5 Places to Have a Couple’s Shower

Planning to get married? It’s okay to feel like your head is spinning. You have to pick a venue, vendors, caterer; the options can feel endless. One of the fun things you can plan is your couple’s shower. Traditionally, this may be a bridal shower, but if you want to do things differently, a couple’s shower is the way to go.

With a couple’s shower, you and your fiancé can celebrate together. The key to a good couple’s shower? You need a theme that pulls it all together, from invitations to favors for your guests! Keep reading for five places to have a couple’s shower!

Boat on Casco Bay with City - Photo Credit Capshore Photography — Boat on Casco Bay with City – Photo Credit Capshore Photography

1. Host a Dinner Cruise on a Boat

Would you and your fiancé love to feel the sea breeze on your face as you cruise along the Maine coast? One place to host a couple’s shower is on a boat! Portland is home to numerous charter companies available to take your crew out on the water, like Casco Bay Custom Charters. Having a dinner cruise while you take in the incredible sights of Casco Bay is a great way to spend time with all the people you love. For a theme, think anything nautical, like anchors, sailboats, and lobsters.

You can serve cute cupcakes topped with anchors, cocktails in mason jars with blue and white stripes, or cover chairs on the boat with fishing net to give your dinner cruise more of an at-sea feel. Have guests bring gifts that may help make traveling easier, like chipping in on a set of monogrammed luggage, a pushpin map of all the places you’ve traveled together, or a Bluetooth wireless speaker for your next big trip.

Moe's BBQ, Photo Credit: Capshore photography — Moe’s BBQ, Photo Credit: Capshore photography

2. Provide an ‘I Do’ BBQ

Do you and your partner love to grill and barbecue? Why not have an I Do BBQ? Moe’s Original BBQ is a tasty way of getting everyone together. The can cater at your house or a venue , depending on your comfortability and how much space you’ll need. Keep your guests well fed by providing a crowd pleasing buffet with pulled pork, burgers, hot dogs, and anything else you want. Don’t forget some tasty sides, like corn on the cob, potato salad, watermelon, deviled eggs, and other picnic fare. Lay out some red and white checked tablecloths to give your day a little more pizazz and to keep guests clothes from getting stained.

Put out some yard games like cornhole, giant Jenga, ladder toss, and Kan Jam! Your guests will have a great time enjoying the sun and the magnificent Maine weather. With a more laid-back couple’s shower, guests should feel free to bring gifts that fit your grilling lifestyle. Think personalized grill tool sets, a beverage tub to keep drinks cool on the deck, or some cute his and her grilling aprons!

Portland Food Display, Photo Credit: GLP Films

3. Eat at Your Favorite Restaurant

If you’re a couple that loves a certain restaurant, see if you can rent out the space for your couple’s shower. This tends to work best if it’s a restaurant that isn’t too intimate or small. Saltwater Grille, located in South Portland, has stunning views of the city from across the bay, and utilizes their entire second floor for event reservations!

If the restaurant does catering, see if they’ll offer shareable bites and appetizers along with a brunch menu to offer to your guests. You can also create signature cocktails that embody each of you. Maybe one cocktail is sweeter and effervescent, while the other is darker, moody, and has a hint of bitters. Combined, they should perfectly pair with each other, like you and your partner. Guests can play into the theme with gifts that play into your foodie sensibilities, like a pasta maker, a new monogrammed bar set, or a custom charcuterie board featuring your new initials.

Casco Bay Boats. Photo Credit: Capshore Photography

4. Make a Splash on the Water

Do you and your partner love lake life? Or living it up by the beach? If cabin life is your favorite, having your couple’s shower at the lake is a perfect location! Renting a cabin or an event venue doesn’t have to break the bank, especially if you’re planning a few months before. If you love kayaking or canoeing on the lake, think about finding a working boat to use as a display for drinks to find a fun way to lean into your motif.

If you like the idea of a more casual affair, have guests bring your swimsuit and hit the beach. You can find beachfront accommodations dotting the coast across Greater Portland.

Meeting Planner Education Day at Cellardoor Winery, Photo Courtesy of Kate McDonough — Meeting Planner Education Day, Photo Courtesy of Kate McDonough

5. Taste Test at a Wine Bar and follow it with some CharCUTErie

For the couple that loves wine and cheese, hosting a couple’s shower at your favorite wine bar or winery is the obvious choice. Try Blue Lobster Urban Winery, or Sweetgrass Winery & Distillery. Even if you can’t host it at this location, making it work at your home is easy. Start by setting the scene. You can quickly get into cheesy territory with this theme, so keep it classic. Fill up vases and mason jars with wine corks, or find old wine bottles where you can put tea lights inside. Rather than focus on a sit-down meal, find small bites that pair well with wine.

Think a charcuterie board topped high with local meats and cheeses to encourage snacking, then small stations that guests can work their way around paired with different kinds of wine. The Portland Board is the perfect answer for your charcuterie needs, while also being a great photo op for the party! Ask guests to bring their favorite bottles of wine to fill up the wine fridge. Don’t forget to have a toast of bubbly or even a champagne tower if you feel fancy!