shower with the ladies! Design by Grae:

7. Champagne

This is one of the best types of wedding showers because it can be held at a restaurant, at a favorite wine bar, at a vineyard, or at home! Great for a girls’ get-together.

TYPE: A laidback, casual afternoon of champagne toasts + tastings.

GUESTS: All the gals!

These stylish champagne-inspired invitations are ideal for these kinds of wedding showers. By Paper Sun Studio.

This invite is a pretty-in-pink (and gold foil) invite for the classic bride. By Itsy Belle Studio.

Or this design, another lovely choice, by Griffenbell Paper Co:

8. Garden Party

One of the most traditional wedding shower types: a garden party! Plan to shower the bride with a gorgeous backdrop outdoors, in a garden setting, or a country club or event space with nice big windows and gorgeous views of the scenery.

TYPE: Classic garden themed wedding shower for the bride

GUESTS: A guest list with all the ladies

You can do subsets of a garden party: just take a cue from the outdoors! Some popular types of bridal shower themes include lemon themed, honey, or a tea themed shower, just to name a few.

This invitation sets the tone beautifully! By Shiny Penny Studio.

Also loving this garden watering can invitation by Susan Moyal.

9. Fiesta

TYPE: A fun fiesta with taco bar, margaritas, tons of fun decorations, maracas, and more!

GUESTS: Everyone! This is one of the best types of wedding showers for couples to be invited.

Planning a fiesta themed bridal shower is easier than ever before (get our guide here!) These invitations by Jennifer Lew kicks off this fun theme.

Also loving this patterned invite by Laura Moyer:

Would the bride love a desert and boho themed fiesta invite? Try these invitations by Jennifer Lew to kick off the fun. So cute!

What Kind of Bridal Shower Do You Want?

On to you: tell us what you think of these kinds of wedding showers. Is there a theme or style that you like the most? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

P.S. There are plenty of other wedding shower themes that are also notable, but we didn’t have room for them all! A few that come to mind are coffee themed, nautical, rustic, and boho, just to name a few. :)

Happy Planning!

xo
Emma

Next up: bridal shower favors!

Emma Arendoski

Emma is the CEO of Emmaline Bride, The Handmade Wedding Blog, published author, leading wedding expert, and wedding planner. Read her latest book: The Inspired Wedding. Wife, mother, coffee lover. Follow on Instagram and at Emmaline Baby for baby + kids inspiration.