An old barrel can add rustic charm to an Italian-themed bridal shower. Photo Credit: Woman Getting Married

Throwing a bridal shower? You’ll need a good theme that embodies everything your bride is about and elevates your party to new heights. A solid bridal shower theme fits the season and the vibe of the guest of honor.

So, if your bride is a jet-setter or has Italian roots, throw her an Italian-themed bridal shower!

Italy has a lot to offer: food, architecture, and beautiful natural landscapes. So you will be easily inspired as you are party planning.

Here is everything you need to know to host the perfect Italian-themed bridal shower for your favorite bride-to-be.

Invitations: Set the Italian Tone

Your invites will give guests a glimpse into your theme, so the design is incredibly important! Use Italian-inspired designs, like Tuscan landscapes, olive branches, or classic Italian tiles.

The color palette will be earthy with pops of colorful accents. You can also theme your invitation with images of wine, pasta, or even Italian landmarks like The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Once you know your style, brainstorm some cute wording ideas that will make your invitations pop. Good invitation phrase wording at the top will not only instantly align the invite to your theme, but will capture your potential guests’ attention. Here are some ideas:

Benvenuta (welcome in Italian)
Festa per la Sposa (party for the bride)
That’s Amore!
All You Need is Love and Pasta
Mama Mia! She’s Getting Married!
Join Us to Celebrate Love and Pizza
From Italy with Love (use a postcard theme)
Prosecco and Pizza with the Bride!

Remember to include all of the important information below your saying. Guests will need to know who the party is for, when and where it will be, and what gifts she prefers.

Is the bride not utilizing any bridal shower registry ideas? Ask if she'd like a “stock the pantry” party where guests bring pantry items so she can have a fully stocked kitchen to cook meals for her new hubby!

This is a great option for couples who have already set up their “nest” and could use a leg up on their life together.

Venue and Decor: Bring Italy to Your Shower

An outdoor bridal shower with lemons, Italian patterns, and sun hats. Photo Credit: Nuage Designs

Al fresco, or outside, dining is very popular in Italy. As you choose a venue for the Italian bridal shower, consider outdoor spaces like patios, gardens, or even a vineyard setting for a wine-themed bridal shower!

If you’re hosting during the colder months, see if your area has an indoor garden space, like a greenhouse, to host in. Of course, you can also throw the shower in a loved one’s home to save big and personalize the event.

Wherever you host, the decor is what will take your party to the next level. Choose an Italian color palette full of warm, rustic colors like olive green, gold, and terracotta.

Bring in long wooden tables for family-style dining or toss checkered tablecloths over existing tables. Want something more elegant? You can’t go wrong with classic white linens with gold decor accents!

When choosing your floral arrangements, use olive branches, sunflowers, and roses. The bright colors will create gorgeous bunches. Use string lights or candles for a romantic ambiance.

Drape rustic lights across your event space and add bunches of fairy lights to the base of glass jars. Turn off the lights and your guests will feel like they’ve been transported to a romantic Italian restaurant.

Italian Cuisine: The Heart of the Celebration

In Italy, food is at the center of every gathering. Italian foods are naturally colorful and full of flavor, so choose your favorite dishes. No matter what you choose, it will be fresh, plentiful, and always made with love.

Channel this energy into your bridal shower by serving meals family style, or in large bowls from which guests fill their plates.

Menu Ideas

Appetizers

Antipasto platters: Fill platters with Italian meats, cheeses, and marinated vegetables.
Calamari: Bite-sized fried squid is an Italian staple
Mini lasagna rolls: These rolled lasagna bites can easily be made vegetarian.
Olive tray: Offer an array of gourmet olives stuffed with cheese, garlic, or spicy pastes
Mozzarella sticks: A familiar favorite, fried cheese makes a great app.
Italian bread and dipping oils: Infused olive oil takes the place of butter to add flavor to crusty Italian bread.

