Bridal shower bingo is the easiest of the bridal shower games: every guest gets a card of 24 common gifts, and she marks each one as the bride opens it. The first guest with a full line shouts bingo. You can print up to 200 free bridal shower bingo cards, with a rules page, or play online with the gift bingo list on phones, and the game keeps everyone watching while the presents are opened.
Bridal shower bingo to print (PDF)
These four pages show the bridal shower bingo cards: a page of two 5 by 5 cards, a page of quick 4 by 4 cards, the small 3 by 3 cards and the one-page rules. Click any picture for the PDF, or use the generator at the top of the page to change the gifts, the title and the bride’s name.
What is on the bridal shower bingo cards
The starter list has 30 common shower gifts, and each 5 by 5 card shows 24 of them plus a free square. The gifts fall into four groups, so you can edit the list to match the registry or the tastes of the bride.
| Group | Squares | Gifts on the starter list |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen and dining | 7 | Kitchen gadget, Cookbook, Mugs, Wine glasses, Dinner set, Serving tray, Tea set |
| Home and decor | 8 | Candles, Photo frame, Bedsheets, Towels, Cushion covers, Plant, Silver item, Wall clock |
| Pamper and personal | 10 | Perfume, Bathrobe, Jewellery box, Makeup kit, Spa voucher, Handbag, Hair dryer, Nightwear, Watch, Scented soaps |
| Keepsakes and treats | 5 | Chocolates, Travel bag, Handmade card, Personalised gift, Books |
How to play gift bingo at a bridal shower
- Print the cards. Give every guest a card and a pen when she arrives, and ask her to write her name on it.
- Edit the gifts. If the bride has a registry, add the items from it, so that the squares match the real gifts.
- Open the gifts. The bride opens one gift at a time and holds it up for the room.
- Mark the squares. Guests mark any square that matches the gift, such as “Candles” or “Photo frame”.
- Shout bingo. The first full line wins, and the host checks the card against the gifts opened.
How many gifts must be opened before someone wins?
In gift bingo the gifts, not the host, decide the order, so the game ends when enough gifts that match the squares have been opened. This simulation assumes the gifts opened come from the starter list of 30, and shows the chance that at least one guest has a completed line after 10, 14 and 18 gifts, with 10, 20 and 30 guests.
| Guests with a card | After 10 gifts | After 14 gifts | After 18 gifts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 guests | 35% | 93% | 100% |
| 20 guests | 60% | 100% | 100% |
| 30 guests | 73% | 100% | 100% |
With 20 guests, someone is almost certain to have a line after 14 matching gifts, and with 10 guests a line is likely by then too. If the bride opens fewer matching gifts, keep playing for the four corners, or give a prize for the guest with the most squares marked at the end.
Bridal shower games: bingo and more
Bridal shower games should be gentle, quick and easy to play while a group chats and eats. Bingo is the best of them because it is not a quiz and nobody is put on the spot. Pair it with a second game: a handbag bingo or kitty party tambola while guests arrive, and a quiz about the bride and groom for the second half.
Gift bingo variations
- Blackout: the guest who marks all 24 squares first wins the big prize.
- Four corners: a quick prize for the first guest to mark the four corner squares.
- Bride’s list: the bride writes her own 24 wishes and guests guess which ones she will get.
- Thank-you helper: a scribe writes down who gave which gift while the bride opens them, so thank-you notes are easy later.
Bachelorette games Indian brides can enjoy
Many Indian brides now hold a bridal shower, a ladies’ sangeet or a mehendi evening before the wedding, and the same games fit. For bachelorette games Indian guests will recognize, try Bollywood musical tambola, handbag bingo and Chai and Chatter bingo, which are all easy to print and play at home.
Plan the bridal shower bingo in six steps
- Two weeks before: check the registry and decide which gifts to add to the list.
- One week before: type the squares into the generator, add the bride’s name and print one card for each guest.
- At the party: put a card and a pen at each place, and keep the rules with the host.
- Before the gifts: read the rules and explain that guests mark each gift the bride opens.
- During the opening: the bride holds up each gift, and a helper writes the gift and the giver on a list.
- After: check winning cards and hand out prizes, then use the list for thank-you notes.
Prize ideas for bridal shower bingo
- A scented candle or soap set for the first line
- A box of chocolates for the four corners
- A small plant or a mug for the second line
- A spa voucher for the full card
- A funny sash for the guest who knows the bride best
Tips for the host
- Make a few spare cards, because guests sometimes share or lose them.
- If the bride has a registry, add its items so that the squares are likely to match.
- Keep the shower short: gift opening usually takes 20 to 30 minutes.
- Give each winner a small prize, and include the bride in the fun with a card of her own.
Wikipedia’s bridal shower article describes the history of the party and the customs around gifts and games.
Play bridal shower bingo online
Press Create game and share one link on WhatsApp. Every guest gets a different card on their phone, and you check winners by card number on your screen. You can personalize the squares before you start, and Download these cards (PDF) prints the same cards for guests who prefer paper. The online game works well for a virtual shower with guests in different cities.
Bridal shower bingo: frequently asked questions
How do you play bridal shower bingo?
Every guest gets a card of common gifts. When the bride opens a gift, guests mark the matching square, and the first guest with a full row, column or diagonal shouts bingo.
Do the gifts need to match the card?
Not exactly. The squares list common gifts, and a guest marks one whenever a gift fits it. A “Kitchen gadget” square can match a blender, a whisk or a toaster. You can also edit the squares to match the registry.
How many cards should I print?
One for each guest, plus two or three spares. You can print up to 200 different cards at once, and every card has a different arrangement of gifts.
Can I change the squares?
Yes. Every square is editable in the generator: add names, inside jokes or your own list, and the cards, the caller list and the online game all use your version.
Is it free to download and play?
Yes. Printable cards, the PDF download and the online game are all free, with no app and no sign-up.