UNIQUE Book Themed Bridal Shower Ideas [TIMELESS + AFFORDABLE]

Written by: Dalia Abdalla

|

|

Time to read 11 min

Book Themed Bridal Shower


As an experienced event planner, I'm thrilled to share a delightful array of ideas for a book themed bridal shower that will leave everyone enchanted. From literary-inspired decorations to creative activities, this blog post is your one-stop destination for crafting a memorable and elegant celebration that celebrates the bride's love for books. Let's embark on a journey through the pages of creativity and romance to make this special day truly unforgettable!


Inspiration Look 1

Shop the look...

One of the charming and delightful decorations that I highly recommend for your book-themed bridal shower is the book page heart garland. 


  • Item Length: 110.24 Inches (about 9.2 feet or 2.8 meters per strand)
  • Heart Size: 2.75 inches (7 cm)
  • Package includes: 4 packs of paper heart garlands


This fantastic decoration isn't just cute, it's also really useful and stylish. The LED neon light can make your bridal shower feel like a fairy tale with its warm and cozy glow. 


  • Size: The neon light sign measures 15.8 inches in length and 8.9 inches in width.
  • Color: It emits a warm white light.
  • Cord Length: The cord attached to the sign is 6.6 feet long.

Torn book pages add a unique and charming touch that perfectly aligns with our literary theme. They create a sense of nostalgia and whimsy, invoking the feeling of flipping through the pages of a cherished novel. 

 

  1. Unique and Charming Aesthetic: Torn book pages add a distinct and charming look to the decor, making the event stand out and feel special.
  2. Alignment with Literary Theme: The torn pages align perfectly with the literary theme, creating a cohesive and immersive atmosphere for the guests.

  3. Nostalgia and Whimsy: The use of book pages evokes a sense of nostalgia and whimsy, reminiscent of the joy of reading a favorite book.



Inspiration Look 2

Shop the look...

As I brainstormed ideas for creating a charming book-themed bridal shower, one concept that really stood out was using stackable books paired with a single flower as the perfect centerpiece.


  1. Handmade: This item was handcrafted, hand-designed, or hand-altered with care and love.
  2. Rustic Farmhouse Decor: These decorated books fit perfectly into rustic farmhouse-style decor, making them a great addition to any shelf, mantel, or even wedding decorations.
  3. Recycled Materials: The books are made from upcycled paperbacks, making them an eco-friendly choice.

Want to make your book-themed bridal shower special? Let me tell you about newspaper bouquet wrapping paper – it's a great choice! What's awesome about it is how it gives your party a vintage and bookish feel. It's made from real newspapers, which adds a nostalgic touch to your decorations.


  1. High-Quality Material: This vintage English newspaper floral paper is made of high-quality material, making it comfortable to handle, lightweight, delicate, tough, and durable.

  2. Vivid Colors: The printing and dyeing process result in vivid colors and clear pattern printing. The paper is fashionable and versatile, making it an excellent material for floral DIY and gift packaging.

  3. Vintage Newspaper Style: The fine printed vintage English newspaper design with exquisite craftsmanship gives your flowers or gifts a unique visual appeal. It fills your flowers and gifts with nostalgia and uniqueness, creating a classic and timeless look.
     

I love the idea of giving bookmarks as favors at a book-themed bridal shower. They're a sweet way to thank your friends and family for being part of your special day.


  1. Premium Material: These bookmarks are made of true pressed flowers and quality resin material, ensuring they are brightly colored, vivid, durable, reliable, and odorless. They are also lightweight and can be easily carried around.

  2. Beautiful Design: The transparent bookmarks allow you to experience the beauty of nature while reading. They feature elegant and vivid pressed flowers, creating a fresh and eye-catching design that enhances your reading interest.


I absolutely love the softness baby's breath florals add to a bouquet. That is the main thing that caught my eye in this inspiration photo. They added in the books as a centerpiece in such a classy way. 

 

  1. Realistic Appearance: These artificial baby's breath flowers closely resemble real flowers, making them ideal for decoration.

  2. Quantity: Each pack includes 15 bouquets, with approximately 90 little buds on each bouquet, providing you with plenty of flowers for your needs.

  3. Suitable Size: The flowers are approximately 20.5 inches tall, making them suitable for most vases and arrangements.


Now these roses are the closest color to the ones shown in the inspiration photo. You have to be very careful when selecting the color for the roses as you are wanting to achieve a soft bouquet. 


  1. Long Stems: Each rose has a long stem, which allows you to adjust their length as needed for your arrangements.
  2. Durable Material: Made of silk fabrics and plastic, these roses are durable and can be used for various occasions.
  3. Easy to Shape: The flower stems contain iron wire, making it easy to bend or cut them to fit your floral arrangements.
  4. Perfect for DIY: Ideal for creating DIY wedding bouquets, centerpieces, kissing balls, cake decorations, and more. 

