Planning guide
Shower game prizes guests actually want
Prizes don't need to be big, but they should be something a guest would use. Plan one prize per game, plus one for the overall winner, and keep a spare for ties.
Updated October 28, 2026
The short answer
Plan one prize per game, one for the overall winner and one spare for ties. Good prizes under $10 are candles, chocolate, hand cream or a plant cutting; $10 to $20 buys wine, a coffee gift card or a cookbook. Small things guests will actually use beat novelty items.
Ideas by budget
- Under $10: a candle, a good chocolate bar, a plant cutting, a nice pen, hand cream.
- $10–$20: a bottle of wine, a coffee shop gift card, a candle from a local maker, a cookbook.
- $20 and up: a restaurant gift card, a nice throw, a framed print.
How many prizes you need
One per game, one for the overall winner and one spare. Guessing games break ties by themselves (closest without going over), but bingo can have two winners on the same call, so keep the spare for that.
Shower bingo
Bridal shower gift bingo
Bridal shower gift bingo with thirty items and a different card for every guest. Print the cards or play on phones.
30 items · Bridal shower
Price guess
Bridal shower price guess game
Guess the price of registry favorites, from wine glasses to a stand mixer. Closest without going over wins.
12 items · Bridal shower, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding reception
Questions people ask
- Do you need prizes for shower games?
- They help, but they don't need to be expensive. A small prize makes a game feel like it counts.
- Can the guest of honor win a prize?
- Usually not. Most hosts leave the honoree out of the prizes, since the gifts are already theirs.
Play it on the big screen
Questions on the TV, answers on guests’ phones, scores kept for you. Free for up to 15 guests.
Plan a live game