The Bridal Shower Bow Bouquet: That Weird Tradition You Didn’t Know You Needed

The other day, a friend of mine told me she was heading out to attend a bridal shower as a maid-of-honor.

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The Cheat Sheet (TL;DR)

In a rush? Here is the lowdown on the ribbon bouquet tradition so you can fake it ’til you make it.

• The Point: It’s a practice bouquet made from the ribbons on shower gifts. The bride uses it at the wedding rehearsal so she isn’t walking empty-handed.
• The Superstition: Count the ribbons the bride breaks while opening gifts! Rumor has it, that number equals the number of kids she’ll have.
• The Build: Usually constructed by the Maid of Honor (MOH) on a paper plate during the shower.
• The Logistics: You need a team. One person to grab ribbons, one person to make the bouquet. Don’t try to do both.
• The Backup Plan: Hate crafts? Hire a professional bridesmaid or buy a pre-made structure to save yourself the headache.

It’s officially bridal shower season! While the old-school move was to make a paper plate hat (and force the poor bride to wear it for embarrassing photos), modern squads have pivoted. Now, we turn those scraps into a bridal shower bow bouquet.

Picture this: You’re sitting there watching gifts fly open. Tissue paper is creating a fire hazard on the floor. Suddenly, you notice the Maid of Honor hoarding ribbons like a squirrel. She isn’t failing at cleanup; she’s prepping for a tradition that bridges the gap between this party and the wedding day.

Confused by bridal shower traditions? Call the Free 24/7 Wedding Hotline

Wait, Why Are We Saving Trash?

Let’s look at the emotional side of this. Why does a pile of discarded gift wrapping become a sentimental accessory? It’s all about bridging the gap between the shower and the ceremony.

This tradition is usually one of the most chaotic but memorable parts of the day. If you’re stressed about the rest of the planning, check out our bridal shower guide to make sure the games and food are as on-point as this bouquet is going to be.

What is it, exactly?

Let’s be real: The bridal shower bow bouquet is a strange, charming, and slightly messy custom. You are literally taking the debris from the party and turning it into a prop. If you’ve never seen one, it looks like a pile of ribbons taped to a paper plate. But if you know the history, it looks like good luck.

The Folklore of Thrift and Luck

This comes from the days when nothing went to waste. Creating a bouquet from ribbons symbolizes carrying the love and generosity of your guests with you to the wedding practice run. It turns “trash” into a physical representation of your community.

Think of your grandmother smoothing out a piece of foil wrapping paper to use again next year. She knew that wasting “pretty paper” was bad luck. By keeping the ribbons, you aren’t hoarding; you’re gathering the well-wishes of every woman in the room to carry with you as a rehearsal bouquet.

From Messy to Masterpiece

Historically, these things looked a bit… crafty. Like a kindergarten project. But modern versions are actually pretty cute. With curated color palettes and intentional ribbon choices, you can create a photogenic keepsake rather than a chaotic scrap pile.

Even celebrities get caught up in the anticipation. As seen in reality TV news, stars like “Amy Roloff and Chris Marek” focused heavily on the buildup to the big day. This bouquet serves as a tangible countdown to that exact moment.

Why You Need a Rehearsal Prop

The bouquet isn’t really for the shower—it’s for the day before the wedding. Here is why you need a dummy bouquet.

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Practice for the Altar

Walking down the aisle is harder than it looks. You have to walk at a specific pace, keep your posture up, and figure out what to do with your hands. Using the ribbon bouquet allows the bride to practice holding an arrangement at the correct height (belly button, not chest!) without ruining fresh flowers.

While you’re practicing your walk, you might also want to read up on the truth about catching the bouquet to understand the full scope of floral traditions.

The Ice Breaker

Beyond the church walkthrough, the bouquet usually sits at the bride’s seat during the rehearsal dinner. It signals that the festivities have officially begun and acts as a great conversation starter for guests who weren’t at the shower to ask, “What is that thing?”

The “Broken Ribbon” Curse

Okay, it’s not a curse, but it is a superstition. They say the number of ribbons the bride breaks while opening gifts equals the number of children she will have. To honor this, we often weave those specific broken ribbons prominently into the bouquet. As wedding expert Simply Elliott notes, “The total number of “broken” bows = the number of kids they will have!” so be careful with those scissors!

Choosing Your Style

Not all bouquets are created equal. You can go the easy route or the “I saw this on Pinterest” route. Choose the method that fits your patience level.

The Classic Paper Plate

This is the OG method. You take a heavy-duty paper plate (Chinet is king here), punch some holes in it, and thread the ribbons through. It creates a flat, sturdy surface. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done and is easy to do on your lap while sitting on a couch.

The Modern Cone

If you want it to look like real flowers, you use a styrofoam cone or a bouquet holder. You pin the bows in a circle. It looks amazing, but it requires more prep work.

Struggling with the mechanics? You might want to check out the Bow K bridal shower hack, which is a product designed specifically to make this easier.

