Bridal showers are full of celebration, laughter, and thoughtful touches, but they can also come with a price.
Understanding bridal shower prices before you start planning can make all the difference, helping you create a memorable event without breaking the bank.
Costs can vary widely depending on the venue, food, guest count, location, and how elaborate you want the shower to be.
Here’s a closer look at what you might expect.
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Typical Bridal Shower Prices
- A solid rule of thumb is $50 to $150+ per guest when hosting a shower at a venue with catering and décor.
- On the low end — say, something at home or very casual — you might get away with $10 to $40 per guest.
- If you’re booking a venue, hiring professional décor or entertainment, catering with full meal and drinks, the total cost for an event of ~30 guests can be $450 to $1,200+ just for food, and much more including all extras.
- In more extravagant cases (large guest list, upscale venue, full service) you might see totals in the $600 to $7,800+ range, depending on what you include.
Cost components to plan for
- Venue: Hosting at home costs next to nothing for space; renting a restaurant, hotel or event space adds significantly.
- Food & Drinks: Lighter fare (finger foods, brunch) is cheaper; full meal plus alcohol drives up cost.
- Decor/Theme/Favors: Simple DIY décor keeps costs low; custom décor, professional styling adds up.
- Guest Count: More guests = more food, more favours, more rentals, more cost.
- Extras: Games, entertainment, photo booth, rentals, etc all add.
- Hosting arrangements: Who pays? Traditionally the host (maid of honour, bride’s close friend or family) covers the cost, but often others contribute.
Budgeting advice
- Start by defining your guest list size and how formal you want to go. This will shape nearly all costs.
- Decide on host and cost‑sharing: Make clear who is contributing, what the budget is, and how those costs are covered.
- Choose location wisely: Hosting at someone’s home or a free/low‑cost venue gives you more flexibility to spend on food or fun.
- Decide your “must‑haves” vs “nice‑to‑haves”: For example, maybe you splurge a little on catering and skip the expensive photo booth.
- Keep an eye on per‑guest cost: If you aim for ~$50 per guest at a venue, then 20 guests = ~$1,000 in cost; 40 guests would double that if everything else is the same.
- Remember other hidden costs: invitations (printed or digital), taxes/tips for catering, rentals, transportation or parking, etc.
- If you’re on a tight budget, you can host something informal (home + light refreshments) for maybe $10‑$20 per guest.
Summary on Average Bridal Shower Cost
In short: for a modest yet comfortable venue‑based bridal shower you might plan for $50‑$100 per person.
If you prefer something more budget‑friendly, you could aim for $10‑$40 per person by simplifying venue, food and décor. The total event cost then depends on number of guests and the level of service you want.
How Much Should a Bridal Shower Cost?
A bridal shower budget can vary widely depending on factors like location, guest count, and the type of event.
On average, the cost typically ranges from $15 to $50 per person, but it can be higher for more elaborate events.
Here’s a breakdown of typical expenses:
How Much Should a Bridal Shower Cost?: Low-Budget Bridal Shower ($100–$500)
- Venue: Host at home or a park (free or low cost)
- Food & Drinks: Homemade appetizers, potluck, or simple catering
- Decorations: DIY décor, balloons, and flowers
- Games & Favors: DIY games and small keepsakes
How Much Should a Bridal Shower Cost?/How Much to Spend on a Bridal Shower?: Mid-Range Bridal Shower ($500–$1,500)
- Venue: Private room in a restaurant or café
- Food & Drinks: Buffet or plated meal with drinks
- Decorations: Professionally designed decorations or themed décor
- Games & Favors: Custom games and thoughtful favors
How Much Does a Bridal Shower Cost?/How Much is a Bridal Shower?: High-End Bridal Shower ($1,500+)
- Venue: Upscale restaurant, rooftop, or rented event space
- Food & Drinks: Full-service catering, open bar, or specialty cocktails
- Decorations: Professional event planner, floral arrangements, and custom décor
- Entertainment: Live music, photo booths, or interactive activities
Ways to Manage Bridal Shower Budget Costs
- Split Costs: Co-host with other bridesmaids or family members
- DIY Décor & Invitations: Save money with digital invites and handmade decorations
- Limit Guest List: Keep it intimate to reduce food and venue costs
- Host at Home: Eliminates venue fees
Ultimately, the cost should reflect the bride’s style and your budget. A thoughtful, well-planned event can be memorable without being expensive.
How to Plan a Bridal Shower on a Budget
An easy way to keep costs for a bridal shower down is to split the cost of the event.
For instance, if the bridal shower is held in a public place such as a restaurant, not during peak time, each attendee could cover their own cost of food and drinks, while the bride’s bill gets divided among all those present (or in the case of a bridal shower hosted at someone’s home, everyone can bring a drink and/or food to share along with their gift).
The easiest way to keep the cost of a bridal shower low is to have a simple event at someone’s home with inexpensive refreshments.
Most importantly, spend the bulk of your budget on things that are important to the bride. For instance, if the bride is not a big drinker, have an alcohol free event.
If the bride loves to go out, then maybe go out to a restaurant but ask if you can bring your own cake from home instead of buying it from the restaurant.
I mentioned above that another way to keep costs low is to not have one person foot the entire cost of the event. This can work if you are going out to say a restaurant, but can work too even if the bridal shower is held at someone’s home.
For instance, one person can be in charge of bringing all the decorations, while another can be in charge of providing games and entertainment, while yet another person can be in charge of bringing one part of the refreshments say salads, deserts, or drinks.
If the bridal shower is not held at a time where a full meal is expected, let’s say mid-morning or mid-afternoon, then you can cut down costs on what food is provided, i.e., snacks instead of a complete meal.
Another thing you can do to reduce costs of a bridal shower is to set the theme of the bridal shower based on what things you can already get for free. For instance, decorations you might have from a previous bridal shower or a free venue that you know is readily available.
Some bridal showers may call for traditional paper invitations, but in this era of digital everything, you can save costs on this item on your budget by using a free online invitation service. Chances are that you will find free templates online, all you will have to change are the details of the invitation, you can send the invitations and get RSVPs from all your guests without spending a dime.
I recently went to a very fun bridal shower, and what made it so fun? A good guest list of the bride’s closest female friends and family, as well as well chosen games to play that were essentially free.
Simply do an online search for bridal shower games, and you are bound to find lots of great ideas to keep the bride and your guests entertained for hours.
The key to having a low-cost bridal shower is to find a low-cost venue. Think of a place that has wonderful lighting, for photos, and good scenery or landscape. This will minimize the need for a lot of decorating to make the event feel fabulous.
Photo Credits: Bridal Guide