What Is a Reasonable Budget for a Bridal Shower? (2024)

Bridal showers are a pre-wedding celebration where guests "shower" the bride-to-be with gifts, love, and attention. It's about having fun, being with friends and family, and enjoying delicious food.

But how much does a bridal shower cost, and who pays for it? That's the big question.

Fortunately, this post provides some answers. You'll learn how much each element of a bridal shower typically costs, showing you how much people need to spend on it.

Who Pays for the Bridal Shower?

Traditionally, the maid of honor hosts and pays for the bridal shower. However, nowadays, this responsibility can fall to anyone associated with the bride, such as the bride's mother, sister, aunt, or even just a friend.

The host should discuss the event with the bride to establish her wishes, create the budget and build a guest list. They should also remember that the bridal shower is fundamentally about the bride, and the setup is different from a wedding, where the couple themselves pay.

How the host arranges finances is a personal decision.

How Much Does a Bridal Shower Cost?

The cost of a bridal shower depends on several factors, such as:

According to CostHelper, a bridal shower costs $15 to $40 per person. That works out at $300 to $800 for a 20-person party but can go as high as $150 per person or $3,000 for a 20-person shower. Based on these estimates and an average bridal shower guest list of 35-50 people, a reasonable budget for a bridal shower is between $350 and $7,500.

How Much Does Each Element Of A Bridal Shower Cost?

How much your bridal shower costs depends on how much your host spends on each element of the day.

Bridal Shower Venue

The venue is one of the most significant expenses of a bridal shower. According to Tagvenue, bridal shower venues can cost anywhere from $65 to $3,900 daily.

The Warehouse by David Alan offers a bridal shower venue for parties of varying sizes and tastes. It is in New Jersey and has state-of-the-art sound and lighting, traditional surroundings, and customizable décor options. It also comes with an on-site coordination and planning team to manage every aspect of the day, ensuring things run smoothly.

Bridal Shower Catering

Food is another significant expense of a bridal shower. According to Discover, wedding catering prices range per person, depending on various factors such as location, menu type, and service style. For example, a buffet-style catering service would cost less than plated meals.

However, you'll need to spend more at a bridal shower if you want guests to have the best experience. A budget of $30 to $100 per person is reasonable. This would make the average cost of catering for thirty-five guests around $1050-$3500, or $1500-$5000 for fifty guests.

The Warehouse is part of the David Alan Caterer's Group, meaning we offer highly qualified chefs and an extensive menu collection. With us, diners can enjoy various entrées, hors d'oeuvres, and delicious desserts, all made according to their dietary requirements.

Bridal Shower Decorations

Decorations can add flair and personality to your bridal shower, making it a special event. Zola estimates that couples need to spend between $200 and0 $3,000 on wedding ceremony decorations and between $1,000 and $15,000 for the reception. Assuming the costs transfer to bridal showers, you can expect to pay upwards of $1,000.

However, when you come to The Warehouse, we include them in the package and put them up for you. Tell us what you require, and we will do the rest.

Bridal Shower Entertainment

Lastly, you'll want to consider entertainment costs. Entertainment can make your bridal shower more fun and memorable.

Bridal shower entertainment typically costs the same as regular entertainment. For instance, hiring a DJ in a major metro is $1,600 to $2,200. Again, you can approach a team member and get more information on the prices you are likely to pay.

Have Your Bridal Shower At The Warehouse by David Alan

For hosts, arranging these elements is complicated. That's why The Warehouse does it all for you. We care for the venue, food, décor, and entertainment, wrapping it up into a single, affordable package. Plan your next event today.

What Is a Reasonable Budget for a Bridal Shower? (2024)

FAQs

What Is a Reasonable Budget for a Bridal Shower? ›

That works out at $300 to $800 for a 20-person party but can go as high as $150 per person or $3,000 for a 20-person shower. Based on these estimates and an average bridal shower guest list of 35-50 people, a reasonable budget for a bridal shower is between $350 and $7,500.

Who normally pays for a bridal shower? ›

In short, the host is the one who pays for the bridal shower—or at least some of it. Most commonly, this is the maid of honor, but the couple's relatives, friends or even the to-be-weds themselves can all pitch in to cover the cost of the wedding shower.

