Ideas for a Spooky, Halloween-Themed Bridal Shower
A Halloween tablescape can be spooky and elegant. Photo Credit: Wedding Forward.
Spiderwebs, pumpkins, black lace, and other Halloween imagery isn’t just for haunted houses.
If you’re hosting an autumn bridal shower or are planning a shower for a spooky bride, a Halloween-themed bridal shower is the perfect choice.
Selecting a Venue
A Halloween color palette works well in any setting. But a Halloween theme offers an opportunity to take advantage of unique bridal shower venues that may not work with most themes!
So whether you’re hosting at home or in an event space, you can make it a spectacularly macabre venue. And you can do it on a budget!
Tea rooms and restaurants can be decorated to resemble a haunted house with the right spooky items. Choose a space where you can dim the lights to add to the ambiance.
If you’re throwing the party in someone’s home, you can host outside if the weather is right. Spider webs and dark lace look great draped over greenery!
Choosing Halloween-Themed Invitations
When you’re ready to send out invites, you have a lot of options. Choose the design that matches the bride’s favorite part of Halloween.
Does she like vintage Halloween imagery or witchy brooms and cauldrons? You can go bright with candy-corn themed invites or spooky with a black and white Adams Family vibe.
Don’t forget to include some romance. It is a bridal shower, after all! Skeletons are super trendy, so find some images with two skulls sharing a smooth or skeletons kissing to add to the romance!
As you decide on your color palette, go beyond the typical black, white, and orange. Pinks and purples turn Halloween when paired with black and white.
You can also add deep maroon or lime green accents to add a pop of color while staying on theme.
Creating a Spooky Invitation Message
Catch your guests’ attention by including cute invitation wording for your spooky invites. Start with a cute saying that boasts your unique theme. Here are some ideas:
Eat, Drink, And Be Scary- She’s Getting Married!
Till Death Do They Part
Boos and Brunch With The Bride
She Found Her Boo
This Witch Is Getting Hitched
All Treats, No Tricks!
Follow your cute saying with the bride’s name, so the reader knows who’s the guest of honor. Add all the important venue information and event times.
Finally, include RSVP info and registry directions. Send out your invitations about 6 weeks before the bridal shower so guests can add your Halloween bash to their calendars!
Decorating for a Halloween Bridal Shower
Now the fun part: decor! There are so many directions you can go, so you need to be strategic. Otherwise, it will look like just another Halloween party. You need to make sure everything reads a bridal shower while staying true to the theme.
Black lace table cloths are a great way to keep your tables elegant yet spooky. Tall tapers with Halloween-themed bases are a great addition that will add the perfect mood lighting to your tablescape.
Sprinkle in some plastic skulls, crystal balls, and of course, mini pumpkins. Black flowers also will add natural beauty while staying on theme.
You can enhance your space by adding decor to the wall. If you’re into thrifting, look for vintage frames and add spooky photos for a haunted mansion aesthetic.
Look for anything that screams Halloween. Remember, you can also use gold, maroon, or black spray paint to make traditional items connect to your theme.
Building a Halloween-Themed Food & Drink Menu
Themed food is fun to plan, especially when there is a Halloween twist! You can channel the bridal shower theme in so many ways. If you’re planning on using charcuterie board ideas, stage the food to look spooky.
Take a plastic skeleton and arrange the meat to look like guts. Add jams to really make it look scary. If that’s too gory, simply arrange the tray in the shape of a spider!
Serve drinks out of a big cauldron. Add edible glitter or set up a “make your own potion” lemonade stand. Guests can create their own concoction in fun, themed tumblers that can double as party favors.
Finally, deck out your dessert table by using fun colors and decorations to enhance the Halloween theme. This could mean cookies in the shape of popular Halloween images, cupcake decorations, or even cake pops in your event color palette.
Costume Ideas for the Bride & Guests
What’s Halloween without costumes? Invite your guests to be part of the theme by dressing in a Halloween costume. You can leave it open to interpretation or give a more specific theme.
Ask them to dress as their favorite rom com character, their first crush, or even as the bride! This will make for some awesome pics.
Have the guest of honor dress as her favorite bride. There are tons of iconic brides in pop culture that make great photos! If she wants to be more understated, get her some fun, Halloween themed accessories, like skull hands hair pieces or some ghost earrings
Halloween-Themed Game & Activity Ideas
Keep your guests entertained with some fun wedding games and activities. Classic games like He or She, Mad Libs, and Bingo get a bridal shower twist when you add bride and groom themed content.
Select one or two games to give the party a nice flow and get your guests interacting. Activities like crafts are also fun ways to make the bridal shower unforgettable.
Guests can decorate their own witch hats with silk flowers, jewels, and other embellishments. Decorating masks is another fun, wearable craft. You can also set up a trick or treat style candy bar.
Give guests their own little treat bag and let them go around the event space taking candy from each station. Remember: adding in some game prizes makes everyone just a little more competitive!
Spooky Opportunities & Backgrounds for Your Bridal Shower
The best memories from any event are the photos! So give everyone the opportunity to snap fun, unforgettable photos. Set up a spot with a fun backdrop and a balloon arch. Add accents, like spider webs too. Turn your shower saying from your invites into a banner too.
Selfie stations are great since guests can use their phones. Take it to the next level by offering a Polaroid camera! This vintage throwback makes for the perfect opportunity for guests to take home a little piece of your party. They can pose with props like signs, feather boas, and of course, masks!
Sending Guests Home With Scary Favors
Trick or treat! It’s time to think about what treats you’re sending home with your guests as a thank you for being a part of your bridal shower.
Choose functional items that they can use over and over. Or go for a fun treat they can enjoy on their way home from the event. Here are some ideas:
Treat of classic Halloween candy
Themed lip balm
Mini decorative pumpkins
Skeleton key bottle opener
Candied apples
Halloween phone charm
Skeleton hand earrings
Halloween headbands
Bat-shaped cookies
A mini cauldron filled with candy
Light up shot glasses
Dos and Don'ts for a Halloween-Themed Shower
Planning any event takes a lot of work and creativity. Here are some tips you can use to make sure your bridal party goes off without any hiccups.
Do ask the bride - With a broad bridal shower theme like Halloween, there are so many options. Make sure the bride gets exactly what she wants by asking her! If it’s a surprise, ask her future husband.
Don’t skip a budget - Setting up a budget is a huge step because it helps manage costs, expectations, and prevents spending from getting out of hand.
Do plan a special surprise - Even though the bridal shower is honoring the bride, special surprises make it even more meaningful! Have guests sign a photo mat and use it to frame a group photo of the event. You can also purchase a spooky journal and have guests write letters to the bride throughout the event. Present it to her at the end!
Don’t forget the romance - Halloween is spooky, but don’t forget to add romantic elements to keep the event bridal. Bows, pastel colors, and delicate touches will keep the party theme on the right track.
Do have fun - While planning an event is stressful, don’t forget to have fun! Delegate tasks to keep your plate from overflowing. The bride has a whole tribe of loved ones who will want to show how much they care. So ask for help!
Inspiration Gallery
Concluding Your Spooky Event
Throwing a bridal shower is a huge honor. It means the bride trusts you to give her the event of her dreams. If she’s into all things spooky, a Halloween themed bridal shower will put a smile on her face!
Go all out with the theme, but remember that this is ultimately a bridal shower. Incorporate delicate touches and elements that remind the guests why they are there: to celebrate the unique love of two happy people!