Tropical-Themed Bridal Shower Ideas
A bride-to-be sitting in a chair decorated with tropical leaves. Image by Inspired by This.
Does your bride always have the on her brain? It’s no wonder: the tropics are full of brightly colored flowers, ample greenery, and lush fruits. Plus, this climate always brings to mind a frosty beverage and a good time!
If your bride-to-be is heading to the beach for her honeymoon, or has a summer wedding planned, throw her an amazing tropical-themed bridal shower!
Here’s everything you need to know to plan, prepare, and launch the perfect tropical themed bridal shower!
Tropical Bridal Shower Invitations
You only get one chance to make a good first impression. This is why it’s so crucial to get your tropical bridal shower invitations just right!
The good news is that this theme is super versatile, so you’ll find no shortage of invitation ideas. Remember to send them at least six to eight weeks ahead of time. This will allow guests to check their calendars and decide if they are able to attend.
Design Ideas
Start by deciding how you will approach this theme. There are so many ways to execute, so be sure to check with the bride to make sure she approves.
You can focus on the lush green rainforests and decorate your invites with monstera leaves, bright flowers, and vines. Or you can create a collage of tropical fruits and plan your invites and decors around those bright colors.
There are other ways to elevate your invitations to make them more tropical. You can use textured paper to give the leaves on the invite more dimension.
Looking to give your guests a sensory experience? Spritz the invites with a coconut or pineapple scented spray!
What to Write Inside
The most important information to include is the location address, event times, and RSVP details. Make sure the bride’s name is prominent on the invitation so guests know who the party is for.
You can also include a QR code that brings guests to the bride’s gift registry to ensure she gets everything she needs to start her new life! If there is a dress code, add it to the invite so your guests have enough time to plan their outfits.
Include some cute phrases like “Tropic like It’s Hot” or “Let’s Flamingle.” These sayings will tie in with the theme and let the guests know exactly what to expect during the bridal shower!
Decorating Your Tropical Venue
A tropical-themed bridal shower is the perfect way to channel the future bride’s love for the tropics or just infuse fun and warmth into a winter bridal shower.
The best part is that this theme is so versatile that you can easily transform any venue into an oasis!
Table and Setting Decor
The table is where the bride and her guests spend most of their time, so make sure every detail is just right.
Add glass vases filled with giant monstera leaves, bright tropical flowers, and tea lights. If the tables are rustic, leave them uncovered for an earthy look. Otherwise, go with stark white table linens to make the bright colors pop!
Coordinate your chargers, plates, and bowls to complement the color palette you’ve created. Gold utensils look really expensive next to all the greenery that comes with a tropical bridal shower theme!
Creating a Tropical Oasis
A great way to transform any space into a tropical paradise is to use artificial vines. You can easily drape them around the space, accenting with bright silk tropical flowers.
Infuse some fairy lights or paper lanterns for a soft, inviting glow. You can also use LED tiki torches and lanterns around the space, especially if you are hosting an evening shower!
Tropical-Themed Activities and Game Ideas
Entertainment is crucial at a bridal shower. You can plan fun games to keep your guests smiling. If you are short on time, there are lots of printable bridal shower games you can download and be ready to play in no time.
Otherwise, you can plan different activities and opportunities to entertain guests.
Photo Ops
Photo booths and backdrops are a great way to keep a party lively and give guests the opportunity to remember your event.
For a tropical themed bridal shower, you can build your own background with greenery and large tropical flowers. Provide some fun props, like flower headbands or coconut cups for guests to pose with.
You can also order a customized photo backdrop, complete with the bride's name, date, and your fun shower saying. This is an easy, quick way to set up a selfie station and give guests a fun experience.
Craft Ideas
A bride and her guests posing in front of an Aloha backdrop area. Image via HunnyPrints on Etsy.
Crafts are quickly becoming a popular bridal shower activity. This is because they take a good amount of time, allow guests to flex their creativity, and give attendees a fun favor to bring home.
For a tropical themed bridal shower, stick with crafts that channel all things tropical. You can have guests design their own tumbler with green glitter, small paper flowers, and other tropical elements.
You can also set up a beautiful flower bar stocked with tropical flowers and greenery. If you are looking for an activity that will create something for the bride, think of something that will lead to a functional or aesthetic product.
You can have guests write advice on paper monstera leaves and create a beautiful collage to present to the bride at the end of the event.
Or you can frame a tropical print and have guests sign the photo mat or use green, gold, and hot pink paint to leave their fingerprint. This will give the bride a fun keepsake from her shower.
Food and Drink Ideas for a Tropical Themed Menu
A food table set up with tropical leaves and balloon colors. Image by Bridal Shower 101.
Appetizers and Main Courses
If your bride is looking to avoid the sweltering heat of the Summer, consider hosting a bridal shower brunch! Not only is brunch food typically more affordable, but it is often less temperamental for warmer weather conditions.
Your tropical menu should be full of citrus, greens, and offerings that make guests feel like they are vacationing on a tropical island.
Create a vibrant bridal shower charcuterie board and garnish the platters with ferns. Incorporate tropical fruit into your appetizers and main courses too. For example, pineapple and ham skewers or mango chicken are great choices that tie into a tropical theme.
You can also offer a barbeque menu and incorporate tropical decor to channel an island luau. Drape leis around the platters of food and use faux pineapples and coconuts to hold utensils!
Tropical Desserts and Drinks
Is there anything better than sipping a tropical beverage? Offer a rum-based signature cocktail complete with a little umbrella! If you want to go the extra mile, stock up on pineapples, hollow them out, and use the rinds to hold the drinks! Don’t forget to have a non-alcoholic mocktail for guests who cannot drink alcohol.
For dessert, make fruit the star! Display the cut fruits leaf-shaped bowls or bake some fruit tarts with kiwis, melons, and star fruits. You can also use some edible cupcake toppers to make your baked goods instantly on theme!
Tropical-Themed Favor Ideas
At the end of your event, show your appreciation by giving guests themed party favors. The best favors are functional, so look for useful items with tropical elements.
Handmade soaps are a great choice because they can be used or displayed in your guests’ homes. You can also offer coconut-scented candles, bottles of sunscreen, or a small potted tropical plant. Even gourmet jelly beans in your shower color palette will fit the bill!
You can also order customized bridal shower labels so you can buy items in bulk and DIY your shower favors. For example, the labels can fit on bottles of lip balm, bags of candy, or sheet masks.
Tropical Outfits and Accessories for the Bride
Your bride-to-be will be the center of attention at her bridal shower, so it’s important that she looks and feels her best. If you are setting a dress code, make sure the bride is the only one wearing white.
Ask her to wear a boho maxi dress or a white dress with tropical elements. Your guests can wear bright colors, like hot pink, orange, or turquoise to help her stand out!
You can purchase flowers for guests to wear behind their ear, saving the biggest and most elaborate for your guest of honor!
A tropical hair piece will help your bride stand out and make for the perfect keepsake she can display on her vanity. You can also offer leis for your guests to wear, reserving a white one for the bride-to-be.
Wrapping Up the Party
A tropical-themed bridal shower will instantly transport your bride to a white sand beach! She will appreciate all the time and effort you dedicated to making her shower the perfect event.
Always ask her for design preferences to ensure every choice you make is all about her. You’ll never forget the smile on her face when she sees your perfectly designed event!
The tropics are all about love, relaxation, and beauty. So use this inspiration to get planning!