While it's hard to match the pomp and circ*mstance of a wedding, the bridal shower is one of the most important, festive lead-ups to the big day. And while weddings can often be overwhelming and less than intimate, a shower offers an opportunity for the bride to gather with her closest friends and relatives in order to open gifts, reminisce, and celebrate a future — which brings us to the bridal shower menu. After all, food and drink aren't merely important; they're absolutely essential for such a milestone event. They help set the mood and establish a theme, in addition to keeping guests sated. So from elegant canapés to sharable punches, these bridal shower menu ideas will pave the road to a lifetime of happily married bliss.
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Strawberry Bruschetta
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Traditional tomato bruschetta is beautiful, but basic. Sunny strawberry bruschetta, on the other hand, toes the line perfectly between sweet and savory, and it makes a festive, springtime-friendly addition to any bridal bash.
- 13 Must-Make Strawberry Recipes for Spring
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Amazing No Cook Spinach Artichoke Dip
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Putting together a spread of appetizers can amount to a lot of work. So save some time and energy by serving this no-cook version of everyone's favorite dip. The best part is it's even better when made the day before and allowed to sit in the fridge overnight.
- 25 Easy Dip Recipes With Five Ingredients or Less
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Baked Kale Chips
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"Like potato chips, you cannot stop at eating just one," enthuses Allrecipes contributor LucyDelRey. But unlike potato chips, these addictive crisps are low calorie and actually good for you, as they're made with olive oil-anointed leaves of nutrient-rich kale.
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Sugar Coated Pecans
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Addictively salty and sweet, with a crunchy egg white coating, these sugary pecans make the perfect grab-and-go snack, so you don't need to divide your attention between gift opening and games.
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Chicken Puffs
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Some finger foods can be less than satisfying. But these bite-sized puffs really deliver with their hidden, decadent centers, housing legitimately filling scoops of cream cheese-sauced chicken.
- See more Mini Appetizers.
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My Crab Cakes
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There are few things more elegant than a crab cake. You can form them into any size you please, so they're equally suitable as appetizers for a walk-round co*cktail bash, or served with a light salad for a chic luncheon or brunch.
- 15 Recipes for a Delicious Bridal Shower Brunch
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Creamy Dill Cucumber Toasties
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If you're looking for a bridal shower theme, you can never go wrong with English afternoon tea. And a fresh cucumber sandwich is a menu must. "I love it and make it all the time for parties," endorses community member Dianne McKenzie. "It looks great on the platter, and it is super easy! Everyone loves it!"
- 12 Elegant Tea Sandwiches
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Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls
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Featuring rosy, pink shrimp and a garden's worth of veggies tucked in gossamer wrappers, these rolls look like virtual rainbows on a party table. Serve with a few bowls of dipping sauces for added flavor variety.
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Cheese Fondue
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The ultimate interactive dish, fabulously retro fondue is ideal for serving to a large group. And you can totally customize it to suit your tastes, by switching up the cheese and assembling a diverse array of dippers, from crusty French bread and crisp crudité, to juicy chunks of chicken or sausage.
- Browse more Cheese Fondue Recipes.
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Baked Coconut Shrimp
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No need to fill the house with the smell of frying oil. "This crunchy coconut shrimp is baked instead of fried, and so easy!" vouches Allrecipes community member girlbob. "Great for dinner or as an appetizer. I serve with orange marmalade for dipping."
- 21 Finger Foods So Good You'll Add Them to Your Dinner Plans
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Champagne Punch
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What would a bridal shower be without a celebratory, sharable punch? This champagne version is a must for contributing fun bubbles and fizz, while frozen pink lemonade and cranberry juice add vibrant color, sweetness, and tang.
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Sparkling Punch
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For a bridal shower with a crowd of all ages, consider this sparkling punch recipe. It uses sparkling apple cider, fresh orange juice, and lemonade concentrate for a light, refreshing punch that's as beautiful as it is tasty.
- See more Non-Alcoholic Punch Recipes.
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Grilled Pineapple Mai Tai
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"Grilling the citrus for this mai tai brings the natural flavors to the front, making this one co*cktail that goes down deliciously easy,""shares Matt Wencl. "Grill up an entire pineapple and a few more limes to make easy beach co*cktails for a crowd. Garnish with grilled orange wheels and Bing cherries."
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Miniature Cheesecakes
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Everyone gets to choose their favorite flavor, when you set out a sampler of adorable, single serving cheesecakes. Made in muffin cups and using crushed vanilla wafers as crusts, these can be assembled ahead and personalized with everything from cherry pie and pumpkin pie filling, to fresh fruit and cookies.
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Sweetheart Cupcakes
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Celebrate love for family, friends, and the bride to be, with these conversation heart-dotted cupcakes, covered with clouds of dreamy pink frosting, and creatively constructed to reveal a pink heart surprise inside!
- See all our Cupcake Recipes.
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Easy Decadent Truffles
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"Insanely easy, but oh so rich!" exclaimed jmacsauders. "Recipe makes a large amount but you can vary flavorings and coatings to make several different varieties."
- Get even more Shower Recipes.