How much should I budget for a bridal shower? ›

If you're going all out with an elaborate bridal shower, you could be talking $40 to $150 or more (gasp!) per person. Even a small, elaborate bridal shower (think 15 guests) could cost between $600 and $2,250—and that's before invitations, decorations and cake.

What is an appropriate amount for a bridal shower? ›

The standard amount to spend on a bridal shower gift is around $50-$75. If you're invited to a bridal shower but not particularly close with the bride, expect to spend at least $25. Regular friends, co-workers, or distant family members should consider spending up to $75 if they have the budget to spare.

What is a normal amount of people at a bridal shower? ›

Bridal Shower Guest List Size. An intimate bridal shower for 15 people is perfectly normal, as is a 50-person coed shower that feels more like a co*cktail party. A variety of factors can influence the size of the guest list, such as: the shower location.

Who should not host a bridal shower? ›

Traditional etiquette dictates that the maid of honor—not the mother of the bride—should host the shower. Nancy is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Some etiquette rules were meant to fade away into oblivion, like the one about family members of the bride not hosting her bridal shower.

Should the mother of the bride pay for the bridal shower? ›

According to standard etiquette practice, a bridal shower is paid for by the person hosting the event, who, in most cases, is the maid of honor.

How to throw a bridal shower on a budget? ›

How to Plan an Amazing Bridal Shower on a Budget
  1. Create an Intimate Guest List.
  2. Ask Around for a Venue.
  3. Print Invitations on Your Own.
  4. Keep the Food Simple.
  5. Consider Batched Drinks or a Signature co*cktail.
  6. Go Easy on Games and Entertainment.
  7. Keep the Focus on the Bride.
Oct 19, 2022

How many hours is a typical bridal shower? ›

Bridal showers typically last 2-4 hours and are not considered an all-day event. Although, depending on the type of shower you are hosting the time can vary. Most showers will either take place in the morning and serve as a brunch, or in the afternoon served with lunch or finger foods.

Does the mother of the groom give a shower gift? ›

Typically, as per tradition, the mother of the groom will bring a gift for the bride to the bridal shower. It can be something small and thoughtful. However, if she cannot attend the shower the bride's side of the family hosts, maybe because of distance, she can host her own.

What is the difference between a wedding shower and a bridal shower? ›

“The wedding shower is co-ed and inclusive of anyone the couple wants to include in the celebrations,” says Martens. “Simply put, a wedding shower is for the couple and a bridal shower is for the bride.”

What is a good size for a bridal shower? ›

Traditionally, a shower is an intimate affair with only the future spouse's (or spouses') closest friends and family in attendance. For some people, however, bigger is better, and the guest list becomes more extensive (and therefore more costly). In 2023, the average bridal shower size is 30 guests.

What is the protocol for a bridal shower? ›

"If someone is not invited to the wedding, they should not be invited to the shower." For the bridal shower, this usually includes the bridal party and the couple's family and close friends. The number of people invited depends on how large the event is intended to be.

Who is traditionally responsible for the bridal shower? ›

The maid of honor traditionally takes on the role of chief shower planner. But she isn't a one-woman show: She relies on the bridesmaids to help her with planning logistics. On the day of, the girls run the party, making sure everything goes smoothly and that guests are taken care of.

What is the mother of the bride responsible for? ›

A key mother of the bride task on the day of the wedding is to host the reception with the other parents. Take the time to chat to guests, thank them for coming, ensure everything is happening as it should be and just generally make sure the day is running smoothly.

Who is expected to give a bridal shower? ›

When it comes to the question “who hosts a bridal shower,” the most popular answer is usually the maid of honor. One of the most important maid of honor duties is leading the charge to plan the bridal shower, from choosing a venue to sending out bridal shower invitations, planning games to choosing favors.

What does the maid of honor pay for? ›

"We often see the maid of honor assist in covering the cost of the bridal shower (often in conjunction with a family member of the bride), covering her own costs and some of the costs of the bride for the bachelorette party (in conjunction with the rest of the bridesmaids), her own travel to and from the wedding, a ...

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