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45 Best Bridal Shower Menu Ideas

Published . Last updated by 42 Comments

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We’ve got more than 45 of the Best Bridal Shower Menu Ideas to make the bride’s party a hit!

You’ll find plenty of tasty recipes for any diet type too, including gluten-free, keto, paleo, clean eating, as well as a few traditional.

A bridal shower buffet table with shrimp, melon salad, sesame rolls, and a veggie tray.

Bridal showers have been something special, personal, and unique among our group of friends. Games are fun but kept to a minimum so there’s plenty of time to express our love for a family, their history, and their future. See more of the story below the recipes.

Once the gifts are opened, rehearsal bouquet is fluffed and the tissues are put away, of course, we get around to the food. It is a celebration, after all.

You’ll love this roundup of ideas for appetizers, main dishes, simple salads, desserts, and specialty drinks to serve any time of day!

What kind of food do you serve for a bridal shower buffet?

For informal buffets, serve foods that are easy to portion and balance on a plate, like appetizers, dips, finger foods, cupcakes, and punch.

What kind of food do you serve at a bridal shower brunch?

For a brunch, serve quiche, petite sandwiches, simple salads, fruit, artisan cheese, seasoned nuts, muffins, scones, tarts, cakes, and specialty drinks.

What kind of food do you serve at a bridal shower afternoon tea?

For a sit-down tea, serve petite sandwiches, simple salads or fruit, tarts, scones, cakes, tea, and specialty drinks.

Collage of bridal shower food items.

Fruit, Cheese, and Nuts

Serving fruit, cheese, and nuts on the bridal shower buffet provides variety and munchies for guests more prone to grazing.

Charcuterie Board Recipe

A step by step guide to building an excellent charcuterie board.
SEE THIS RECIPE
meat and cheese on a ceramic platter

Pear & Goat Cheese Appetizer

Fresh pear and creamy goat cheese bring a tangy-sweet balance of flavor when garnished with honey and balsamic for a simple, elegant appetizer.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Ricotta & Goat Cheese Flatbread with Pomegranate & Fig Balsamic

Fresh cheese and juicy pomegranate accented with rosemary and fig creates an easy and festive holiday appetizer.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Rosemary flatbread topped with ricotta and goat cheese spread and garnished with pomegranate seeds and balsamic

Sweetly Spiced Crispy Pecans

Soaked with salt and finished with a light coating of coconut palm sugar and cinnamon in a dehydrator create delicious, healthy nuts for snacking.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Rosemary-White Pepper Almonds and Five Spice Walnuts.

Using this method for roasting nuts you can make a wide range of flavor combinations: cumin and coriander, smoked paprika and chipotle, honey, and orange… Whatever you like.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Roasted Rosemary and white pepper almonds Recipe

Goat Cheese & Herb Stuffed Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes stuffed with goat cheese, garlic and basil. An easy low carb appetizer recipe that will please at any get-together.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Goat Cheese and Herb Stuffed Tomatoes Recipe for bridal shower or baby shower menu.

Healthy Candy Apple Wedges {Paleo}

Apple + super dark, antioxidant-rich chocolate + toasted walnuts = perfect sweet treat.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Healthy Candy Apple Wedges {Paleo}

Dips and Small Bites

Appetizers and finger foods are the backbone of a great buffet—easy to nibble and nosh while still balancing a plate and socializing.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Caprese Salad Bites

All the flavors of Caprese salad – tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella – wrapped in prosciutto.
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Caprese Salad - tomato, basil, and mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto.

Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Herbed Goat Cheese

Savory herbed cheese stuffed inside sweet dates and wrapped with bacon for a uniquely sweet, savory, smoky appetizer.
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Shrimp and Prosciutto with Smoky Honey Mustard Sauce

Prosciutto-wrapped shrimp seared in a skillet or broiled until crisp and served with smoky honey mustard sauce.
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Easiest, great tasting appetizer you'll find. Savory shrimp with smoky sweet mustard sauce.

Hot Artichoke Dip with Roasted Garlic and Crispy Bacon

Creamy, tangy, smoky flavors make this artichoke dip a party favorite.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Artichoke dip in a white dish topped with green onions and bacon beside chips and veggies.

Jalapeno & Gouda Crab Dip

A satisfying hot dip with tender, sweet crab, creamy Gouda, and jalapeno peppers.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Crab and gouda dip in a red dish with sliced bread toast

Quiche, Petite Sandwiches, and Finger Foods

Quiche and petite sandwiches are standard mains for a bridal brunch or afternoon tea.

