It’s getting chilly outside: it’s time to plan the coziest fall bridal shower ever!

If you’re eager to plan a fall themed shower for the couple, you’ll find step-by-step instructions and tips to bring your party to fruition. We’ll introduce you to some popular fall shower themes, inspire you with invitations to send to your guests, discuss menu, desserts, games, prizes, and how to decorate for the occasion.

We’ll also share some of the best take-home party favors to give that are all brimming with fall themed wedding shower goodness.

Ready to fall in love with these ideas? Let’s get to it!

IN THIS BLOG POST:

► Selecting a Theme
► Colors
► Choosing a Venue + Date
► Fall Bridal Shower Invites
► Backdrop
► Napkins
► How To: Decorating a Fall Wedding Shower
► Fall Bridal Shower Favors
► Bridal Shower Games + Prizes
► Food + Desserts
► Guest Book

The first thing to do when you’re hosting a party or, in this case a wedding shower, is to select a theme.

By doing so, you’ll have a cohesive, organized event and you’ll find it easy to plan the colors, menu, favors, and decorations to tie along with it nicely.

Here are some themed shower ideas that work well for the autumn months.

Fall Wedding Shower Themes

A fall wedding shower makes its own theme, all by itself, chock-full of charming fall colors and leaves, pumpkins, etc.

But you can take it one step further with, “Fall In Love” or “Falling In Love” as your motif and use the wording throughout your signage, favor tags, invitations, and more.

You can also emphasize one aspect that you like most of the autumnal season and turn it into your theme:

• Mason Jars
• Sunflowers
• Pumpkins
• “Appley Ever After” / Apple Cider
• Fall Leaves
• Lanterns

etc.

Once you’ve selected your theme, pick the colors you’d like to go along with it.

What does the bride like? Does she prefer orange, gold, brown, and red? Does she like bright yellow like sunflowers and hints of green? Would she prefer deep rich burgundy tones and hints of gold? Decide what color palette suits the couple best. Take notes because you’ll refer back to that later when you select the invitation and the decorations for the wedding shower.

Meanwhile, you’ll want to go ahead and select a venue and then pick a date. Here’s how to do it with ease.

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Select a Venue

Next, you’ll select a venue. It can be at a banquet hall, a restaurant, in a garden, at a cider mill, at a vineyard or winery, your own backyard, or your home. The shower can be anywhere that is large enough (or small enough) to host your preferred number of guests.

Time

A typical wedding shower is held on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon for a few hours during 12 to 3pm or 1 to 4pm.

This isn’t always the case, though: a brunch bridal shower may take place in the earlier hours from 11am until 2pm, whereas a couples’ shower where everyone is invited may be best suited for a dinner party, beginning around 5pm.

Month

You’ll want to host a fall wedding shower between the months of September and November when the season is brimming with festive autumn colors and the leaves are falling and crispy beneath your feet, cider and donuts are in season, and everyone wants a cozy, campfire-like setting. :) That’s the vibe you’re aiming for here.

Once you’ve found the venue, it’s time to book it! Once you do, you’ll have an official party date. Yay! Now you just have to tell your guests all about the fun ahead.

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Fall Bridal Shower Invitations

You’ll want to formally invite guests to the bridal shower via printed invitations through the mail.

Once you discuss the guest list with the couple and finalize it, you’re ready to shop for invitations. It’s easy to find beautiful fall bridal shower invites online and many will work with or can be edited towards any type of theme you’re imagining.

You can find cute fall wedding shower invitations at Minted, Zazzle, and Etsy, just to name a few.

Here are a few invitation options to get your inspiration flowing.

► This fall bridal shower invite features an elegant Fall In Love motif and beautiful leaves. By Painted Paperie.

► Prefer a rich jewel tone color palette? Opt for these burgundy wedding shower invitations with notes of fall by Creative Union Design.

► And last but not least, these elegant fall bridal shower invitations are a popular choice for the party by Painted Paperie.

► WHEN TO MAIL INVITES: You’ll mail the bridal shower invites no later than 6 to 8 weeks before the party. Ask guests to RSVP two weeks prior so you can have an accurate headcount for your caterer.

Next, let’s talk decorations: it’s one of the best steps of planning a fall wedding shower!

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Backdrop for Bridal Shower

A backdrop makes an excellent photo opportunity for your guests. You can take photos and set up a photo booth, or simply set up a backdrop to serve as large decor for the party itself. A simple backdrop like this fabric one or even a large boxwood panel backdrop you build yourself can make all the difference.

You can start with a blank canvas of a room — your home, a banquet hall, a restaurant wall that looks empty — and really bring this theme to life thanks to an elegant backdrop for bridal shower decorating.

Check out these two examples below.

► Beautiful Burgundy Bridal Shower Backdrop by IJayShop

► Fall in Love Backdrop by LavenderDropsDesign

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Napkins

Personalized details are key when it comes to hosting a fall bridal shower for the soon-to-be weds. Don’t forget items like party cups, can coolers, or luncheon napkins, like these by SparkleAndSparrow.

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Next, incorporate decorations throughout the space. Key areas to note when decorating for a fall wedding shower include:

• Centerpieces on Tables

Candles, floral arrangements, or rustic wood slices with lanterns are all terrific ways to decorate tables, even on a budget.

Other options include LED candles like these, taper candles, taper candle holders (make sure you get the style you want in bulk), LED votives (I use this type for wedding receptions), and these mercury glass candle holders.

• Table Linens or Table Runners

I encourage you to look into burgundy, rust, orange, or navy blue gauze table runners. They add rich texture to your tables and can be accented with faux eucalyptus or lighted strands for a beautiful setting. You can get cheap gauze table runners from ShopUkrainianArt.

