We recently hosted a couples wedding shower for a young couple who live out of state. Since most of their friends and family in Minnesota hadn’t seen them in a while, it was a special day to celebrate and reconnect. It was our pleasure to celebrate as they prepare for their big day!
Time was limited, and it was a holiday weekend when guests have busy schedules. We wanted to ensure the couple had a chance to really talk to and spend time with people who made the effort to come to the shower. Having an Open House shower allowed people to come and go as needed, without worrying about being late or leaving early. The loose structure and flow of people in and out at different times allowed the couple to talk to everyone who came.
Couples Wedding Shower Invitations
Invitations for the shower were created using a free online template from Wedding Chicks. Most of the text in this Bridal Shower template can be changed, so it can easily be modified for a couples wedding shower. The invitations were printed on card-stock and mailed along with directions and an index card for guests to bring a favorite recipe to the shower.
Relationship Timeline
Because some of the guests didn’t know a lot about the couple, we created a relationship timeline to help guests learn more. There are lots of ways to display a timeline; chalkboards, printed graphics, or signs. We used black construction paper and white crayon to give the ‘chalkboard effect’ and framed it with scrapbook paper.
Include significant relationship events:
– when they met
– first date
– first “I love you
– the proposal
– wedding details
Our timeline was posted on the wall throughout the main room where everyone gathered. As people mingled and ate, they read and learned more about the couple. A few of them are shown below.
What They Love About Each Other
Using IKEA chalkboard easels, we displayed a list of the things the bride and groom love about each other. They were set up near the entryway to draw people into the house as they arrived. How neat is it that they both listed that they love how the other loves the Lord?
Open-House Friendly Food
Open house food should be easy for people to serve themselves, and for hosts to keep cold and fresh. We served fresh fruit, chicken salad with croissants, chips with salsa, spinach dip and guacamole, veggies and dip, deviled eggs, popcorn and an assortment of desserts.
To keep things simple, we served ice water, unsweetened iced tea with fresh lemons and sugar cubes, lemonade, coffee, and sparkling water.
Additional Special Touches
In the invitation, guests were asked to bring a favorite recipe. They dropped them off at the gift table. I was told some ‘secret’ family recipes were included. In the main room, there was a place for guests to leave a note of encouragement or advice for the couple to read later. A banner was hung across with their names made from the same patterned scrapbook paper as the relationship timeline. We also framed their Save the Date and Wedding Invitations to display them for guests.
Since the couple was from out of town, most gifts were small in size, making it easy for them to bring everything home on the plane. Some gave gift cards and money, and some wrapped a photo or description of larger gifts purchased from their gift registry and mailed.
Overall the shower was a success!
We had a great turn out, despite the holiday weekend. This couple is well-loved and people did not want to miss the chance to see them! The atmosphere was laid back and relaxing. Many guests stayed a most of time and were able to spend some quality time with the couple.
Hosting this shower was fun, and was such a blessing to me. Since we don’t live near the couple it was special to get the chance to celebrate before the big day. We had the privilege to finally meet Justin, see Brittni, and watch the respectful, joyful and loving way they interact. The wedding will be in Maine this June so our family will taking a short vacation to attend. We are also excited that our son Aiden will be the ring bearer (aka. polar bear, if you ask him) in the wedding, so fun!
Congratulations, Brittni and Justin!
We cannot wait to celebrate with you on your wedding day this June.
Also check out A Couples Wedding Shower for more ideas.
cute ideas!
Thank you! It was such a fun day!
[…] For more shower ideas, check out another couples wedding shower we threw last year- A Laid-back Open House Couples Shower. […]
I love this idea. I am assisting with a couples shower that we have scheduled for only a 2-hour shower due to some prior commitments of the bride and groom. Quick and easy will be important given the limited time.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I’d love to hear how the shower goes!
Plan on having a family get together for a couples shower. Was thinking of doing a gift card bouquet but not sure how to ask for those only as a gift. Suggestions?
Maybe “Please bring a gift card and favorite flower to bless the couple with a gift card bouquet”? OR I saw a post on facebook that said ” “contact hostess if you would like to contribute to a group gift” when people called I told them I was doing a Gift card bouquet. So when rye came to the shower they clipped their gift card to the bouquet. Everyone thought it was awesome especially the bride!!” It was on this facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/975Wabd/posts/534632236646270
Thank you so much. Absolutely love this idea😊
Were the gift cards for different places?
I’m not sure but it sounds like it would work either way. You could specify places the couple is registered so people know some options, or throw out ideas of some of the couples favorite shops or restaurants as well. Would love to hear how it goes!
Can you please tell me where you got the clear cake stands in the variety of sizes that was in your photo’s? We saw them in a cake dispay online and loved them, but we have not been able to find them for sale anywhere. My daughter is wantiing to use them for her wedding.
I would greatly appreciate the information.
Thank you
These were borrowed from my mom but I believe she got them at Home Goods years ago. I know that doesn’t help much in finding them! I did find a similar taller stand online from Wayfair https://www.wayfair.com/kitchen-tabletop/pdp/darby-home -co-albaric-cake-stand-dbhm7788.html and perhaps this shorter one from Kohls? https://www.google.com/shopping/product/9390334666862541196?lsf=seller:6382239,store:10770339364416260179&prds=oid:3651684015310618884&q=tall+glass+cake+stand&hl=en-us&ei=nmzHWoHQCKq-jwSh-JfQAw&lsft=ci_mcc:ci,utm_campaign:LIA_Kitchen,utm_medium:CSE,utm_source:google,utm_product:39646930,CID:shopping30,utm_campaignid:305037658&lsft=gclid:EAIaIQobChMI6-qGydel2gIVB7bACh0QTAWTEAQYDiABEgK-N_D_BwE
Hope you find what you are looking for! Congratulations to your daughter!
Were there any games played for fixes for guests? I’d love to get some ideas for it if there were!
We did not play any games at the request of the bride and groom. However, we did have lawn games ready to go as a low-key option for entertainment and friendly fun (but the weather did not cooperate).