About bridal showers
A bridal shower is a party held before a wedding, where friends and family "shower" the person getting married with gifts for their new home. Many showers include games, and bingo is a favourite because it gives guests something to do while presents are opened.
Gifts often come from a wedding registry, a wish list the couple sets up with a shop so guests know what they need. The ready list on this page covers 40 classic registry and shower gifts, and every one is described below, from cheese boards to the traditional "something blue".
Did you know?
The rhyme "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" comes from England in the 1800s.
The name "shower" comes from the idea of showering the bride-to-be with gifts.
Wedding gift registries are usually traced to a Chicago department store, Marshall Field's, which offered one in 1924.
A cast iron pan is "seasoned" with thin layers of oil baked onto the surface, which protects it and makes it more non-stick over time.
Wedding rings are traditionally worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. An old belief held that a vein ran from that finger straight to the heart.
Words in this puzzle 40
Registry list 40 words
- apron
- A garment tied over your clothes to keep them clean while cooking.
- bath robe
- A loose, soft gown worn before or after a bath.
- bedding set
- Matching sheets, pillowcases and a duvet cover.
- blender
- A kitchen machine with spinning blades for making smoothies, soups and sauces.
- cake stand
- A raised plate on a stem for displaying and serving a cake.
- candles
- Sticks or jars of wax with a wick, lit for light or scent.
- cast iron pan
- A heavy frying pan made of iron that can last for generations if cared for.
- champagne flutes
- Tall, narrow glasses for sparkling drinks, shaped to help keep the bubbles.
- cheese board
- A board for serving a selection of cheeses, often with a small knife.
- cocktail shaker
- A metal container for mixing drinks by shaking them with ice.
- coffee maker
- A machine that brews coffee.
- cookbook
- A book of recipes and cooking instructions.
- cozy blanket
- A soft, warm blanket for snuggling on the sofa.
- cutting board
- A flat board of wood or plastic for chopping food on.
- dinner plates
- Large plates used for main meals.
- dish towels
- Cloths for drying dishes. Also called tea towels.
- flower vase
- A container for holding cut flowers in water.
- garden tools
- Tools such as a trowel, pruners and gloves for looking after a garden.
- gift card
- A card loaded with money to spend at a particular shop.
- kitchen knife
- A sharp knife for preparing food.
- lingerie
- Delicate nightwear or underwear, a traditional, lighthearted shower gift.
- measuring cups
- Cups marked with amounts for measuring ingredients accurately.
- mixing bowls
- Bowls in several sizes for mixing ingredients when cooking or baking.
- photo album
- A book for storing and displaying photographs.
- picture frame
- A border, often with glass, for displaying a photo on a wall or shelf.
- place mats
- Mats set under each person's plate to protect the table.
- recipe box
- A box for keeping handwritten recipe cards, sometimes filled by guests with family favourites.
- salad bowl
- A large, wide bowl for tossing and serving salad.
- serving platter
- A large, flat dish for serving food to a group.
- slow cooker
- An electric pot that cooks food gently over many hours.
- something blue
- Part of the old wedding rhyme "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue": a small blue item worn for luck.
- spa set
- A gift set of bath and beauty items, such as bath salts and lotions.
- stand mixer
- A kitchen machine with a bowl and beaters for mixing dough and batter.
- storage jars
- Lidded jars for keeping dry foods like pasta, rice and flour fresh.
- teapot
- A pot with a spout and handle for brewing and pouring tea.
- throw pillow
- A small decorative cushion for a sofa or bed.
- toaster
- A small appliance for browning slices of bread.
- towels
- Absorbent cloths for drying yourself after washing.
- travel bag
- A bag for packing clothes for a trip, handy for a honeymoon.
- wine glasses
- Stemmed glasses with a rounded bowl, used for wine or other drinks.
Gift bingo, the bridal-shower favourite
Bridal shower bingo turns gift opening into a game. Each guest fills a blank card with presents they expect to see (a stand mixer, a cookbook, "something blue") and marks them off as boxes are unwrapped. Guests stay engaged through the gifts, and the bride gets a few laughs when someone confidently predicts a fondue set.
Choose Blank (gift guess) for the traditional version, or Registry list for cards pre-filled with 40 popular shower gifts. Pre-filled cards work well for large showers, mixed-age crowds and anyone who'd rather not write.
Make it yours
- Change the free square to the couple’s initials or wedding date.
- Paste in items from the actual registry for a game that is hard to lose.
- Use 3×3 cards for a short game, or 5×5 for a long gift opening.
- Hand the gift log to the maid of honour; it becomes the thank-you note list.
Printing and privacy
Two cards per page on white or cream card stock looks polished and is easy to trim. If you print on coloured paper, keep it light so the grid stays readable. Guest names and registry items never leave your browser.
Questions people ask
How do you play bridal shower bingo?
Guests either write gifts they expect into blank cards or use pre-filled cards. As each present is opened, they mark the square, and the first complete line wins.
What is the difference between a bridal shower and a hen or bachelorette party?
A shower is usually a daytime gift-giving party, often with family. A hen or bachelorette party is a night out with friends.
Can I use the couple's real registry?
Yes. Paste the registry items into the list, one per line. You need at least 24 for 5×5 cards with a free centre.
What does "something blue" mean?
It comes from an old English wedding rhyme. The person getting married wears something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue for luck.
What is in the Medium and Hard PDFs?
Each has 20 unique 5×5 cards using the registry list, plus a gift checklist. Medium has a free centre square; Hard has none.