If you're looking for the perfect bridal shower theme that is not overdone, cliche, or basic but is easy to pull together, look no further! This "Pucker Up" citrus themed bridal shower is beautiful and sophisticated, but so simple to execute for any bride in your life. The theme "Pucker Up" is perfect for a bridal shower since every marriage is sealed with a kiss. This party can be hosted indoors or out, so the venue you choose will not pose a barrier. You can do this a couple of different ways, including having a table of bite-sized appetizers or having a more formal sit-down luncheon with complete place settings. This post is geared more towards a less formal party with self-serve food and drink selections, but I will add some adjustment options for those who want to use this theme but go a more formal route.
Color Themes
- Pastel Yellow
- Bright Yellow
- Mustard Yellow
- Pastel Orange
- Bright Orange
- Gold
- White
- Peach
- Touches of Lime Green
- Touches of Leaf Green
Decor Needs
- Gold and White Balloon Garland Kit
- Peach and Orange Balloon Garland Kit
- Greenery (for Balloon Garland)
- Eucalyptus Garland (Centerpiece)
- Lemons and Limes
- Mandarins
- Oranges with Slices
- Cocktail Forks
- Cocktail Skewers
- "Love" Cake Topper
- Juice Jars
- Drink Dispenser and stand
- Small Fruit Bowls/Ramekins
- Chalkboard Sign
Ingredients
- Variety of Sliced Citrus Fruits (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, etc.)
- Champagne or Sparkling Water
- 2-3 Types of Citrus Juice (Orange juice, Grapefruit Juice, Tropical Fruit Juice, etc.)
- Small fruits to use as additions for mimosas (raspberries, pineapple chunks, strawberries, etc)
- Fruit slices (or any citrus candy you want to use)
- Country Time lemonade
- Navel oranges with the top sliced off and the middle partially scooped out (for votives)
The Details
You have your theme, your color palette, your ingredients, and your decorations planned. Now, it is time to bring it all together in a beautifully elegant celebration to honor the bride-to-be.
You probably decided on your event location and whether you would be hosting inside or out long before you decided on the color palette or began collecting the necessary decor and ingredients. However, if you are still deciding, this is step one. First, choose your location specifics. As I mentioned previously, this theme can be perfected indoors or outdoors but some adjustments may need to be made depending on which one you choose.
Since your color palette is fresh, bright, citrus-kissed, and fun, run with that. This truly holds the potential to be a spectacular event that feels like a completely original, one-of-a-kind themed celebration to honor the bride-to-be. You can add your own twists and touches to make it your own.
Cake
If you have followed this blog for any length of time, you know that I am a big fan of easy-peasy, lemon squeezy (citrus pun intended!) ... for all party-related things, but especially the cake. Cakes can get so pricey, so quickly. Don't let the bulk of your budget get wasted on this detail. Keep it simple for the sake of your sanity AND your budget. Quality is the most important thing, but plenty of grocery stores have great bakeries with great-tasting cakes. First, choose where you plan to get your cake, then order a round white cake. You can have multiple tiers or just one. That largely depends on the aesthetic you are envisioning but also the number of people you'll be feeding. Next, jazz it up with some sliced citrus fruits and place them sporadically around the bottom of each tier and add a cake topper.
Balloon Garland
You have some options to cut down on your stress where the balloon garland is concerned. First, we have an amazing How-To guide on balloon garlands written by a balloon decorator. Next, grab a balloon garland kit (incorporate a second garland kit for a fuller, more colorful creation) and use the included instructions along with our guide. They really aren't as daunting to assemble as you might think. Timing is everything, so whatever you do, don't wait until the day of the party to begin working on it. Assembling it same-day IS possible, but you need to give yourself 4-5 hours to account for any hiccups - just make sure you at least open the kit, verify that you have what you need, and check that your pump is working before the morning of the event.
