If you’re throwing an off the market bridal shower, then check out this list of 34 ideas that will surely inspire you. These ideas include invitations, decorations, activities, foods, and party favors to ensure every aspect of your shower is fit for a farmer’s market.
Invitations:
First impressions are always important, and the first impression anyone will have of your bridal shower will be through the invitation. This makes picking out your invitation an important part of your party planning. For an off the market bridal shower, invitations include market stalls, flower carts, vegetables, and flowers.
Decorations:
What is a party without decorations? Backdrops, table cloths, centerpieces, and balloons can all be used to transform your party into a farmer’s market.
- She’s Off the Market Backdrop
If you want the perfect spot for your guest to pose in front of, then hang up a market themed banner. This Fresh Off the Market Banner features a bouquet of wildflowers and can be customized with the bride’s name. Another option is this Market Themed Banner. It features market themed items and would be beautiful when decorated with long satin ribbons. Surround your banner with balloons, ribbons, or flowers to create a backdrop that looks professionally made. - Flower Market Stall
Place a market stall and fill it with fresh flowers, party favors, or presents for the bride-to-be. If you don’t have a market stall, you can make one by placing a wooden table against a wall and then hanging a Striped Awning above it. Complete the look by connecting the table to the awning with some dowel rods.
- Picnic Patterned Tablecloths
Lay out some Gingham Patterned Tablecloths on your tables to fit your market theme. These tablecloths come in beige, pink, green, and many other colors so that they are sure to match your color pallet. You can also roll out some brown paper table runners for a more rustic feel. - Market Themed Plates
For your tableware, check out these Fresh Off The Market Plates. These plates come in two different sizes and feature a flower cart. Or, you can opt for these Scallop Edged Plates in whatever color fits your theme. - Baskets or Creates Filled with Fruits or Flowers
Place Jute Rope Baskets, wicker baskets, or wooden crates filled with fresh fruits in the center of your tables.These centerpieces serve the dual purpose of also providing a snack for your hungry guests. Another option is to fill them with fresh cut flowers.
- Let Love Grow Station
Create a flower station stocked full of flower bouquets. To make this station into a display, use a board and attach Metal Vases to it. Fill each vase with fresh cut flowers and then complete the look by adding a Let Love Grow Banner to the top of the board. - Wildflower Iceballs for Champagne
Use a Round Ice Mold to create floral spheres that can be used to cool down champagne. To make them, just cut the heads off of whatever flowers you want to use, place them in your ice mold, fill the mold with water, and then freeze. To truly customize this decorative drink display, use a Custom Galvanized Drink Tub to store the champagne and iceballs in.
Foods:
Now that your guests have arrived, it’s time to feed them. This list of ideas includes snacks, entrees, and desserts to ensure your entire menu is a fitting for an off the market bridal shower.
- Popped Corn on the Cob
Fill up these Popcorn Corn on The Cob bags with popped corn for a fun grab and go snack. These bags are clear and come with green paper to wrap around them making your popcorn look just like corn on the cob. - Salad Bar
Lay out a salad bar full of fresh greens, vegetables and home made dressings. Make sure to include different colors in your food selections to create an eye-catching display. For your salad dressings look through this article by The Pioneer Women for 30 different home made recommendations.
- Cartoons of Fruits and Vegetables
Use Cardboard Produce Containers to serve your guests their fruits and vegetables. These containers are perfect for individual servings and they will make your food tables look just like a farmers market. - Spinach and Mushroom Quiche
Check out this recipe for a spinach and mushroom quiche by All Recipes. This dish uses tons of fresh vegetables and will be a great showcase for your market themed party. And the best part, it only takes about 15 minutes to prep. - Sandwiches Wrapped in Brown Paper
Wrap some sandwiches in brown paper and tie them up with brown cordage to create a farmer’s market sandwich station. Some great sandwich ideas for a fresh off the market party are turkey and swiss topped with lettuce and tomato, egg salad, and a pesto tomato and cheese.
- Pasta Salad
A pasta salad is a great way to incorporate lots of color and vegetables into your party’s menu. For a great pasta salad recipe, check out this article by Pinch of Yum. This pasta features tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, spicy salami, pepperoncini, olives, and an easy Italian dressing. But the truly great thing about a pasta salad is that it can be customized to whatever’s in season during your party. - Roasted Vegetable Pizza
Pizza is always a crowd favorite at parties. And for a market themed party, you can make your pizza extra special by loading it with bright and vibrant roasted vegetables. If you’re having a larger party, then serve up several pizzas each showcasing a different variety of vegetables. - Wild Flower Cupcakes
Turn ordinary cupcakes into flower market treats by topping them with Edible Flowers. You can use any cupcakes for this dish making it a perfect DIY dessert. Just add your flowers and you’ll be done!
