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.
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!
For informal buffets, serve foods that are easy to portion and balance on a plate, like appetizers, dips, finger foods, cupcakes, and punch.
For a brunch, serve quiche, petite sandwiches, simple salads, fruit, artisan cheese, seasoned nuts, muffins, scones, tarts, cakes, and specialty drinks.
For a sit-down tea, serve petite sandwiches, simple salads or fruit, tarts, scones, cakes, tea, and specialty drinks.
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
Pear & Goat Cheese Appetizer
Ricotta & Goat Cheese Flatbread with Pomegranate & Fig Balsamic
Sweetly Spiced Crispy Pecans
Rosemary-White Pepper Almonds and Five Spice Walnuts.
Goat Cheese & Herb Stuffed Tomatoes
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
Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Herbed Goat Cheese
Shrimp and Prosciutto with Smoky Honey Mustard Sauce
Hot Artichoke Dip with Roasted Garlic and Crispy Bacon
Jalapeno & Gouda Crab Dip
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
Ham Spinach and Gruyére Quiche
Curry Chicken Salad Boats
Mediterranean Chicken Pinwheels
Cranberry-Avocado Turkey Salad
Spicy Mexican Taco Bites
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches ~ 3 Spreads & 3 Ways
24 Delicious Tea Sandwiches Perfect for Tea Parties
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
Galia Melon Salad
Citrus Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts and Orange-Dijon Dressing
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
Pumpkin Spice Tea Cake with Maple Candied Walnuts [Gluten, Grain, & Dairy-Free]
Carrot and Beet Cupcakes [Gluten Free]
Blueberry-Carrot Cake Muffins [Grain-Free & Gluten-Free]
Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes [Gluten-Free]
Cranberry Orange Muffins with Collagen [Low-Carb] [Dairy-Free]
Sprouted Wheat Banana Walnut Muffins
Triple Ginger & Coconut Scones [Gluten-Free]
Orange Cranberry Scones [Gluten-Free]
Strawberry Shortcake Cake
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]
Lazy Mary’s Lemon Tart [Gluten-Free]
Easy Fresh Berry Crumble with Orange Cream
Cheesecake Strawberries with Chocolate Accents
Chocolate love: Surprise Me With A Kiss
Double Chocolate Truffles
Date Chocolate Fudge Truffles with Sea Salt
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
Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Dairy-Free Condensed Milk
Dalgona Coffee 3 Ways: Coffee, Chocolate, & Matcha
Apple Iced Tea
Virgin Mojito
Limoncello Spritz [Italian Prosecco cocktail]
4-Ingredient Orange Julius Cocktail (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Raspberry Mojito Cocktail
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.