If you’re dreaming of creating a bridal shower for someone you love that’s as beautiful as it is interactive, I’ve got you covered with two amazing DIY activity stations your guests will absolutely enjoy: a custom sugar scrub station and a custom loose leaf tea blending station! Read on to find out how you, too, can create the Best Classy & Unique Custom DIY Bridal Shower Activities!
Last weekend I had the true honor of hosting my one-and-only younger sister’s bridal shower here on the property in our barn. We couldn’t be more thrilled that she is finally tying the knot with a man that we absolutely ADORE! It was by her request that it take place in our barn, and we were SO excited to make it happen!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Pulling off this shower was a group effort!
I am so thankful for everyone stepping in and playing a special role in helping to make this shower the beautiful day that it is. Family and bridesmaids all play their part! From cleaning up the barn and vacuuming weeks prior, to making the charcuterie board and photo wall – it is a lot, but doesn’t feel like it because of all the help! For lunch, we had a table full of salad fixings, and everyone was able to customize their own salads! Super easy, and perfect for a warm spring day!
I am in charge of invitations, decor, and activity stations. I also make my sister and I’s favorite Vegan Key Lime Pie and this awesome healthy DF/GF greek pasta salad I’ve been making a lot recently. You don’t want to miss these recipes – they are favorites around here! I will post these very soon!
Bridal Shower Invitation
My sister is not big on “themes” so I knew I had to keep things relatively simple. This spring shower is held in early May. I feel like you can’t really go wrong with beautiful multi-colored florals. I think this will look classy and fresh against a clean, simple white table-scape. My sister is a very fun, and hilarious personality (as a serious understatement!) so I think pops of color will be quite fitting!
First of all, I choose this beautiful invitation I find on Etsy and send it to my friend, farmer, and floral designer from GoodMaker Acres. I just cannot believe how closely she is able to match/emulate the style of the invitation throughout her gorgeous bouquets! She does such an amazing job!
Inside each invitation we enclose a blank recipe card so that guests are able to share a favorite recipe, and a separate blank card for guests to write a prayer or blessing – or maybe some marriage advice for the happy couple!
Setting the Scene: Clean, white linens and signage, burlap runners, twinkle lights strung from wooden beams; fairy lights in glass mason jars adorning the walls, fresh floral garland draping over a wooden arch for a perfect and unique focal point and photo op. Simply dressed tables with gorgeous multi-colored florals. I aim to keep everything simple and neutral to let the rustic beauty of our barn shine through!
So let’s talk about our DIY bridal shower activities…
All of the bridesmaids chip in and help pay for the supplies we use for our DIY stations – which serve as our activities and meaningful take-home favors for the shower.
I’m hoping the links to the supplies that I use will be helpful to you if you are planning your own event. We had about 40 guests at this event, so depending on your event size you may need more or less of certain things (obviously). But just so you know, I was purchasing for 40 as my general headcount.
DIY Custom Sugar Scrub Station
Why this is a hit:
Guests love a good pampering product—especially when they get to make it themselves! A sugar scrub station is simple to set up and gives everyone a take-home favor that feels personal and luxe. I will link everything below that I used for this activity. If you purchase the exact same size of mason jar that I did, you can follow my directions for the correct amount/ratio of ingredients to fit inside each jar. I had to experiment a little bit to figure it out so that it would fill the jars exactly.
What You’ll Need:
- Glass jars or these small mason jars that came in a pack of 40. I thought the price was very reasonable for the amount and they came with cute little black labels and a white marker for guests to label them
- White sugar in bulk (or brown)
- Carrier oils preferably liquified (like coconut, almond, or jojoba) We used this coconut one and it was perfect.
- Essential oils (lavender, peppermint, citrus, etc.)
- Dried flowers (like rose petals or lavender buds)
- Labels and markers for personalization; I ordered custom labels on Etsy that say: “From Our Shower to Yours!” They fit on the lid of each jar perfectly.
- Small wooden spoons or scoops
Instructions for Making DIY Custom Sugar Scrub
I figured out that for the size of these mason jars, each guest follows this exact recipe:
1/3 cup Sugar, 2 tbsp plus 2 tsp of coconut oil (or other carrier oil), and 3-5 drops of essential oils.
I provide plastic bowls and spoons so that they can mix them well before adding into their mason jars. You can also provide natural food coloring so they can further customize their scrub like I did. These beautiful dried flowers would add even more of a customizable element to this activity – but alas, they did not arrive in time for this event. Definitely using for next time! All guests do is mix ingredients together and fill their mason jars! The sugar scrubs will keep for around 6 months.
I was so happy to make a sugar scrub because I’ve never really used them, but now I’m a believer! Especially after the long winter months in the north, my skin could use a good scrubbing! This DIY scrub polishes and moisturizes so well – I have a feeling I’ll be making many more! My girls really enjoyed doing this as well, and they each made a few already.
Creating an Organic Custom Loose Leaf Tea Bar
I thought this would be the perfect DIY activity because most women I know (myself included) can’t get enough tea! Also, my sister and her fiancé are HUGE tea drinkers, so I thought it would be quite fitting for their shower.
Why guests love this activity:
Tea is cozy, customizable, and totally giftable. A loose leaf tea bar adds a relaxing, sensory element to your shower—plus, guests get to take home a tea blend that’s unique to them and will remind them of this special day!
What You’ll Need:
- A variety of organic loose leaf teas (black, green, rooibos, herbal) You may want to order one box to gauge how much you’ll need depending on your party size. For the 40 people we had I purchased 3 boxes and we had only a little bit left over after the event. We probably could’ve gotten away with 2. However I’d rather have too much then not enough for such an important event! I know that for me personally, it’s important to buy organic whenever possible – especially for teas because otherwise they are known to contain harmful pesticides and chemicals. To cut cost, you could certainly opt for non-organic.
- Dried herbs and flowers (chamomile, rose hips, mint, hibiscus, etc.)
- Citrus peels and spices (cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom)
- Small tins or kraft paper tea bags
- Wooden spoons for scooping tea (guests also get to take one home!) and these small white bowls for displaying teas
- Tags or placeards for naming and describing blends (I designed my own which you can purchase HERE on my Etsy!)
- Raw honey sticks and reusable tea bags for guests to take home
- Lovely little instructions for “How to brew the perfect cup of loose-leaf tea!” I designed this one! *optional
- Custom labels for tea bags depending on your event! This adds the perfect final touch! I had ones designed on Etsy that said: “The Perfect Blend” with bride and groom names and wedding date.
Arranging & Displaying Loose Leaf Teas
I arranged all of the teas in small white bowls across a burlap runner on a wooden garden workbench that we have. I labeled each tea with its flavor profile, ingredients and caffeine level. You could also add a chalkboard or cute signage with instructions for your tea bar. I designed mine and framed it (see above!)
What a Day!
Incorporating fun and meaningful DIY stations like a sugar scrub bar and a custom tea blending table will take your bridal celebration (or any celebration) to the next level – no matter where you host! It’s all about creating memories, sharing love, and giving your guests something truly special and useful to take home!
So grateful our day just couldn’t have gone better, in my opinion, and also ended with sweet boat rides for some of our guests and bridesmaids! I hope this has inspired you and that you will give one or both of these activities a try for your own celebration! As always, for more Fern hosting and party inspiration, click here!
Leave a Reply