A bridal shower is another great way to celebrate the fact that you’re getting married. It may have been a while since your engagement party or you may have guests from out of town who weren’t able to attend previous celebrations. So bringing together your nearest and dearest for a bridal shower is the perfect excuse to celebrate before your big day. If you haven’t been to one before, think of it as a baby shower but celebrating the bride-to-be!
One thing most guests remember from any event is the food and drink. Putting a little thought into what you’re going to serve can ensure that you leave your guests with fond memories of the event. Start to think about if you will have a bridal shower theme and what time of day will you be hosting your guests. Most likely you’ll want a selection of bite size, finger food that people can enjoy. Or perhaps you’d prefer an afternoon tea style event.
Bridal Shower Food And Drink Ideas
Old Fashioned Lemonade
Makes 7 servings
Ingredients
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1-1/3 cups sugar
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5 cups water, divided
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1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
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1-3/4 cups lemon juice (about 10 large lemons)
Instructions
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Combine the sugar, 1 cup of water and lemon zest in a large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved (about four minutes).
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Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and remaining water.
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Refrigerate until cold and serve over ice.
Peach Bellinis
Makes 12 servings
Ingredients
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3 medium peaches, halved
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1 tablespoon honey
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1 can (11.3 ounces) peach nectar, chilled
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2 bottles (750 ml each) champagne or sparkling grape juice, chilled
Instructions
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Place peach halves cut side up on a baking sheet lined with foil. Drizzle with honey.
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Fold foil over peaches and seal.
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Bake at 375° for 24-30 minutes until tender.
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Once completely cool, remove and discard the peels.
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Place the peaches in a food processor and process until smooth. Transfer the puree to a pitcher.
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Add in the nectar and 1 of the bottles of champagne. Stir.
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Pour into 12 glasses of your choice and top with the second bottle of champagne.
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Serve immediately.
Champagne Party Punch
Make 18 servings
Ingredients
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1 cup sugar
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1 cup water
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2 cups unsweetened apple juice
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2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
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1/2 cup lemon juice
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1/3 cup thawed orange juice concentrate
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1/4 cup lime juice
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2 cups ice cubes
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1 quart ginger ale, chilled
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1 bottle (750 ml) champagne, chilled
Instructions
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Combine the water with the sugar in a large pitcher and stir until sugar dissolves.
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Add in the apple, pineapple, lemon, lime juice and orange juice concentrate.
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Pop it into the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
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When it’s time to serve, pour into a punch bowl and add the ice cubes. Slowly add ginger ale and champagne.
Sangria
Makes 10 servings
Ingredients
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1 bottle (750 milliliters) merlot
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1 cup sugar
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1 cup orange liqueur
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1/2 to 1 cup brandy
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3 cups cold lemon-lime soda
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1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
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1 medium orange, sliced
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1 medium lemon, sliced
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1 medium peach, sliced
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Ice cubes
Instructions
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Add merlot, sugar, orange liqueur and brandy to a pitcher. Stir until sugar dissolves.
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Stir in soda and fresh fruit.
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Serve over ice.
The following recipes are written to serve one person for a snack or a light meal each, so adjust accordingly. Think about how many options you will have on the day and how many people you will be catering for.
Cucumber Goat Cheese & Prosciutto Bites
428 calories
Ingredients
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1 Cucumber, small – 32 calories
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2 oz Goat Cheese – 206 calories
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2 oz Prosciutto – 120 calories
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1 cup Blueberries, fresh – 70 calories
Instructions
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Slice cucumbers into coin shapes. Top with cheese, prosciutto, and berries.
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If you’d prefer 1/2 cup of blueberries and 1/2 cup of strawberries, that’s fine!
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No prosciutto? Use additional cheese. No dairy? Use a dairy-free brand or additional prosciutto.
Light Poke Bowls
338 calories
Ingredients
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¼ Avocado, small – 58.25 calories
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4 oz Smoked salmon – 133 calories
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¼ cup Edamame, shelled – 65 calories
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1 Cucumber, small – 32 calories
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1 cup Veggie noodles/rice, cauliflower “rice”, raw – 38 calories
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2 Tbsp Soy sauce – 0 calories
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2 tsp Sesame seeds – 12 calories
Instructions
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Chop cucumber into coin shapes. Dice avocado.
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Boil edamame if eating from frozen.
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Spray a pan with an olive oil spray.
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Stir-fry cauliflower rice for ~7 minutes, until you see some browning.
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Once cauliflower rice has cooled, combine all ingredients.
Bowtie Meatball Bites
If you have gluten-free guests, just swap for gluten-free pasta.
283 calories
Ingredients
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½ cup Pasta, cooked – 100 calories
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½ cup Leafy greens, lettuce, raw – 2.5 calories
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3 oz Mini meatballs, turkey – 180 calories
Instructions
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Cook pasta (bowtie shapes preferably!) as instructed on package.
