Baby and Bridal Shower Games That Work with No Prep

A shower works best when guests have something easy to do between the food and the gifts. The games below need only paper and pens, take little planning and work for guests of every age. Most work for both a baby shower and a bridal shower.

Gift bingo

Hand each guest a bingo card with items that are likely to appear, such as a blanket, bib or picture frame. As the guest of honor opens gifts, guests mark the items. The first to fill a line calls out bingo. This is the game that keeps people watching the gifts. Give each card a different layout so there are no ties.

Word searches and scrambles

Word puzzles are a quiet game for the table. A baby word search has words such as crib, rattle and blanket. A bridal one has bride, veil and toast. Guests who arrive early can start right away, and children can join in.

Who knows mom best, or who knows the bride best

Write a list of questions about the guest of honor, such as a favorite food or how the couple met. Guests write their guesses, and the guest of honor reads the answers. The guest with the most correct answers wins a small prize.

Advice and wishes cards

Give each guest a card with a prompt, such as my best tip is or my wish for you is. Guests fill them in and the host collects them in a basket or a keepsake book. These become something the guest of honor can read later, long after the party.

A gift log for thank you notes

Choose one person to write down each gift and who gave it. That list makes thank you notes much easier, and helps the guest of honor remember who sent what.

Tips for smooth games

• Pick three games, not six. Leave time for food and chatting.
• Keep prizes small: candles, tea, a small plant or a treat.
• Put pens on every table so no one has to ask.
• Make quiet games available for guests who prefer not to join in loud ones.
• Have the host read the rules clearly, in one minute or less.

Planning a few weeks ahead

Choose the date and guest list, send invitations, and print the games a week before. Plan the food and drinks, and set up a gift table. A short checklist keeps the planning from piling up.

Printable shower games

Our Baby and Bridal Shower Games Pack includes 12 bingo cards, 4 word searches, 4 scrambles with keys, two quizzes, advice and wishes cards, a gift log and a guest list. Try a few with the free shower games sample.

You can also browse every free sample on the Free Printables page, or see all digital downloads.