Butternut Squash Quiche with Italian Sausage and Sage (Crustless)

A crustless quiche swirled with roasted butternut, apples, Italian sausage, fresh sage and goat cheese.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Butternut Squash Quiche with Italian Sausage and Sage Plated |Savoring Today

Ham Spinach and Gruyére Quiche

A super-easy quiche to pull together for any brunch-y occasion!
SEE THIS RECIPE
Ham Spinach and Gruyére Quiche

Curry Chicken Salad Boats

Curry chicken salad served on romaine lettuce boats for an easy, delicious appetizer recipe.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Curry chicken salad on butter lettuce leaves on a silver tray.

Mediterranean Chicken Pinwheels

Mediterranean Chicken Pinwheels only need a few ingredients including leftover rotisserie chicken to make this easy lunch or appetizer recipe.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Mediterranean Chicken Pinwheels

Cranberry-Avocado Turkey Salad

This Cranberry Avocado Turkey Salad is the kind of healthy leftover turkey recipe you’ll have in mind as soon as the last fork goes down.
SEE THIS RECIPE
A delicious, healthy recipe for using every last bit of Thanksgiving turkey.

Spicy Mexican Taco Bites

Spicy Taco bites made with roasted Chicken, Bell peppers and loaded with Delicious toppings.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches ~ 3 Spreads & 3 Ways

Choose from three flavorfully-delicious spreads and three ways of assembly to build a beautiful array of elegant Cucumber Tea Sandwiches for your next get-together. They will not disappoint!
SEE THIS RECIPE
Cucumber tea sandwiches stacked on a plate.

24 Delicious Tea Sandwiches Perfect for Tea Parties

Bite-sized finger sandwiches perfect for tea parties.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Simple Salads

Salads champion the lighter side of party foods and the addition of seasonal fruit keeps it appropriate for brunch or buffet.

Spinach-Strawberry Salad

A fresh Spinach Strawberry Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts is one of the easiest ways to invite the spring season inside.
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Spinach salad with sliced strawberries and walnuts in a white bowl with a napkin and fork.

Galia Melon Salad

Sweet melon and salty cheese top a bed of salad greens with a garnish of crisp prosciutto and toasted pine nuts. 
SEE THIS RECIPE
A melon salad on a white plate with a fork picking up a single bite.

Citrus Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts and Orange-Dijon Dressing

A bright, beautiful salad featuring ruby grapefruit and Cara Cara oranges tossed with kale, sliced fennel, pomegranate, and candied walnuts.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Not your ordinary fruit salad! Citrus Salad recipe gets a nutritional boost with kale, walnuts and pomegranate.

Muffins, Scones, and Cakes

This mix of bakery goods can be customized to match your themed shower with cupcake cups, frosting, paper flags, doilies, and the like.

Orange Ginger Tea Cake: Gluten & Grain Free

Bits of crystallized ginger are the highlight in almost every bite against a backdrop of fragrant orange and hints of cardamom.
SEE THIS RECIPE
orange tea cake on saucer with fork

Pumpkin Spice Tea Cake with Maple Candied Walnuts [Gluten, Grain, & Dairy-Free]

Amazingly moist, gluten-free tea cake with pumpkin pie spices and candied walnut topping.
SEE THIS RECIPE
pumpkin tea cake on a saucer with fork

Carrot and Beet Cupcakes [Gluten Free]

Beets, pineapple, and applesauce creates a healthier gluten-free cupcake everyone loves without the guilt.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Blueberry-Carrot Cake Muffins [Grain-Free & Gluten-Free]

A healthy new twist on carrot cake in a grain-free breakfast muffin; naturally gluten-free.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes [Gluten-Free]

Tender, citrus infused cakes with flecks of poppy seeds, popular for showers, parties, or as a treat with afternoon tea.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Cranberry Orange Muffins with Collagen [Low-Carb] [Dairy-Free]

A fusion of orange and lemon with pops of cranberry in a collagen-rich, health grab-n-go breakfast muffin.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Cranberry Orange Muffin on a dark blue plate with a fork

Sprouted Wheat Banana Walnut Muffins

Healthy muffins made with sprouted whole grain and less sugar than traditional muffins with loads of banana flavor.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Banana muffins made with sprouted whole wheat, served on a white plate

Triple Ginger & Coconut Scones [Gluten-Free]

Tender gluten-free scones with bits of candied ginger and shaved coconut.
SEE THIS RECIPE
fresh baked scones on a baking sheet

Orange Cranberry Scones [Gluten-Free]

A sweet orange biscuit with plump dried cranberries, perfect for a gluten-free breakfast or brunch treat.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Strawberry Shortcake Cake

It’s a spin on strawberry shortcake, but the cake is, well, cake—not the biscuit-like disc in the classic strawberry shortcake recipe.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Cookies, Tarts, and Sweet Bites

Cookies, tarts, and small bite desserts offer relief from committing to a whole slice of cake. Truffles are a perfect two-bite treat everyone loves!

