10 Exciting Bridal Shower Games to Spice Up the Celebration

Experienced bridesmaids often have bridal shower planning mastered, from choosing the ideal decorations to perfecting the chicken salad recipe. Seasoned planners depend on a handful of reliable games to foster a lively atmosphere and prevent awkward interactions. However, shower games shouldn’t add unnecessary stress. Some require minimal preparation and materials, while others demand more attention. Most bridesmaids keep the games family-friendly, saving the more risqué options for the bachelorette party. After all, it’s best to keep certain details from the mother of the bride! These 10 classic shower games are enjoyable for all attendees, from the youngest bridesmaid to the groom’s great-grandmother.

10: Toilet Paper Dress and Veil

For this entertaining game, head to your nearest drugstore to gather supplies! Start by splitting guests into small groups of three or four, with one person in each group chosen to model a bridal outfit, veil, and accessories crafted entirely from toilet paper. The bride-to-be picks the winning team, and each member receives a prize, bragging rights, or both. This game is a favorite for creating memorable scrapbook moments and even a bit of good-natured blackmail material.

9: Clothespin/Safety Pin Game

Bridal shower conversations often focus on the upcoming wedding. But how challenging is it to discuss the event without using specific wedding-related terms? For this game, distribute a set number of safety pins (or clothespins to avoid damaging clothing) to each guest. Prohibit the use of four or five wedding-related words, such as the groom's name, "wedding," "church," "love," or "honeymoon." If a guest catches someone saying a forbidden word, they can take all of that person's clothespins. The guest with the most clothespins by the end of the shower wins a prize.

8: Trivia Time

By the end of this game, everyone will discover something new about the bride! A popular version is the Newlywed Game, which challenges the couple’s understanding of each other and their opinions on various topics. Before the shower, the groom answers 20 to 30 questions about the bride or their relationship, such as where they first met, their most common disagreements, or their dream retirement location. The groom can provide written, audio, or video responses. During the shower, the bride answers the same questions, and the groom’s answers are revealed, often leading to laughter and surprises.

This game can also be adapted to quiz guests about the bride. Participants answer trivia questions about her life, preferences, fears, family, education, and other fun facts. Alternatively, a crossword puzzle filled with details about the bride can be created for guests to solve.

7: Bridal Bingo

Bridal shower Bingo is versatile and can be tailored to fit the occasion. If many attendees are strangers, use Bingo as an icebreaker to help everyone mingle and discover their connections to the bride. Create Bingo cards with phrases like "college buddy," "family member," "born in the same year," or "loves shoes as much as the bride." Guests find someone who matches each description and have them initial the square. The first to complete their card wins a fantastic prize, such as scented lotions, which are always a hit.

Alternatively, play Bridal Bingo traditionally by using cards filled with wedding-related terms instead of numbers. Before the party, prepare slips of paper with wedding trivia or terms, such as the venue name, the bride’s ring style, or the honeymoon destination. As each term is called out, players mark their cards using pens or creative markers like candy hearts, as recommended by The Knot.

6: Pass the Bouquet

A childhood favorite gets a bridal twist as guests pass a bouquet (real or made from gift bows) around the room like Musical Chairs. While music plays, the bouquet circulates, and when the music stops, the guest holding it is out. The game continues until only one lucky winner remains.

5: Name that Herb

Make sure to provide plenty of snacks for guests to enjoy during this game, as it’s sure to spark an appetite. Perfect for kitchen-themed showers, Name That Herb is simple to organize. Gather fresh aromatic herbs like basil, thyme, and oregano, placing each in numbered paper cups. Pass the cups around, and have guests guess the herb by scent. For added challenge, cover the cups with lids or ask players to close their eyes while sniffing, as some may recognize herbs by sight. The guest who correctly identifies the most herbs wins. Keep a few extra herbs on hand in case of a tie.

4: Guess the Groom

This game gives the bride a guilt-free opportunity to touch other men’s legs! Invite the groom and a few other male volunteers to join the shower briefly. In Guess the Groom, the bride, blindfolded, feels the calves of each man and tries to identify her groom. This game is especially fun at couples’ showers, where there’s no shortage of willing (and possibly tipsy) participants. The groom can also take part by guessing which legs or hands belong to the bride. Unless the bride is naturally bold, this game will surely make her blush!

3: Celebrity Hubby

Everyone has a soft spot for a celebrity crush. Celebrity Hubby is a fun, simple game that’s sure to spark laughter and excitement. Have each guest write down their dream celebrity husband and place the answers in a bowl. The bride draws the slips one by one, and guests try to match the celebrity to the person who chose him. This game might uncover hidden desires for stars like David Beckham or David Copperfield (no judgment here, but your friends might tease!). It’s a playful way for guests of all ages to indulge in fantasy and feel youthful and glamorous—unless you’re 30 and still dreaming about the Jonas Brothers. That’s just awkward.

2: Memory Lane

The bride’s hidden passion for boy bands might surprise some guests during this entertaining game. The idea is straightforward: Guests jot down a humorous memory they share with the bride, like getting matching Tweety Bird tattoos or sitting front-row at a Backstreet Boys show. Players then guess who wrote each memory. Hosts should consider the guest list when explaining the game. If the bride’s future mother-in-law is attending, keep the stories family-friendly—no tales of table dancing or body shots!

1: Pictionary

This classic party game gets a bridal twist with minimal effort. Gather standard Pictionary supplies: pens, markers, an easel with paper, and slips of paper featuring wedding-related terms like "flower girl," "getaway car," or "on bended knee." Divide guests into teams, and have them take turns guessing the phrases within 60 seconds. If a team can’t guess correctly, other teams can steal the point. The game continues until a team hits a set score or the paper runs out—whichever happens first.