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Microwave meatballs from frozen.
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Spear with toothpicks as shown in picture.
Low Carb Tea Sandwiches
292 calories
Ingredients
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1 Cucumber, medium – 42 calories
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7½ Tbsp Cream cheese, whipped – 250 calories
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2 Tbsp Dill – 0 calories
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2 Tbsp Chives – 0 calories
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1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
Instructions
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Note: 7 1/2 Tbsp cream cheese = 1/2 cup
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Cut herbs finely.
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Slice cucumber.
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In a bowl, combine cream cheese, dill, salt, and pepper. Stir until herbs are mixed in.
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Spread mixture evenly on cucumber.
Zucchini Pizza Bites
208 calories
Ingredients
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1 Zucchini, medium – 33 calories
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¼ cup Tomatoes, canned, crushed – 12.5 calories
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⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella – 112 calories
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2 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) – 50 calories
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
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Slice zucchini into coin shapes.
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Spray a pan with an oil spray.
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Stir fry zucchini for ~2 minutes.
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Remove from heat & add sauce and cheeses.
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Bake zucchini pizza bites for 4 minutes (alternatively you can use a toaster oven).
American Flag Grahams with Yogurt
229 calories
Ingredients
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2 Graham crackers – 118 calories
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¼ cup Yogurt, flavored (<15 gm sugar/ serving), 2% Greek - 50 calories
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¼ cup Pomegranate seeds – 43.5 calories
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¼ cup Blueberries, fresh – 17.5 calories
Instructions
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Spread yogurt evenly over graham crackers.
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Top with blueberries and pomegranate seeds in American flag pattern.
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No dairy? Use a dairy-free yogurt
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The memories of being a kid make these the perfect comfort food! Plus it’s almost like having an ice cream without the calories.
Lightened Up Spinach & Artichoke Dip
511 calories, so much healthier than a classic layer dip!
Ingredients:
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1 cup Frozen spinach – 38 calories
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3 slice Artichokes, canned (pieces) – 30 calories
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6 Tbsp Cream cheese, whipped – 200 calories
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⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella – 112 calories
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⅓ cup Cheese, Parmesan, grated (cups) – 115 calories
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1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
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1 cup Celery stalks, chopped in half – 16 calories
Instructions:
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Cut artichokes into small pieces.
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Spray pan with an oil spray and stir-fry spinach on medium heat.
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Once cooked through, drain any excess liquid with a sieve.
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Add in rest of ingredients (aside from celery), stir frequently for another 5-6 minutes, or until your desired temperature.
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Serve with celery sticks for dipping.
Jalapeño Poppers
362 calories
Ingredients:
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2 Tbsp Cream cheese, whipped (Tbsp) – 66 calories
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¼ cup Cheese, shredded, cheddar – 114 calories
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¼ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella – 84 calories
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2 Uncured bacon, slice – 88 calories
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2 Jalapeno peppers (whole) – 10 calories
Instructions:
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This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a small bowl, stir/mash together the cream cheese and shredded cheeses (microwave the cream cheese for a few seconds first).
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Fill the jalapeno halves with mixture and wrap each with ½ strip bacon. Place onto baking sheet.
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Bake for 15-20 minutes
Cucumber Goat Cheese & Prosciutto Bites
428 calories
Ingredients:
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1 Cucumber, small – 32 calories
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2 oz Cheese, goat – 206 calories
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2 oz Prosciutto – 120 calories
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1 cup Blueberries, fresh – 70 calories
Instructions:
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Slice cucumbers into coin shapes. Top with cheese, prosciutto, and berries.
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If you’d prefer 1/2 cup of blueberries and 1/2 cup of strawberries, that’s fine!
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No prosciutto? Use additional cheese. No dairy? Use a dairy-free brand or additional prosciutto.
Apple “Samoas”
269 calories
Ingredients:
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1 Apple, small – 77 calories
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⅔ Tbsp Chocolate chips – 46.9 calories
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1 Tbsp Coconut chips – 45 calories
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1 oz Caramel – 100 calories
Instructions:
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Slice apples as shown in picture. Cut out core of slices.
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Melt caramel in microwave for ~60 seconds.
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Drizzle caramel on top of apple slices.
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Top with chocolate chips and coconut flakes.
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Note: 2/3 Tbsp = 2 tsp (for chocolate chips)
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Bonus tip: make 2 “cookies” & eat the other apple slices as a side dish, to make the 2 “cookies” a real part food with a good amount of toppings!
Strawberry Sundae Bites
171 calories
Ingredients:
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1 cup Strawberries, fresh – 50 calories
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4 Tbsp Regular whipped cream – 60 calories
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2 tsp Sprinkles – 40 calories
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0.3 Tbsp Chocolate chips – 21 calories
Instructions:
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Cut stem off strawberries, slice each lengthwise.
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Top with whipped cream, sprinkles, and chocolate chips.