Budget

Budget greatly depends on what kind of bridal shower you're planning on having and how many people are attending. I'm not paying for my shower because my MOH is hosting it for me, but it's going to be pretty lowkey. My guest list is about 25 people, I'm assuming about 15-20 will attend and it will just be for light snacks and drinks in the afternoon. I would hope that she's not spending anymore than $100-$150 at the most. Aside from decorations maybe, I'm pretty sure most of it will be DIY.

Depends on the type of shower and how many people are coming. My mom hosted mine at her house so the only expenses were food, drinks, and some decor.

Brides (traditionally) don't pay for any of a bridal shower because it would be tacky to host your own party where the intention is to "shower" you with gifts. I know times are a changing, but it still seems weird that you are hosting it yourself.

When I was a MOH for my best friends wedding, I paid about $500 for a shower for 10 people at a cooking class. The bride did not pay for a thing.

My mom, my MOH and one of my bridesmaids are hosting my shower and they will be paying for it. I have no idea the cost.

Also, why would your mother in-law pay for the bridal shower anyways? Whoever volunteers to host it pays (or I wouldn't have one). You wouldn't throw a party at your house and ask one of the guest to pitch it.

Then again, its your wedding so do as you please. All of this just seems weird to me.

I hosted daughters at restaurant and spent about $800 on lunch and beverages for 25 people, probably about another $200 on the cake, centerpieces, etc. It would definitely have been much less expensive at home, but we don't have a single room where we could fit 25 comfortably (for opening gifts, etc.). We've done holiday open houses for that many or more where people just wander & mingle, and have been able to do a nice buffet and beverages for ~ $300-400.

Showers are thrown by other people so at most you will only get estimates. I have no idea how much was spent on mine other than the venue was $90 because it was held at a local community center and only I could rent it since I live in that county. My MOH hosted it and lives in Florida so all of the planning was done in a different state.

I spent probably about $100 on thank you gifts for my mom and sister (MOH) who hosted the party, my FH's aunt who provided the cake and my MIL.

I didn't host my own shower so I don't know how much it cost. My mother held it at a golf course/country club banquet hall. They provided tables, chivari chairs, linens, and buffet lunch for around $40/pp. My mom and sister paid extra for an open wine bar. My mom DIY'd all the decor, favors, prizes, and flowers. My sister made the paper invites and games.

MY BAS is linked below.

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/bas-bridal-shower-july-21-2019/4f5d9799dd305c78.html

How many guests are you inviting?

Where are you planning on having the shower?

What type of food do you plan on serving?

My mother hosted & paid for my entire shower. She invited 40 women and around 25 came, she hosted it at her home & it lasted 3 hours. She spent $100 on invites & postage + $300 on catered in food (pasta & salad) + $200 on alcohol (mimosa bar & wine & beer) + $100 on appetizers she made herself + $200 DIY olive oil station for favors + $200 on purchased decor + $300 on rentals (tables/chairs/etc.). So she spent over $1,000 but a lot of it was fancy & she could have done for cheaper.

Mine was thrown at an italian restaurant with about 25-30 people. $25 a person included lunch/drinks (not alcohol, that was seperate) and we bought a delicious grocery store cake to serve.

I threw my cousins shower in a firehall/venue hall type place. The rental was cheap $50 an hour and I spent about $300 on finger food platters from the local grocery store. Her shower was a non-meal time (2pm-4pm) so we did meat and cheese platters, veggies, small sandwiches, etc. I bought her cake from Publix as well as some cookies and made my own cookie tray.

Your budget of $250-$300 is enough if you plan to have a shower in someones home or a free venue like a local park, get a few decorations (balloons are cheap) and finger foods for 10-20 people.

A shower doesn't have to be big and extravegant but if you are on a tight budget I'd make sure it is smaller and somewhere without a rental fee.

View Quoted Comment Thank you all for your help and responses. Deffinetly have a lot to think of.

We are planning on maybe 25 30 women

It depends on what type of stuff you are planning for the shower. If your budget is $200-300 then I think keep it a small intimate shower and just provide food & call it a day.


For me my bridal shower is actually a lott more expensive than I Was originally planning so I am paying for certain parts of the shower because I dont want to force anyone to dish out anymore cash. When I have an idea I really go for it so I wanted to chip in.

That's not too bad and if you're creative, get on pinterest and you can easily do a lot of decor, etc yourself