A bride poses with her guests at her 1950’s housewife-themed bridal shower. Photo Credit:" Offbeat Weds

The 1950’s are known for its economic boom, elegant fashion, and interesting cuisine. If your favorite bride-to-be loves all things fifties, then throw her a 1950’s- themed bridal shower!

Because this decade marked so much change, it is the perfect inspiration as you plan your upcoming event. Here’s everything you need to know to throw a neat-o bridal shower inspired by the fashion, fun, and food of the 1950’s!

Fine Tuning Your 50’s Theme

Just as if you were throwing a 1990’s-themed bridal shower, you’ll need to choose a specific aspect of the decade to really elevate your theme! Looking for some ideas? Check these out!

1950’s Roller Skate Diner
Ponytails and Poodle Skirts
1950’s Housewife Tupperware Party
Grease the Movie
Vintage tea party
Classic Barbie
Malibu Convertible
1950’s Hollywood
Tiki Hut Pool Party

Each of these themes comes with a unique perspective of the 1950’s that is sure to suit the bride-to-be. Spring bridal showers are a great reflection of this era, so no matter what her vibe is, you’ll find a vintage theme that will fit her personality.

Elegant (or Edgy!) Invites

A 1950’s Themed invitation. Photo Credit: Zazzle

Once you’ve settled on the perfect theme for your 1950’s bridal shower, it’s time to start designing the invitation! This is your guests’ first glimpse at your event, so it’s important that you are intentional with every choice you make.

Start with a themed invitation phrase that hints at your party’s vibe. Here are some ideas:

Rock Around the Clock for [bride’s name]’s Bridal Shower!
“Wedding” is the Word! She’s Getting Married.
Help [bride’s name] become the perfect housewife!
It’s the Talk of the Town!
Shower the Bride with a 50’s Vibe

You can find some great templates on websites like Zazzle or Etsy. If you want to make it your own, Canva is a great, free website you can use to let your creativity shine.

Consider the font, color scheme, and your fun phrases. Add one vintage image, like of a 1950’s bride or poodle-skirt wearing lady, to anchor the invite, as well as the name of the guest of honor.

Send bridal shower invitations 4-6 weeks in advance of the party. This gives potential guests time to mark the date in their calendars or arrange travel accommodations if they are traveling from out of town.

Set the RSVP deadline to at least two weeks before so you can plan for food, activities, and favors.

The Perfect Venue for Your Retro Bridal Shower

A bride marvels at her 50’s-themed shower. Photo Credit: Catch My Party

A 1950’s bridal shower theme is incredibly flexible, so it will work in a variety of spaces. If you’re looking to rent a bridal shower venue, check out local diners, tea rooms, or manor houses that embody the vibe of that era.

Bonus points if there’s an Insta-worthy backdrop for fun photos. Of course, this theme works really well for an at-home bridal shower as well!

You can add fun 50’s decor items that match your fine-tuned theme or rent a Formica dining set to make your food table more authentic. You can also cover existing furniture in classic 50’s fabric throws to bring the right vibe.

No matter where you throw the party, add accents that will showcase your theme. If you’re on a budget, don’t forget to ask around for decor pieces to borrow. You can also take a few trips to the local thrift store to find vintage items for an affordable price. Remember to take some inspo photos with you to ensure a cohesive vision!

Retro 50’s Foods

A 1950’s-inspired food table, complete with classic dishes! Photo Credit: Penny Harden

Menu Ideas

The cuisine of the 1950’s inspired many classic favorites we still serve today. Many dishes were incredibly convenient and affordable because they were meant to be easy for a housewife to whip up in 30 minutes or less.

You can choose to embody the housewife vibe by serving casseroles, charcuterie boards, and even fun Jello-themed dishes! Or you can transport your guests to a 1950’s diner, complete with burgers, fries, and thick milkshakes!

Apps & Sides

Deviled Eggs: This classic crowd-pleaser is a staple at any retro party!
Ambrosia Salad: A unique blend of Cool Whip and canned fruit!
Sliders: Mini burgers are always a hit
Swedish meatballs: A mixture of grape jelly and ketchup is surprisingly yummy.
Dinner Rolls & Butter: There’s nothing more classic than bread and butter!
Green Bean Casserole: This dish was invented in 1955 and is more than just a Thanksgiving staple!