Planning ahead? We got the most beautiful wedding invitations!

Inspiration Look 3

Shop the look...

I'm really excited to tell you about these amazing book page cupcake holders for your book-themed bridal shower. They're a fantastic idea! What's so great about them is that they mix your love for books with yummy treats.


  1. Premium Quality: These tulip baking cups are made of high-quality grease-proof paper, ensuring that your baked goods won't stick and maintain their shape while baking.

  2. Unique Design: The newspaper print and tulip flower shape of the liners add an elegant and unique touch to your cupcakes and muffins, making them perfect for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, and parties.


These little wedding cake stands add the perfect rustic look. That is what made me fall in love with this photo. I absolutely love how they were able to add in the rustic feel books and libraries often remind us of, while keeping things elegant. 


  1. Versatile Design: This stand has four tiers, making it suitable for various uses beyond cupcakes. It can display cookies, candies, donuts, handicrafts, collectibles, jewelry, cosmetics, bottles, and even plants in the living room.

  2. Easy Assembly: You can set up this stand in less than 2 minutes without needing screws, brackets, or glue, thanks to its snap-in design and mortise and tenon construction. It can also be disassembled conveniently.



While I was not able to find the exact design and style of cake toppers shown in the photo, I found a very similar idea on amazon! You can simply glue them onto a plastic stick used for food, and use them as cake toppers for the cupcakes. 


  1. Unique Handmade Craftsmanship: Each flower is handmade and roller cut, resulting in a similar shape and style but with slight variations, making them unique and charming.

  2. Artistic Technique: The flowers are created using the lost art of paper quilling, showcasing artistic craftsmanship.



If I were to teach you anything, I need to stress the importance of balance. Now I know we are going for a rustic feel, but be sure to not include too many dark colors. It can really drain the room and make things gloomy. 


  1. Design: The table runners have an elegant and stylish design with delicate stitching along the edges, ensuring they don't easily fray or fall apart.

  2. Size: Each runner measures approximately 35" x 120", making them suitable for most types of tables. They are lightweight and compact for easy storage.



This cream color pairs very nicely with the table runner I attached above. It has a nice warm undertone that will pair nicely with the brown décor used for the cupcake display. 


  1. Versatile Use: Suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities, including dining, weddings, parties, picnics, barbecues, and more.

  2. Protection and Decoration: It not only protects your table from scratches and stains but also adds a decorative touch to your dining area.

  3. Wrinkle-Resistant: The fabric is wrinkle-free, ensuring that your tablecloth looks smooth and neat without the need for excessive ironing.




 Book themed birthday party games

How do I plan this all out?


Pre-Planning:

  1. Set the Date and Time:

    • Decide on a suitable date and time for the bridal shower.
  2. Select a Venue:

    • Choose a location that suits the theme, such as a cozy living room, a garden, a library, or a rented event space.
  3. Determine the Guest List:

    • Collaborate with the bride to create the guest list, considering her closest friends and family.
  4. Theme Selection:

    • Choose a specific book, author, or literary theme that resonates with the bride.

Invitations:

  1. Design Invitations:

    • Create book-themed invitations that match the chosen theme. Include RSVP details and any special dress code.
  2. Send Invitations:

    • Send out the invitations well in advance to ensure guests have ample time to respond and make arrangements.

Decorations:

  1. Purchase Decorations:
    • Plan and buy decorations that align with the book theme, including banners, book page garlands, and table centerpieces.

Activities and Entertainment:

  1. Plan Activities:

    • Organize book-related activities like a book swap, literary trivia, or a book reading session.
  2. Select Entertainment:

    • Consider music playlists that complement the theme and any special entertainment, like a live acoustic guitarist or a literary-themed game.

Food and Drinks:

  1. Create a Menu:
    • Design a menu featuring food and drinks inspired by the chosen book or author. Consider naming dishes after characters or settings.

Bridal Shower Cake:

  1. Order or Bake a Cake:
    • Order or bake a cake that fits the book theme, such as one with a book cover design or literary quotes.

Party Favors:

  1. Choose Favors:
    • Decide on bookish party favors like bookmarks, mini books, or personalized bookplates for guests.

Dress Code:

  1. Suggest Dress Code:
    • Suggest a dress code that encourages guests to wear book-themed attire or outfits inspired by the chosen theme.

Gifts and Well-Wishes:

  1. Designate a Gifting Area:
    • Create a space where guests can present their bridal shower gifts and share well-wishes with the bride.

Photo Booth:

  1. Set Up a Photo Booth:
    • Arrange a photo booth with book-themed props and backdrops for guests to take memorable photos.

