Tasty Ideas for Bridal Shower Appetizers

A bridal shower is a fun time for family and friends to gather and enjoy each other’s company. Like any other gathering, the right kinds of food can make the experience that much more enjoyable. Here are some ideas for tasty bridal shower appetizers.

Dips and spreads:
Dips and spreads are popular finger foods because they are easy to serve and eat, easy to make, and usually low-cost as well. Some ideas for dips and spreads are:
*Baked brie with apricot jam on water crackers
*Cream cheese and smoked salmon on apple slices
*Tortilla chips and salsa
*Vegetables and ranch dip
*Fruit sculpture and yogurt dip
*Strawberries, bananas, and marshmallows with melted chocolate
*Cheese fondue with bread cubes and vegetable slices
*Five layer dip with spiced beans, sour cream, diced tomatoes, black olives, and cheese, served with tortilla chips
*Spinach artichoke dip
*Shrimp cocktail
*Queso dip with tortilla chips
*Crab dip
*Tuna pate:
1 package cream cheese, softened
2 cans tuna, drained
3T chili sauce
1T hot sauce
1T dried basil

Whip cream cheese and drained tuna together. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pack into a tub or decorative mould. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. Un-mould onto a plate and serve with crackers, carrot coins, and apple slices

Finger foods:
Some of the best appetizers are the ones that can be carried easily from place to place.
*Meatballs on toothpicks served with a choice of barbecue, buffalo, and Asian sweet chili sauce
*Spring rolls with sweet chili sauce or eel sauce
*California roll or vegetable roll sushi
*Buffalo wings in barbecue, hot, and mild served with bleu cheese dressing and celery
*Chicken skewers with Thai peanut sauce
*Beef with broccoli on toothpicks
*Bacon-wrapped scallops on toothpicks
*Miniature pizzas in steak/swiss, roasted vegetable, and barbecue chicken flavors
*Indian Samosas
*Spanikopita

Appetizers can also follow a bridal shower theme. A honeymoon-themed bridal shower could showcase foods from the location of the bride’s upcoming honeymoon. A wine-tasting bridal shower could serve wine and accompanying cheeses, along with croissants and French bread. A tea party bridal shower could have cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwiches, petit-fours, and tea cookies.

It is a good idea to offer both meat and vegetarian appetizers to be appropriate for the greatest number of guests. Also try to offer something savory or filling for each sweet or dessert offered at the party. If you only want to offer appetizers, throw the party between the hours of one o’clock and four o’clock in the afternoon; times when a full meal is not expected. You might want to consider special diets and other special needs when considering which foods to have at your shower. Many people with allergies or special diets will either contact you to inform you of their needs or they will bring something with them that they can eat. It is polite to serve this food in a similar way as you have served the other appetizers. Even if the special food must be kept away from the other food for allergy reasons, you can still provide your guest with toothpicks, decorative plates, and any garnishes they desire.

If you wish to serve a meal along with your appetizers, covered dishes and casseroles are a good idea. You may want to ask your guests to bring a covered dish and make it a pot-luck affair, or you could prepare three or more dishes for the guests to choose from.


Misha Anatolia is a bridal shower writer. For more bridal shower food ideas and bridal shower information, go to bridal-showers.org