Bridal Shower Menu Choices

If you are hosting the bridal shower in your home, you can choose to serve anything from a complete brunch, lunch or dinner to an elegant tea (tea with thin sandwiches and dainty desserts), to just hors d'oeuvres or just desserts. When making your choice, consider your budget, the theme, the bride's taste in food, and the most convenient time of day to suit your guests. Of course, if you serve an all-desserts menu, you should time the shower for after the normal dinner hour, so that all your guests will have eaten their evening meal.

For theme wedding showers, try to tie in dishes and/or table decorations to complement the theme.

When considering whether to have a sit-down luncheon or a buffet, remember that many people are not adept at holding a plate and drink on their lap. If you serve buffet style, be sure you have enough table space for all your guests to sit down - or have plenty of snack tables available

If funds permit, you may think about having the party catered. Alternatively, party platters can now easily be ordered from your local supermarket and will save you a lot of time and effort in the kitchen.

Be sure that there is enough food and drink for everyone. It is much better to have some food left over than to run out of an entree because you underestimated portion sizes.

If you are the hostess, you should be mingling with the guests, not testing out a new recipe. So, if you want to prepare the meal yourself, stick to casseroles and salads, which can be prepared ahead of time.

Be considerate of those with special menu needs. If your guest list includes those with kosher or vegetarian requirements, search through your recipes for a meatless dish, such as a bean casserole. If you plan to serve alcohol, make sure that you also offer a nonalcoholic alternative.

Plan on presenting a special cake to the bride. The presentation can take place at the end of the meal, or you can bring out the cake with coffee, tea and soft drinks, after the gift-opening ceremony.

Following are some simple menu suggestions:

BRIDAL SHOWER BRUNCH
Orange juice or Mimosas (orange juice with champagne) to toast the bride
Fresh bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, or cold cuts with rolls
Chicken or seafood salad
Mini Danish
Fruit salad
Coffee or tea with the shower cake

BRIDAL SHOWER LUNCH OR BRIDAL SHOWER DINNER
Appetizers: vegetables with dip, or cheese and cracker tray.
Champagne, wine or nonalcoholic champagne to toast the bride.
Caesar salad and rolls
A casserole such as lasagna, eggplant, salmon, chicken, etc.
Apple pie
Coffee or tea with the shower cake

BRIDAL SHOWER TEA
Sandwich assortment: cucumber, cheese, pate, etc.
Assortment of sugar cookies
Petit Fours (bite sized pastries)
Fruit salad or English trifle
Basket of individual tea choices
Shower cake
Champagne, wine or nonalcoholic champagne to toast the bride. For a festive appearance, perhaps add a couple of strawberries or some raspberries at the bottom of each glass.