Main Courses

Pasta stations: This affordable buffet option is easy to organize and make allergy-friendly. Offer a variety of pastas, including a gluten-free option. Give guests the choice of sauces and proteins to make their own dish.
Wood-fired pizzas: Choose 2-3 gourmet topping combos and allow guests to pick their own slices.
Chicken piccata: Capers and a creamy butter sauce is the perfect complement to angel hair pasta and affordable chicken.
Eggplant or chicken parm: This classic dish features a fried main component, like chicken, veal, or eggplant, covered in marinara sauce and topped with melted mozzarella.
Spaghetti and meatballs: A surefire crowd-pleaser, don’t forget to put out a high-quality grated cheese to elevate this humble dish.

Desserts

Cannoli: Fried shells are filled with creamy ricotta cheese and chocolate chips then topped with powdered sugar.
Tiramisu: This classic layered Italian cake will be the star of the show.
Gelato bar: Italian ice cream is notoriously sweet, so you can serve this gourmet option in smaller amounts to save money while still giving guests what they crave.
Rainbow cookies: This cake and cookie combo features cake the colors of the Italian flag layered with raspberry jam and then covered with a thin layer of dark chocolate.

Beverages

Prosecco: This Italian wine can be enjoyed from the bottle or mixed with peach puree to make Bellinis!
Italian wines: Choose your favorite red or white Italian wine and buy it in bulk from a club store.
Limoncello cocktails: Mix Limoncello with gin and club soda to make a refreshing, bubbly beverage.
Espresso: Offer Italian espresso in place of coffee. Guests can enjoy it black or mix it with milk to make an Americano.

Activities and Entertainment

Keep the party going with fun Italian music. Make a playlist of Italian classics, like Andrea Bocelli or modern Italian pop. You can also include instrumental music and songs associated with Italian movies.

Games keep your guests entertained. Italian themed trivia with culture, food, and wedding tradition categories will get everyone into the competitive mood. Make sure you have some great bridal shower prizes to hand out to the winners.

If you want activities that your guests will never forget, opt for Italian-inspired activities.

Set up a wine-tasting experience with stations where guests can sample different Italian wines and classically paired bites of food. Or have a DIY dipping oil station where guests create jars of their own infused olive oil using herbs and spices.

Finally, you can set up a pasta making station for guests to try to roll their own pasta! They will talk away with a new skill and amazing memories.

Party Favors: A Taste of Italy to Take Home

Personalized gourmet olive oil favors are functional and fun! Photo Credit: Lemon8

It’s common in Italian culture to send guests home with a token of appreciation, like a covered dish or pastries. Favors are a great way to show gratitude to your guests and give them a little taste of your shower theme to take home with them.

So brainstorm some Italian gems your guests will appreciate. Here are some ideas!

Mini bottles of olive oil personalized with the couple’s name and wedding date
Italian cookies packed in beautiful boxes
Custom wine stoppers with Italian-inspired designs or engravings
Gourmet Italian seasoning in glass bottles
Silicone spatulas with the couple’s names engraved into the handle
Bags of high-quality pasta
Jars of organic pasta sauce (or gravy, as the Italians call it!)

What to Wear to an Italian-Themed Bridal Shower

A bride to be and her friend raise a glass. Photo Credit: Amanda Colombo Photography

Dress codes are a fun way to enhance your bridal shower theme and get the guests in on the fun. Encourage guests to look like they’ve stepped out of an Italian villa by swearing sundresses with floral prints and large sunglasses.

You can also ask them to wear Italian fashion classics in black so everyone looks posh. Of course, the bride will need to stand out.

Have her wear something elegant with lace and a classic cut. She can give a nod to traditional Italian bridal wear by choosing a peasant-style white dress with colorful embroidery.

She can also wear a flower crown made from Tuscan buds to channel the Italian countryside.

Concluding the Event

Bridal showers should reflect your bride’s interests and personality. So if she’s of Italian heritage or has always dreamed of basking under the Tuscan sun, an Italian-themed bridal shower is the perfect way to show her how much you care.

So, do some research and choose elements that will make your guests feel like they are partying in an Italian villa. Remember to always err on the side of the bride.

Ask her what her preferences are, and give her what she wants as often as you are able! Before long, you will be sitting back and looking at the fruits of your labor.

Italian-Themed Bridal Shower Ideas!