Everything you Need to Throw a “Something Blue Before I Do” Theme Bridal Shower

I haven’t shared much about my upcoming wedding on here—partly because life has been busy, and partly because I want to keep some surprises for my guests. Behind the scenes, though, I’ve been collecting inspiration, planning all my DIY touches, and assembling a dream team of vendors I trust to bring my vision to life.

Now that my bridal shower has come and gone, I’m so excited to finally share how beautifully everything came together—and hopefully inspire you if you’re planning a similar themed celebration!

A couple of weeks ago, my mom threw me the most beautiful bridal shower I could’ve imagined. Actually, she helped me plan two—one in Pennsylvania and one in Connecticut, so both sides of my family could be part of the celebration. I gave her a collage of images, and she ran with it in the best way possible. Here’s the vision board I created, made up of inspiration I found on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest:

Everything turned out even better than I imagined. The table centerpieces were absolutely adorable, the stationery was perfectly on-theme—from the signage to the games—and we even had a flower bar where guests could create their own bouquets, which was such a hit. Of course, no event is complete without a stunning photo backdrop, and this one definitely delivered. It didn’t hurt that the venue we chose was breathtaking on its own, setting the perfect tone for the whole celebration.

One of the first design elements we focused on was sourcing blue and white chinoiserie vases. Chinoiserie has become such a popular motif lately, and when paired with bows and lush florals, it creates a romantic, feminine aesthetic that I absolutely adore. I was able to score a few smaller pieces at Goodwill (thrift finds always make it more fun!), but we found most of the larger vases on Amazon and at TJMaxx.

Table Settings

Blue and white chinoiserie vases—carefully collected from a mix of thrift stores, Amazon, and TJMaxx—lined the center of each table, each one unique since there’s really no place to buy a complete set. The mix-and-match look made the tables feel extra charming and intentional. At each seat, guests found neatly folded napkins, a sweet blue fabric gift bag with games and a mini pencil inside—tying it all together with a personal and polished touch.

When looking for these vases, it’s okay that they all look different! The various shapes and height of the vases adds more interest to the table display. I started looking weeks in advance at thrift stores while my mom scoured facebook marketplace. In the end there weren’t many available second hand so the bulk of ours were purchase brand new.

Flower Bar

Welcome Sign | Flower Bar Cart | Bouquet Wraps | Tea Cart (vintage) | Ribbon

I’ve always loved making my own bouquets, but I rarely get the chance since it’s usually more cost-effective to just buy a pre-made one. When we were brainstorming meaningful take-home gifts for our guests, I knew I didn’t want to go the route of personalized tchotchkes. As cute as they can be, most people don’t keep them—and then feel guilty throwing them away. A bouquet, on the other hand, is the perfect gift: it’s beautiful, personal, and gets displayed in your guests’ homes for a week or two as a sweet reminder of the day. And when it’s time to toss it, there’s no guilt—just happy memories.

The bar cart itself came together in a few pieces which we assembled the majority of before hand. To put it in the car all you need to do is break it down in two pieces and remember to bring your allen key with you. To make assembly even faster we filled the white buckets with water and flowers the night before. They were transported in a spare laundry basket so all that needed to be done day of was set the buckets into the cart.

Most of the flowers were purchased at Trader Joes and a few extras at Produce Junction. If you call Trader Joe’s ahead of time and know specifically what you’d like (in our case blue hydrangeas) they can set them aside for you. If you arrive when they first open you will have your pick at any of the other flowers. The prices were very reasonable and if you are flexible with the exact flowers you buy, it is a great option. They had multicolored baby’s breath that I was obsessed with!

Games + Prize Station

Signs | Kisses | Jar | Gift Baskets | Blue Ribbon

No party is complete without games and activities for your guests. There are tons of options on Etsy to purchase packages of signs, games, and other stationary. This is the signage package we purchased and this the game package. We had several games for people to play while they sat down and waited for their food.

First was the “How Many Kisses?” game where my mom filled a jar with blue wrapped Hershey kisses and asked guests to guess how many kisses were in the jar. The person to get closest without going over won the entire jar filled with kisses. The next 2 games were included in the kit was bridal emoji Pictionary and wedding Madlibs.

The winners received a gift basket my mom put together. The basket and wrapper came from Amazon, while the fillings were fun goodies she found at TJMaxx. If you are looking for an easy package idea this one is perfect. Don’t forget crinkle paper and matching ribbon for a professional look.

Photo Backdrop

This backdrop was another labor of love by my mom! She DIY-ed the flowers and the sign covers. I don’t have the exact flowers she got, but there are tons available on Amazon, Temu, and craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Using a pool noodle, stab the flowers through the noodles until they fill out. You can make these as dense as you want and at any length that you want. She made one larger one and cut a second to make a smaller piece for the second arch. Lastly, top off the backdrop with a sticker decal with the theme “Something Blue Before I Do”.

I had such an amazing time getting to talk, laugh, and make memories with my closest friends and family. Being celebrated and surrounded by so much love was truly one of the highlights of this entire wedding season. Every detail of the “Something Blue Before I Do” theme made the day feel so personal, thoughtful, and fun — from the decor and desserts to the heartfelt moments we shared.

If you’re thinking about planning a shower like this for the bride-to-be in your life, take it from me — she will absolutely love it! It’s the perfect way to make her feel special, supported, and so excited for what’s to come.