Bridal showers are an opportunity for a bride-to-be to get together with her close friends and relatives. They will shower her with love, support, and gifts, all of which will help her prepare for the new chapter of her life: marriage.
A bridal shower itinerary contains a few games, for which “What’s in Your Purse?” is a popular option. As denoted by its name, the bridal shower purse game makes guests look for certain items in their purses. These items have corresponding points, based on how likely they are to be inside a purse in the first place.
Below is a quick explanation of what the “What’s in Your Purse” bridal shower game is and how it is played. Three free printable PDFs are then provided, followed by ideas for items you can include in your own game.
What’s In Your Purse Bridal Shower Game 101
The “What’s in Your Purse?” bridal shower game is often compared to a mini-scavenger hunt, as the two games have some similarities in their mechanics.
During the planning of a bridal shower, the host will prepare a list of items usually found in a purse. The items are then assigned a certain number of points, which is dependent on how frequently they are brought by guests. Once the bride-to-be and the organizer have finalized the list, they will print it on quality stationery.
These printed lists, along with a pen, will be distributed to the guests during the bridal shower. Concurrently, the facilitator will briefly explain how the game is played. Once the timer starts, guests can begin rummaging in their purses for the listed items. This is the simplest way you can play the game, but there are many twists you can introduce to make the gameplay more exciting.
When the timer ends, guests will start comparing points. Whoever has gotten the most points is crowned the winner of the game. However, the facilitator must verify the items first and check the validity of the player’s points.
What’s in Your Purse Game PDFs (Free)
As mentioned above, the guests will be handed printed lists that contain the items they need to look for, along with their corresponding points. Thus, it is important that you will choose a template that matches the theme and color scheme of your event, as well as the overall aesthetic you are going for.
1. Flower-Themed What’s in Your Purse Bridal Shower Game PDF
Click here to download the PDF, or blank copy here.
2. What’s In Your Purse Bridal Shower Game – Retro Vibe
Click here to download the PDF, or blank copy here.
3. What’s In Your Purse – Simple but Chic
Click here to download the PDF, or blank copy here.
Items to Include in Your Bridal Shower Purse Game
A blank version of the templates is also provided, which you can edit to include items that you yourself came up with. To help with the brainstorming process, here are some ideas for what to include in your game.
One point
- Driver’s license
- Car keys
- House keys
- Credit card
- Pen
- Invitation to the bridal shower
- $1 bill
- Cellphone
- Chapstick
- Hairbrush
- Gum
- Mint
- Tissue
- Receipt
Three points
- Other government-issued ID
- Coupon
- Gift card
- Tweezers
- Candy
- Pain reliever
- Headache medication
- Nail polish
- Eyeglass cleaner
- Earring
- Paper clip
- Eating utensils
- Something white
Five points
- Business card
- Calculator
- A cellphone that is not an iPhone
- To-go menu of a restaurant
- Hand sanitizer
- Headphones
- Phone charger
- Mascara
- Receipt whose issue date is over one year ago
- Unopened mail or letter
- Floss
- Something blue
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Planner
- Loyalty card
- Lotion
10 points
- A small bottle of liquor
- Condom
- $100 bill
- Nail clipper
- Flash drive
- A pen with at least three color options
- Pepper spray
- Kindle
- Something orange (or any uncommon color)
- Picture of the bride
- At least five coupons
- Brochure
15 points
- Another pair of underwear
- Expired condom
- Foreign currency
- At least five different credit cards
- Bluetooth speakers
- Diapers
- Checkbook
- Completely melted chocolate
- Book
- Curling iron
- Key to someone else’s vehicle or house
- Rock
- Seashell
- Three different phones
- Sewing kit
- Any pocket-sized tool
- Ultrasound photo
Tips for Playing the “What’s in Your Purse” Game
Assign Tasks
The most important role is the facilitator of the game, who is responsible for explaining the mechanics and raising the energy of the room. However, it is best to assign some tasks to other helpers so that the overall gameplay is smoother.
- Someone who will distribute the printed lists and pens
- Someone who will watch the players and ensure that nobody is cheating
- Someone who will help verify the validity of the points
Change the Point System
The most common point system in bridal shower purse games is one-three-five-10-15. However, you are not forced to use that point system; changing it is an easy yet effective way to raise the stakes and make the game more competitive. Here are a few examples of point systems you can consider:
- One, five, 10, 25, 50, 100
- One, two, three, four, five
- Two, four, six, eight, 10
- One, two, three, five, seven, 10, 15, 25
Prepare Multiple Prizes
Depending on how many guests are playing, you may want to have a few prizes on-hand on the occasion that a tie arises. By being prepared, you avoid having to make the difficult — or impossible — decision of choosing which person gets the intended prize and which person gets a consolation prize.
Final Thoughts
The “What’s in Your Purse?” bridal shower game is only one of the endless options for bridal shower games. Scattergories, Over or Under, and Find the Guest are also exciting options. Regardless of which one you choose, or what other games you decide to pair this with, the important thing is to ensure that everyone has fun.