Thank You Cards:

  1. Prepare Thank You Cards:
    • Have thank you cards ready for the bride to send to guests after the bridal shower.

Timeline and Schedule:

  1. Create a Timeline:
    • Develop a detailed timeline for the bridal shower, outlining when each activity or part of the celebration will take place.

RSVPs and Follow-Ups:

  1. Track RSVPs:
    • Keep track of guest RSVPs and follow up with those who haven't responded as the date approaches.

Party Day:

  1. Decor Setup:

    • Ensure all decorations are set up as planned, including table settings and centerpieces.
  2. Activity Coordination:

    • Coordinate the timing of activities, games, and entertainment.
  3. Food Preparation:

    • Prepare or arrange for catering according to the selected menu.
  4. Capture Memories:

    • Assign someone to capture photos and videos throughout the event to preserve memories.
  5. Enjoy and Celebrate:

    • Lastly, relax and enjoy the book-themed bridal shower with the bride and guests, celebrating this special occasion together.

Check out these beautiful invites!

"I have read so many books, it seems impossible to choose between all", let's break things down for you!

Genre Themes

I find genre-themed parties quite fascinating as they offer a specific framework while allowing plenty of room for creativity. You can organize enjoyable activities that align with the chosen genre and encourage your friends to embrace characters from books that fit within that particular literary style.

Genres to consider:

  • Horror
  • Fantasy
  • Action and Adventure
  • Romance
  • Mystery
  • Thriller
  • Children's

Author Themes

Another delightful concept is to select a renowned author and build activities around their most famous literary works.

Authors to explore:

  • William Shakespeare
  • Stephen King
  • Agatha Christie
  • Roald Dahl
  • J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Edgar Allan Poe
  • Virginia Woolf
  • Enid Blyton
  • Dr. Seuss
  • Jane Austen

Book Theme

Centering your party around a beloved novel or series can be an absolute blast! Just ensure that the chosen book offers a plethora of recognizable elements for your friends to immerse themselves in.

Consider books like:

  • Lord of the Rings
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • The Hunger Games
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
  • A Game of Thrones
  • A Court of Thorns and Roses
  • Sherlock Holmes

BYO Book Theme

Here's an incredibly enjoyable idea – a 'bring your own book theme.' Later in the celebration, your friends can turn it into a game. Invite everyone to dress up as a character from their favorite book or bring an item that represents their top literary choice. You can even award prizes for the best costumes or most intriguing objects and engage in a guessing game where participants try to identify each other's favorite books! It's a win-win for all involved.


Need Virtual Event Planning Services? Click here to see the list of the best!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good bridal shower theme?

A good bridal shower theme can reflect the bride's interests, hobbies, or personality. Popular themes include garden party, beach, vintage, tea party, and, as mentioned before, book-themed bridal showers.


How far in advance should a bridal shower be booked?

Bridal showers are typically planned and booked a few months before the wedding. A common timeframe is around 2 to 4 months prior to the wedding date, but it can vary depending on the preferences of the bride and her bridesmaids.


Who pays for bridal shower?

Traditionally, the bridal shower is hosted and paid for by the bridesmaids or close friends and family members of the bride. However, nowadays, it's common for multiple people, including family members and friends, to contribute to the costs or for the bride herself to share in the expenses.


Do people have guest books at bridal showers?

Guest books are not as common at bridal showers as they are at weddings, but some people do choose to have one. It allows guests to leave special messages or well-wishes for the bride, which can be a nice keepsake.


What color does the bride wear to the bridal shower?

There are no strict rules regarding the color the bride should wear to her bridal shower. Typically, brides choose to wear a white or off-white dress, but it's ultimately a personal choice.
 

Who picks the theme for the bridal shower?

The theme for the bridal shower is often chosen by the person or people hosting the shower. This could be the bridesmaids, close friends, or family members. However, it's essential to consider the bride's preferences and consult with her to ensure the chosen theme aligns with her tastes.


Who should not host a bridal shower?

There are no hard and fast rules, but traditionally, it's considered inappropriate for the bride's immediate family to host the bridal shower. This is because it may appear as if they are seeking gifts for their own family member. Friends, extended family, or bridesmaids typically host the shower.


What is the average cost of a bridal shower?

The cost of a bridal shower can vary widely depending on factors like location, number of guests, and chosen activities. On average, a bridal shower can cost anywhere from $100 to $500 or more. It's essential to plan according to the budget of the host(s) and the bride's preferences. 


Modern Pink Paper Author - Dalia Abdalla

Dalia Abdalla

Owner & Head Designer, Modern Pink Paper

Dalia is the creative force behind Modern Pink Paper. With a keen eye for detail and a love for all things stationery, she embarked on this journey to provide personalized stationery solutions. When she's not crafting beautiful paper creations, Dalia is sharing her insights and inspirations on this blog, ensuring that her readers always have a touch of beauty and creativity in their lives.