You don’t have to spend a ton of money to throw a memorable bridal shower on a budget — especially when you use AI tools to simplify the process!

Being tasked with hosting a bridal shower can be equal parts exciting and scary. On the one hand, it’s your opportunity to show the bride-to-be just how much you care about her. On the other, it’s a delicate dance around finances, schedules, and guest expectations.

Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone — even if you’re doing it alone. What am I talking about? Maybe you’ve heard of ChatGPT, but you may not realize how much of a game-changer it can be as a party-planning assistant.

If you haven’t heard of the AI tool, here’s a quick explanation: ChatGPT responds to inputs provided by users by providing customized, practical advice and tools. It essentially serves as a digital personal assistant that continually learns your needs and updates its memory to maximize the relevance of its responses. Oh yeah — it’s also completely free to use. Pretty cool, right?

This guide will show you all the ways you can use this handy AI tool to throw a budget-friendly bridal shower. We’ve even thrown in some templated inputs to make it super easy!

Step 1: Set your budget

Planning any party requires knowing your budget. A simple shower can run you around $18 per guest, so a safe rule of thumb is to plan on spending closer to $20–$25 per guest just to give yourself some wiggle room. You can also consider co-hosting to help offset costs without compromising your vision.

ChatGPT can help you outline your potential costs and create a detailed budget spreadsheet to stay on track. Provide information such as the number of guests, desired spending per person, and any fixed expenses. ChatGPT will use that info to generate a comprehensive plan that includes estimates for every element. This helps you avoid overspending while ensuring that all potential costs have been considered.

Sample input: Help me create a budget for a bridal shower. I have a total budget of $[PRICE], and I’m expecting [GUEST COUNT] guests. I need to allocate funds for venue, food, decorations, games, and party favors. Can you provide a detailed budget breakdown?

Step 2: Find a free venue

Choosing a venue can be challenging, even without a budget. The first thing to remember is that there is no requirement to host a bridal shower in a formal venue. You can use ChatGPT to request venue suggestions, get details on securing the space, and draft polite emails or messages requesting permission to use the space.

Using ChatGPT to find a free or low-cost venue can streamline this important step in the process, helping you find and lock down the perfect location. If you wind up opting for an outdoor venue, just be sure to check the forecast!

Sample input: I’m planning a bridal shower in [CITY] and need suggestions for free or inexpensive venues. I prefer outdoor locations or community spaces. Can you recommend some options?

Step 3: Email your invites

Paper invitations are so not budget-friendly, and frankly, they usually wind up in the trash once the party’s over. Eliminate the need for an invitation budget and save the planet all at once by opting for emailed bridal shower invites. Paperless Post makes it easy to customize your party invitations and track RSVPs, or you can choose from a variety of free templates on Canva.

With ChatGPT, you can input details such as date, theme, and RSVP instructions, and you’ll get a well-worded, engaging template to start populating. You can even use ChatGPT to add a personal message to each invitation before they’re sent out! This not only ensures that the invitations are clear and concise, but it saves you time and money by quickly generating multiple invites.

Sample input: Can you help me draft an invitation for a bridal shower? The theme is [THEME] and it will be on [DATE] at [TIME]. The venue is [NAME] at [ADDRESS]. I need to include RSVP details and a friendly tone.

Step 4: DIY your decor

Decorations can be one of the most enjoyable — yet challenging — aspects of planning a bridal shower on a budget. Luckily, you don’t have to be a professional party planner to set up a gorgeous party. Use tablecloths, artificial flowers, and photos printed at home to spruce up any space!

Here’s how you can use ChatGPT for your shower decorations: Simply describe your theme and budget constraints, and get recommendations with detailed, step-by-step instructions for each project. This helps you save money while offering unique and personalized ideas that fit your vision.

Sample input: I need ideas for DIY decorations for a [THEME] bridal shower on a budget. Can you suggest some projects with step-by-step instructions and a list of materials for each?

Step 5: Print your games

People typically expect a few activities or games when they attend a bridal shower, but purchasing a variety of pre-printed bridal shower games can start to add up fast. Don’t worry — even on a budget, you can come up with fun and engaging activities with the help of ChatGPT.

Use the AI tool to help you brainstorm and create printable games. Simply ask for popular game ideas and let ChatGPT generate templates that you can print right from home; all you need is some good cardstock to print them on!

Sample input: Can you help me create printable bridal shower games for a [THEME] party? I need a [GAME] card and a [ACTIVITY] card template.

Step 6: Be strategic with food and drinks

Keeping your food costs low is all about timing; planning a mid-afternoon or late-evening shower means you can get away with light bites or dessert and coffee. There’s nothing wrong with serving a buffet of finger foods at your bridal shower — it’s all about the presentation.

Use ChatGPT to get budget-friendly menu ideas and recipes by describing the type of food and drinks you want to serve. You can even generate presentation tips to make your spread look even more impressive! This is truly the best example of working smarter, not harder when you’re the hostess with the most-est.

Sample input: Can you suggest a budget-friendly menu for a bridal shower? I need easy-to-make finger foods and a drink that can be prepared in large batches. It should be able to feed [GUEST COUNT] people.

Step 7: Celebrate!

The final step before your first guests arrive? Use ChatGPT to create a schedule for the day of the party to ensure a smooth flow of activities. Ask for tips on timing, transitions between activities, and ways to keep guests entertained throughout the event.

When party time comes, be sure to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your budget-savvy labor. The best part? No one will be the wiser that you kept it low-cost, because like we said: you don’t have to cut corners to throw a great bridal shower on a budget. If they ask what your secret is, just tell them you get all your party-hosting tips from RegistryFinder.com!

Sample input: Help me create a schedule for the bridal shower day. The event starts at [TIME] and ends at [TIME]. I need to include time for games, food, and gift opening.