Entrees

Chicken a’ la King: Veggies and chicken in a cream sauce can sit atop noodles, rice, or potatoes- whatever the bride wants!
Beef Stroganoff: This creamy dish is delicious and comforting.
Meatloaf: Get creative and offer this classic dish with fun twists like spicy flavors or a mix of gourmet meats.
Loaded Burgers: Create a build-your-own burger bar complete with toppings, sauces, and choice of buns!

Desserts & Beverages

Baked Alaska: This classic dessert is fun and tasty.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake: You can’t beat the caramelized pineapple atop yellow cake.
Milkshakes: Host a milkshake bar and have guests make their own with their favorite flavors and mix-ins!
Ice Cream Sundaes: Guests can build their own classic sundaes.
Cherry Angel Food Cake: Mix a can of maraschino cherries with angel food cake mix for a surprisingly delightful dessert.
Ice Cream Floats: Offer an array of soda and ice cream so guests can make their own floats.
Coca-Cola: Bonus points if you serve it in glass bottles!
Tom Collins: This mix of lemonade and gin can be served virgin as well.
Mai Tai: This fruity rum drink will have guests feeling like they were transported to a retro tiki bar.

Entertainment Fit for the Fifties

To keep the party going, you’ll need to plan themed activities and games for guests to enjoy. Of course, you can always plan traditional bridal shower games like bridal bingo.

You can also compile some fifties trivia and blend it with questions about the bride, groom, and wedding traditions.

If you’re looking for some crafts, set up a station where guests can design their own 1950’s-inspired decor or accessories.

Have them decorate scarves, cat-eye sunglasses, or mix their own shade of red lipstick to wear at the party. Or use old records to create fun pieces of decor they can hang in their homes.

Finally, get your guests moving by playing classic 1950’s Motown and teaching them the most popular steps of the time. The jitter-bug, the boogie-woogie, and the rockabilly stroll are just some of the dances that people were doing at parties during this decade.

1950’s-Themed Party Favors

A 1950’s diner themed party favor box, complete with a customized label! Photo Credit: 5M Creations

To show your guests how much you appreciate their attendance, give them a fun, fifties-inspired gift! Make sure you choose something practical that they will use often.

This will ensure your efforts don’t end up in the trash can! Here are some ideas you can use.

Customized milkshake glasses with a fun straw
Personalized bags of cotton candy
Cat-eye sunglasses
A silk scarf in your party colors
A mini convertible (like a car!) phone holder
A poodle-themed bath bomb
A jukebox candy dispenser
Diner-themed gummies (Haribo sells them!)
A pair of ruffled socks
A personalized apron

What to Wear to a 1950’s-Themed Bridal Shower

Vintage hairstyles and dresses take this vintage theme to the next level! Photo Credit:
Krystleurbe

The best way to amplify your theme is to get your guests in on the fun! Use the invitation to set a dress code. Ask everyone to dress in a 1950’s inspired outfit according to your theme.

If you’re centering your party around the idea of a housewife, ask everyone to wear an apron and bring their favorite recipe written on a card you’ve included with the invite.

Did you choose a Grease or sock hop-themed party? Ask guests to wear outfits inspired by the rockabilly scene. This means poodle skirts, ruffled socks, and a scarf around their neck! Don’t forget the saddle shoes so they can dance to the top tunes of the time.

Finally, if you are hosting an elegant, vintage-themed party, ask guests to dress in their 1950’s-inspired best. This means a cinched waist, A-line skirt, and a form fitting bodice. Or ask them to accessories the dress they are wearing with classic items that just scream 1950’s.

For the bride, make sure she stands out in an all-white outfit that fits the theme. You may want to buy her a special piece to show she’s the guest of honor.

A white scarf around her neck, rhinestone cat-eye glasses, or a customized pair of saddle shoes will show her how much you care.

Enjoy a Blast from the Past!

Hosting a bridal shower can be overwhelming, but it is so rewarding. Choosing the right theme will help you craft an event that suits the bride-to-be’s taste and excites your guests.

Take your time and make sure every choice you make centers around the bride’s wants and needs. She is the guest of honor, after all!

So grab a beverage and a notepad and start planning an epic 1950’s themed bridal shower today!

Hosting a 1950’s Themed Bridal Shower: Everything You Need to Know!