Bridal showers are an excellent way for the bride to get together with her loved ones, who will help her prepare for the next chapter of her life. As such, bridal shower itineraries typically include opportunities for socialization, such as meals, speeches, and games.
Bridal Shower Scattergories is a popular game that adds fun to the occasion, appealing to guests of all ages and genders. Its simple and straightforward mechanics ensure everyone can participate with ease and delight.
To facilitate the playing of Bridal Shower Scattergories, downloadable PDF templates of game cards are provided. These resources, coupled with additional tips outlined below, help ensure a seamless and enjoyable gaming experience for all attendees.
How to Play Bridal Shower Scattergories
Before the bridal shower, the facilitator of the game will choose random letters and several categories. The players then have to write items, names, and places whose first letter matches the random letters chosen by the facilitator. For instance, if one of the letters picked was “C,” valid answers would include “coaster,” “cup,” “China,” and so on.
Each guest at a bridal shower will get a game card, which consists of the letters and categories, and a pen. They are given several minutes to fill out as many blanks as they can; each valid answer corresponds to a point. Points will not be awarded if two or more players have the same answer. Ultimately, the player with the highest number of points wins the game.
Free Printable PDF Templates for Bridal Shower Scattergories Game
1. Bridal Shower Scattergories Template — 3 Letters
Click here to download the PDF, or blank copy here.
2. Bridal Shower Scattergories Template — 4 Letters
Click here to download the PDF, or blank copy here.
3. Bridal Shower Scattergories Template — 5 Letters
Click here to download the PDF, or blank copy here.
Tips for Facilitating Bridal Shower Scattergories
Choosing the Key Letters
As mentioned above, the facilitator of the game typically already has the letters picked out before the bridal shower. On one hand, these letters may spell a wedding-related word, such as “love,” “wed,” “ring,” “bride,” and so on. On the other hand, these letters may be completely random, such as “BFG” or “NIYU.”
A simple way to make a game of bridal shower scattergories more thrilling is to choose the letters on the spot. You can do this by putting strips of paper containing the letters into a bowl and then randomly picking a certain number of strips. Alternatively, you can use alphabet dice or a random generator online.
Raise the Stakes
Traditionally, every unique answer in a game of scattergories corresponds to one point. To make the game more exciting, change the scoring system a bit. For instance, if a player’s answer contains two words, both of which start with the key letter, award them double points.
Another example is if the more challenging the letter is (e.g., Q, X, V, Z), then more points will be awarded for every valid answer.
Verifying the Validity of Answers
Once the timer is up, have every player read their answers out loud. As someone shares what they wrote, the rest of the players will cross out any similar answer they have. If you are unsure of whether a specific answer is valid or not, do a quick group vote; if the majority believes that the answer is valid, then count it.
Another option is to have the bride-to-be be the one to verify the answers; she can determine whether each answer is valid or not. After all, this is her bridal shower.
Prepare Multiple Prizes
Much like other bridal shower games, such as the bridal purse game and bridal jeopardy, multiple players can win. Instead of having to break the tie, you can set aside multiple prizes so that every winner gets one. If only one player wins the game and you have additional prizes, you can give them to the second and third placer.
Form Teams
Bridal shower scattergories can be played individually or with groups, depending on how many players are present. If you have a large party, and many players will be joining, it might be best to divide them into teams. Doing this has multiple benefits: it lessens the number of materials you need to provide, the facilitation of the game will be easier, and it doubles as an ice-breaking activity for everyone.
With that said, you need to set aside more time for this game. Giving them more time allows each player to share their thoughts, brainstorm ideas, and contribute to the overall game. Doing so also lessens the stress for both the players and the facilitator.
The rest of the mechanics stays the same; ask one player from the team to read their answers aloud so that the rest of the teams can cross out any duplicate answers. The team with the highest points wins. Make sure to have prizes for every member of the team!
Final Thoughts
Bridal shower scattergories is just one of the endless options of games you can play at a bridal shower. Games are an effective icebreaker activity for your guests and playing a few will make your event more memorable. Whether you pair scattergories with the left-right bridal shower game or the emoji game, the important thing is that you and your guests have fun.