Tables
Knowing what type of party you'll be hosting will help you know how many tables and seating options you'll need. If you are hosting a seated bridal luncheon, you will likely want to have long tables plus a high-backed chair for each guest. Using white linens always adds an elegant and formal touch, too. If you are planning to have cake and heavy hors d'oeuvres or even lighter fare, you will need a few long tables but not as many formal seating options. You do not have to purchase tables; borrow some from a local church or friend, or utilize tables you already have in your home or event location. For example, dining room tables, sofa tables, and foyer tables make good options. If you do want to buy some tables for this shower (and future hosting), here are great 6-foot table and card table options.
Centerpieces
Centerpieces are always a focal point at any party. For this "Pucker Up" citrus-kissed theme, fruit and greenery runners look amazing and truly aren't difficult to create. First, grab this eucalyptus garland for your base. Next, you'll need some citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, oranges, and small mandarins, to place in sporadic groupings along the garland. I like to use mostly decorative fruits for this, but you absolutely can use fresh instead. Weave the garlands around food options, drinks, cake, etc., or straighten down the center of the table, whichever is most eye-catching to you. If you need some more depth or just want to use fresh flowers, add lemons, limes, or oranges to the vase before adding the flowers.
Display
You likely have a visual in your mind for this event. So, feel free to adjust these suggestions to more closely mimic your vision - that is perfectly fine. Take these suggestions and leave your mark! Remember: centerpieces are a big focal point, so spend some time there. It is possible but highly unlikely that you will have too much greenery or fresh flowers, so don't hold back. Your mimosa bar can mimic the photo attached, or you could set it up on a rolling cart like this one. Use small ramekins (or similar containers) to place fruit add-in options. Varied height adds great depth to any display table, be it food, gift, cake, or other, so try to add some variety in height where you can. This can be as simple as adding your non-alcoholic beverages to the dispensers on stands and adding some store-bought lemon cookies to a tiered tray.
Substitutions
There are plenty of substitutions you can make and details you can add. For example, grab these tea lights, slice the top off and scoop out the middle of a navel orange, insert the tea light and add these precious little additions to your fruit runner... or anywhere! You can also use fresh citrus along your runner instead of decorative/faux options. Also, your mimosa bar can be non-alcoholic by substituting champagne for sparkling water. Spindrift has some really incredible citrus-infused flavors that would pair nicely with juice. White tablecloths are my preference for this, but you could use something with a pop of color like this orange tablecloth or even something funky and fun like this citrus tablecloth.
Citrus Themed Bridal Shower Food
Your food selections will vary greatly depending on whether you are offering self-serve fare or a seated brunch; however, some choices will be interchangeable. For example, the smoked salmon bites and Caprese skewers would be excellent selections for buffet style or seated brunch. For a self-serve table, consider adding the peach and pecan baked brie, a tiered stand with some lemon snowball cookies (Psst! These can be storebought, too, if you're short on time), fruit slices (or any other citrus candy), and some sweet and spicy phyllo poppers. If you opt for a seated brunch, you may want to nix the salmon bites and offer lemon garlic cedar plank salmon on a bed of greens.
For the cake, don't stress over something fancy and expensive. Grab a plain white, round cake (any size) from your favorite baker and add this cake topper. For an extra "pop", use some faux eucalyptus leaves and some fresh sliced citrus fruit (your choice; any fruits will work!) to add to the cake. You can add flowers on top, as pictured; however, you could keep it simple with the topper only.
A mimosa bar is a perfect addition to any event but certainly a bridal shower. If you are hosting an alcohol-free event, feel free to substitute the champagne for flavored sparkling water. I really like brands such as Spindrift and La Croix, but you could use your favorite. For this mimosa bar, I used these juice jars, some small glass bowls I already had (but you could grab these ceramic bowls to use), and a cute chalkboard sign.
For other non-alcoholic options, infused water and lemonade make great options. I would suggest using a raised drink dispenser. Varying heights will add some depth to your display. Have one dispenser filled with ice water and add sliced lemons and limes to it. For the second dispenser, add some Country Time yellow lemonade with added sliced lemons.
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