Cream Cheese Fruit Tart with Almond Crust Recipe [GF]

Luscious cream cheese filling spread over an almond crust, topped with fresh fruit and a tangy citrus glaze.
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Fruit tart with blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and kiwi on a cream cheese filling in a dark tart pan.

Lazy Mary’s Lemon Tart [Gluten-Free]

People who taste this smooth, fragrant tart won’t believe that it contains a whole lemon, rind and all.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Easy Fresh Berry Crumble with Orange Cream

Fresh berries under a gluten-free crumble topped with orange cream.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Ghirardelli Brownie Cookies

Chewy chocolate cookies with soft centers and crisp edges made with Ghirardelli brownie mix.
SEE THIS RECIPE
A stack of Brownie cookies with milk

Cheesecake Strawberries with Chocolate Accents

Juicy, ripe strawberries dressed in cheesecake, graham cracker and chocolate create a memorable party dessert.
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Strawberries stuffed with cheesecake filling and drizzled with chocolate.

Chocolate love: Surprise Me With A Kiss

Nestled inside these little butter-nut balls is a kiss.
SEE THIS RECIPE

Double Chocolate Truffles

Silky smooth chocolate truffles for a decadent bite-size Valentine’s Day dessert.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Close up of pink hearts sprinkled on chocolate truffles for Valentine's Day

Date Chocolate Fudge Truffles with Sea Salt

Date-sweetened chocolate truffles finished with a light sprinkle of sea salt for a taste of deep chocolate-fudge flavor.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Date fudge truffles with sea salt on a white napkin

Drinks and Easy Sips

Specialty coffees with a morning bridal brunch or a spritz for afternoon gatherings, these easy drinks will keep everyone refreshed!

Cold Brewed Iced Mocha Latte

This Iced Mocha Latte is a perfect morning drink. It’s smooth, bold, and chocolatey. Deliciously refreshing iced coffee made with cold brewed coffee.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Cold Brewed Iced Mocha Latte

Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Dairy-Free Condensed Milk

Easy Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Dairy-Free Condensed Milk. This Paleo Vietnamese Iced Coffee can be made Whole30 and better than Starbucks!
SEE THIS RECIPE
Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Dairy-Free Condensed Milk

Dalgona Coffee 3 Ways: Coffee, Chocolate, & Matcha

Dalgona coffee is the newest viral trend. Velvety smooth whipped coffee layered over the milk of your choice.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Dalgona Coffee 3 Ways: Coffee, Chocolate, & Matcha

Apple Iced Tea

Apple Iced Tea is a refreshing beverage infusing iced tea with apple soda.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Apple Iced Tea

Virgin Mojito

Virgin Mojito is a Non Alcoholic take on the classic Mojito Drink. It’s a refreshing cocktail and perfect to be served for parties.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Virgin Mojito

Limoncello Spritz [Italian Prosecco cocktail]

Limoncello Spritz is a classic bittersweet Italian cocktail made with limoncello, Prosecco and soda water that will transport you to the Amalfi coast.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Limoncello Spritz [Italian Prosecco cocktail]

4-Ingredient Orange Julius Cocktail (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Give your Orange Julius a grown-up boozy twist! A quick and easy 4-Ingredient Orange Julius Cocktail recipe that’s gluten-free, vegan, and makes for a perfect frozen, creamy, and fruit treat! A sippable Creamsicle for adults only!
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4-Ingredient Orange Julius Cocktail (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Raspberry Mojito Cocktail

Looking for a light, refreshing cocktail that’s perfect for summer sipping? This raspberry mojito cocktail totally fits the bill! Loads of raspberry flavor, with hints of mint and lime.
SEE THIS RECIPE
Raspberry Mojito Cocktail

Irresistible Summer Champagne Cocktail

This Summer Champagne Cocktail is the stuff memories are made of! With a blend of berries and a touch of honey, this recipe is sure to become a favorite!
SEE THIS RECIPE
Irresistible Summer Champagne Cocktail

Hosting Bridal Showers & The Privilege of Friendship

When close friend’s kids are old enough to get married, it feels a lot like when your own kid’s birthday candles exceed two hands and then both hands and feet, you wonder where the years went.

It is the milestones of life—showers, weddings, births, graduations, birthdays, and anniversaries which remind us of the importance of friends who have been there, helping us get to the milestones we celebrate.

It is a priceless privilege to be called, friend.

A bridal shower is a chance to rejoice over new life and journey.

We have watched these kiddos grow up, prayed through their illnesses, heartbreaks, and dreams—many times praying for their future spouse as well.