- Freshly Baked Cookies
Freshly baked cookies are a real treat and would be a hit at a market themed party. For a personal touch, place them in these Fresh Off the Market Cookies Bags that can be customized with your name and shower date. - Strawberry Crumble Pie
Serve your guests this strawberry crumble pie by The View From Great Island for a refreshing farmer’s market treat. This pie is filled with gooey and jammy strawberries and topped with a buttery crumble. Serve it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and your guests will be in love. - Cheese Cake Topped with Fresh Berries
Another berry-tastic dish you can serve is a creamy cheesecake topped with fresh berries or preserves. This sweet treat is sure to delight your guests. Serve is as a whole cake or make individual cups for each guest.
For more market themed foods, check out 24 Farmers Market Party Food Ideas That Guests Will Love.
Games and Activities:
After the food, it’s time for the real fun to begin! Entertain your guests with these market themed crafts and games that will make your shower a blast.
- Bouquet Crafting Station
Create a flower bar and set out fresh cut flowers that your guests can make into a bouquet. To make this activity into a game, have the guests compete to make a bouquet that they think the bride would like. After all the bouquets are made, let the bride-to-be pick which one she would take down the aisle. Planning to do this activity? Then check out this Flower Bar Set. It’s got everything you need including buckets, pruning sheers, bouquet bags, and a flower bar sign. - Recipe Book Station
Ask your guests to bring a farm fresh recipe to add to the couple’s recipe book. Set up the book at a table with some blank pages and your guests can fill them in throughout the party. Another option is to send your guests cards before the shower so that they can have them ready upon arrival. This is a great way for your guests to share a part of themselves with the bride and her future family.
- Let Love Grow Planting Station
If you’re looking for an activity that can be done during the shower’s slower moments, then set up a planting station. At this station, guests will be able to plant their own seeds of love. Just set out some Miniature Pots, soil, and seeds. After planting, they can then take their pots home and watch as love grows. - Pass the Bouquet
Play pass the parcel but with a bouquet. Have your guests sit in a circle and pass around a bouquet while music is playing. When the music stops, whoever is holding the bouquet is out. The last person still in the game is the winner! - Honey Tasting
Set out different flavored honey sticks and see if your guests can guess the different flavors. This Honey Stick Sampler Pack contains 14 sticks with 7 different flavors and would be perfect for this game.
- Guess the Spice
Test your guests’ knowledge of farm fresh ingredients by having them guess the spice. Set out a few different colored spices in glass bottles and let your guests write down what they think is inside each one. Whoever gets the most right is the winner! Once the game is done, the bride-to-be will have a new set of spices to take home. - Guess How Many Beans in the Jar
Host a classic “Guess How Many Candies in the Jar” game but with beans instead of candy. Let your guests write down how many beans they see and whoever is the closest is the winner.
Favors:
The most successful party is one that is remembered well past the party date. A great way to help your guests remember is by sending them home with a souvenir. Check out these ideas for party favors that will fit your off the market bridal shower theme.
- Wildflower Lollipops
Send your guests home with a sweet treat in the form of these Wildflower Lollipops. These clear, rectangular lollipops feature vibrant flowers of many different varieties and would be a perfect fit at an off the market bridal shower. - Pick Your Own Basket
Set out a table filled with local produce or fresh cut flowers for your guests to pick through. You can provide them with little baskets for the fruits or Bouquet Holders for the flowers. - Potted Plants
Encourage your guests to grow their own flower market by gifting them a potted plant. This plant will give your guests a visual representation of how the newlywed’s love will grow over the years.
- Mini Magnet Dried Flowers Bouquet
Another way to send your guest home with some flowers is by gifting them some Mini Magnet Dried Flowers Bouquets. They come in 5 different colors and will be a perfect fit for your market themed party. - Wildflower Keychains
You can’t go wrong giving out themed keychains. Check out these adorable Wildflower Keychains that would fit your party perfectly. They come in 4 different floral designs and include thank you cards and small bags to put them in. - Honey or Fruit Preserve Jars
Fill up some Miniature Jars with honey or fruit preserves for a sweet treat your guests will love. Add a thank you note and top with a gingham patterned cloth for a party favor straight from the farmer’s market.
- Honey Pops
If you don’t want to give whole jars of honey, you can give some honey pops instead. This listing for Gourmet Honey Pops comes in 5 different flavors and would look great with a little thank you tags tied around them. - Seed Packets
Encourage your guests to grow their own love garden with some Let Love Grow Seed Packets. Your guests will love planting these seeds in their own garden and watching as they grow just like the newlywed’s love.
I hope this guide has inspired you. Let me know in the comments if you plan to incorporate any of these ideas into your off the market bridal shower.