• Gifts Table

• Food / Drinks Table

• Cake Table or Dessert Table

Place a tablecloth on a cake table and accent the diameter of it with garland. Add a topper to the cake or toppers to cupcakes.

• Favors Table (or Place Favors at Individual Place Settings)

Here are some helpful decorating finds to assist in decor for all of the above.

– Use This Burlap Decoration That Reads, “Falling In Love” by NoLandLikeGarland

– Mr and Mrs Pumpkins (or Mr / Mr – Mrs / Mrs ) by FioriBelle):

– These Cute Wooden Pumpkins for Your Tables by GFTWoodCraft

– Decorate with Pampas Grass in Large Vases by MariFioriDecor

Or these smaller bunches:

– Mini Fall Leaf Garland by RelaxingRecoveries

– These Elegant Wood Lanterns by GFTWoodcraft

– Centerpieces by BellaBluebirdShoppe

– Mason Jar Centerpieces by RustiqueCharmByLeese

– Add Color with This Fun Tassel Garland by TasselLove

– Sprinkle These Candies on Tables by Distinctivs

– Wooden Box and Floral Centerpiece by CountryHomeandHeart

– Fall In Love Decorations for Tables by BurlapandBlingStudio

– Book Pumpkins for Centerpieces by RootToVine

– Add Succulent Pumpkins to Your Tables by QueenofSucculents

– Light Up Personalized Pumpkin Decor by LetsMakeMemoriesUS

– Add This Balloon Arch by CherCanDoIt

– Deck Out Tables With Eucalyptus and Pumpkin Garland by ZuzysWay

– Wood Table Confetti by SayItWithStyleDesign

– Make Centerpieces with These Wooden Book Decorations by StampedByEmily

– Fall In Love Confetti by Celebrations2Love

– Velvet Pumpkins by YourHeartsContent

– Add Fairy Lights to Mason Jars for Rustic Table Decorations by ElectricCrowns

– Place Card Pumpkins to Greet Guests by FolmarStreet

– Wood Pumpkin Place Cards by KNKArts

Next, you’ll want to order party favors for guests to take home. Lucky for you, fall bridal shower favors are creative, unique, and festive! Here are some of the best fall wedding shower favor ideas you can get now in time for your celebration.

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Favors

Here are some of the best favors to give guests that borrow elements of the fall season.

– Caramel Apple Favors by ClairesSweetTreats

– Jam Favor Jars by Miss Shelley’s Southern Jams and Jellies

– Leaf Lollipops by APocketfullofSweets

– Adorable Mini Soaps by LeBoxBoutique

– Scrunchie Favors by PlumPolkaDot

– Cozy Fall In Love Candle Favors by AriabellaCandles

– Leaf soap favors by GloryParty

– Pashmina Shawl Wraps by PartyArtForever

– Shower Steamer Favors in Fall Scents by ShowerSteamerShop

READ: 30 Fall Wedding Party Favors That Guests Like.

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Games

It is customary to play games at a bridal shower. You’ll print off game sheets for guests to play at their tables, typically starting upon arrival of the party and lasting until the meal is served. There is a bingo game that is played while presents are open, which is after the luncheon and during cake, but that’s the only exception.

You should purchase some fun prizes to give away for the winners of the games. These don’t need to be extravagant: think simple and fun! For a bridal shower, prizes like scented candles, spa products, hair accessories, lotions and bath products, face masques, gift cards, wine, journals, fun pens or markers, slippers, fuzzy socks, etc. are some of the best gifts to give away.

READ: Bridal Shower Game Prizes Under $10.

For easy games your guests will LOVE to play, get this digital game bundle that is available at WaterLiliesStore. It is editable and you can print as many copies of as many games as you like.

It is also fun to have a “Door Prize” raffle. Hand these scratch-off tickets to your guests upon arrival and they’ll scratch to reveal if they’ve won a prize. It’s a nice way to break the ice and get conversation moving as soon as the party begins. This scratch off card is available by EnchantingByDesign.

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Now that your guests have played some games and won prizes, it’s time to talk about food. Let’s eat!

Menu + Dessert

It is customary to serve food at a wedding shower. A typical wedding menu consists of a main meal — whether brunch, lunch, or dinner — and there is always dessert.

The meal menu can be handled by your caterer, who may suggest autumnal favorites like soups and sandwiches. For dessert, cupcakes or a delicious cake always fits well.

If you wish, decorated sugar cookies are a festive addition to the dessert table or can be packaged in these take-home bags for guests to enjoy later.

Top cupcakes with these fall in love toppers by FinneganTroutDesign

Planning a large cake instead? No problem! Here’s a larger cake topper by the same shop.

And offer these adorable cookies to your guests by TheWhiskedBaker

You can send them home with guests in these cookie bags, if you prefer.

And don’t forget a festive drink menu: hot and cold cider, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate always work well. For a festive touch, add a signature cocktail or mocktail such as a spiced apple punch or hard cider.

Last but not least, it’s not required but a guest book makes a nice addition to a bridal shower. Here is a style you’ll love!

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Guest Book

Have guests sign this pumpkin guest book! It’s the perfect fall bridal shower decoration item. By OhLivvyCreations.

And there you have it! The only thing left to do is outfit the bride in a cute and cozy crewneck sweatshirt, like this one by LoveSuna. Isn’t it adorable?

Now you know how to plan the perfect fall themed bridal shower from start to finish! Congrats! Tell me how it goes in the comment box below.

NEXT: Now, what are you going to wear? READ: 16 Perfect Fall Bridal Shower Dresses for the Bride-to-Be.

If you need more inspiration for all things fall, don’t miss the Etsy Editor’s Guide for frightfully fun favorites.