One bridal shower I will never forget was for a dear friend’s daughter whose fiancé was from overseas. As emotional as it was for the mother of the bride to watch her baby become a bride, when the groom’s mother shared a few words through her interpreter (son), every heart in the room understood.

She bypassed any language barrier with her tearful embrace of a new daughter and the release of her son to be a husband.

It was the tenderest moment, extraordinary to behold. We felt like we were witnessing a flower open or a wild animal being born, something you can’t plan or rehearse.

It’s a beautiful thing to see a yielded heart ready to let their baby go and willing to love the spouse their son or daughter has chosen as their own child.

What a precious gift to each of them! This is the privilege of friendship, sharing such intimate treasured occasions.

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  3. April @ The 21st Century Housewife says

    What a lovely, lovely post! I felt quite emotional reading about your friend’s daughter’s shower. It sounds like the shower was such a lovely occasion, and what a beautiful moment when the groom’s mother spoke!

    Sadly we don’t have bridal or baby showers in England, and I really miss them! (I grew up in Canada.) I have been able to attend a few back in Canada over the years, but I am hoping to introduce the tradition over here if my son gets married when he is older!

    I have so enjoyed visiting the recipe links you provided, and what a lovely menu they would make. Thank you so much for sharing this post with us at The Gallery of Favorites.

    Reply

  5. Alea Milham says

    I am at an age where my friend’s children are getting married, so I can relate to the sentiments expressed in this post! Lovely and loving post and a wonderful round up of recipes!

    Reply

  7. Barb Bamber says

    How have I not found your blog before? This is so pretty and I loved the list of recipes to try.. the sun is shining here and it’s a perfect day to bake something new and springy like the ones shown here:) xo Smidge

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Hi Barb, I know exactly what you mean, I was happy to find your blog too! Thanks for stopping by and commenting, look forward to getting to know you better.

      Reply

  10. Kelly @ Inspired Edibles says

    Judy, what a great post and truly extraordinary collection of menu items… wow, where to begin… everything is just so beautiful including your dining room table! (lovely setting and sense of warmth). I must make the Goat Cheese with Honey, Balsamic & Blueberries… I am completely smitten… ;-).

    Reply

  11. Geni says

    What a beautiful spread Judy! You are quite a generous hostess and your words hit me since I am going through those, “I can’t believe they are almost grown!” thoughts myself. I can’t imagine what it’s like when friends’ kids start getting married. I guess that’s a new chapter I just haven’t gotten to yet.

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Geni, it does hit us all at once and it is hard to prepare for the emotional swell that comes with it. I am grateful to experience it with some great friends who can relate. The seasons change so quickly and it all seems to happen so fast.

      Reply

  12. Sawsan@chef in disguise says

    That is one amazing list Judy but as much as I love it and can’t wait to try that goat cheese it is your post and memories that I loved the most. It is true, milestones make us feel how much time has passed and reminds us of the journey we made to get here

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Thank you for saying so. I love the way food makes a celebration special, but it is the people we share memories with that really makes a difference in our lives.

      Reply

  14. Granny's Parlour says

    What a timely thing to discover this at the beginning of Spring, when we dream of friendly gatherings under sunny skies and the celebration of renewed life. Thank you for visiting our Blog. Your kind words were like a touch of warmth and sweetness and there is much warmth and sweetness to be found here indeed.

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Thanks Jed, like I told John, I’m delighted my blogging man-friends still came by since it was a bridal shower menu. Of course, we are talkin’ food here. 😉

      Reply

  18. Mary says

    I love your menu suggestions.They all sound delicious. I really loved your post today. You had me dabbing at my eyes with tissue. I hope you have a wonderful day.Blessings…Mary

    Reply

  19. mjskit says

    What a feast! I never saw such great food at any bridal shower I attended! I’m quite envious of all of the guest who got to enjoy this delicious spread and experience the love of mothers. Thank you so much for sharing the story of the shower.

    Reply

  21. Caroline says

    Such a fabulous list of food…everything looks amazing. And I desperately want those prosciutto-wrapped caprese salads. What a creative idea…and so easy!!

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Thanks, John, I was so pleased to see my blogging man-friends stop by for this post … I wondered if it wouldn’t be a “pass” since it was about bridal showers. 😉

      Reply

  23. Linda says

    You brought tears to my eyes too Judy! I agree with you on the meaning of these celebrations; the people not the games are what I like to focus on also. Watching those close to us journey on in their lives and being able to share their special moments. This collection is absolutely fabulous for any occassion and I’m pinning it so I don’t forget any of these! I agree with Greg too, that goat cheese is the first one I’m going to make!! Thanks for including my cookies!!

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Thanks Linda, appreciate your comment and your cookies! The goat cheese is a staple in our house for snacks and you can’t go wrong with aged balsamic on anything.

      Reply
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