Feature	Paper Plate Method	Styrofoam/Holder Method
Difficulty	Easy / Beginner	Medium / Intermediate
Prep Time	5 Minutes	20+ Minutes
Shape	Flat (2D)	Round (3D)
Durability	High (Hard to break)	Medium (Pins can slip)
Cost	Cheap (Raid the pantry)	Medium (Craft store run)

Not sure which method to choose? Ask the Free 24/7 Wedding Hotline

How to Build It (Without Panicking)

This is the part where the Maid of Honor usually starts sweating. Gifts are opening fast, ribbons are flying everywhere, and you have to make something pretty out of it. Here is your game plan.

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The Survival Kit

Do not wait until the party starts to find scissors. Pack a specific “Bouquet Kit” so you are ready to roll.

Your Checklist:

• [ ] Heavy-duty paper plates (Bring two, glue them together for strength)
• [ ] Scissors (one for you, one for the bride to open gifts)
• [ ] Hole punch (Essential!)
• [ ] Clear packing tape
• [ ] Spool of extra white ribbon (for tying things down)
• [ ] A trash bag (to carry it home)

The Foundation

Grab your plate. Cut a slit in the center—this is where the “handle” ribbons will go. If you think the bride is getting a ton of gifts, double up the plates. As craft experts suggest, “get your plate… I used two on top of each other for strength” because a floppy base is a disaster waiting to happen.

Designate a “Runner”

You cannot build and collect at the same time. Assign another bridesmaid to be the “runner.” Her job is to grab the bow the second the bride rips it off, remove the tape, and hand it to you. This assembly line is the only way to keep up.

Building it Live

If you need a deep dive, check out our full tutorial on how to make a bridal shower bow bouquet. But here is the crash course:

Start Big

Take the biggest, fluffiest bow you can find and put it right in the middle. This is your anchor. Work your way outward with smaller bows to fill in the gaps.

Knot It Tight

Punch a hole in the plate, pull the ribbon ends through to the back, and double knot them. If the ribbon is too short, use a piece of your clear tape to stick it down. It doesn’t have to look pretty on the back, it just has to hold.

The Handle

You don’t hold the plate like a frisbee. You need a handle. Gather the long, flat ribbons that were wrapped around the boxes. Thread them through that center slit you cut earlier so they dangle down. The bride holds onto these streamers.

Make it Special

Want to be the MVP? Tie in a charm, a piece of lace from her mom’s dress, or a little note. It turns a craft project into an heirloom.

Who is Responsible for This Thing?

Let’s clarify roles so nobody leaves the bouquet in the restaurant parking lot.

MOH feeling overwhelmed? Use the Free 24/7 Wedding Hotline

The Maid of Honor’s Job

Sorry, MOH, this is on you. You are the architect. You sit near the bride, you smile, and you tie knots until your fingers hurt. It’s a rite of passage.

Feeling overwhelmed? This is just one of many tasks. Read our guide on mastering Maid of Honor duties to make sure you aren’t missing anything else.

Getting it to the Rehearsal

The shower is over. The bouquet is huge. Now what?

Phase	Who Does It?	What to do
During Shower	Maid of Honor	Build the thing.
Post-Shower	Bridesmaids	Clean up the trash so the MOH doesn’t lose the ribbons.
Transport	Maid of Honor	Put it in a trash bag and drive it to the bride’s house.
Storage	Bride	Hang it upside down in a closet so ribbons stay straight.
Rehearsal Day	Designated Helper	Don’t forget to bring it to the venue!

Storage Tip

Humidity is the enemy. Hang the bouquet upside down by the handle in a cool closet. If you leave it in a hot car, the bows will go flat, and the tape might melt.

Modern Twists (If You Hate the Ribbons)

If the bride is super modern and hates the idea of a paper plate bouquet, that’s totally fine. Here are some alternatives.

The Eco-Friendly Route

If you’re doing a “display shower” (where gifts aren’t wrapped to save paper), ask guests to bring a single silk flower. Twist them together to make a fake floral bouquet. Zero waste, still cute.

The Kitchen Theme

We saw a “Stock the Kitchen” shower where the MOH used a colander as the base and tied wooden spoons, whisks, and tea towels to it. The bride practiced walking down the aisle holding a whisk arrangement. It was hilarious, practical, and she actually used the stuff later.

Need Backup?

Look, not everyone is crafty. And not every bride wants to burden her friends with logistics. That is where professional help comes in.

Get immediate backup from the Free 24/7 Wedding Hotline

Delegating the Stress

Bridesmaid for Hire isn’t just about standing at the altar. It’s about managing the invisible labor—like knowing how to make a ribbon bouquet so you don’t have to watch a YouTube tutorial in the bathroom.

Even reality stars need help. When Amy Roloff got married, she had people managing the logistics, much like how “Matt has been a huge help the entire time.” A professional bridesmaid is that person for you.

The “I’m Not Crafty” Safety Net

If the idea of making a bouquet in front of 50 people makes you want to hide, hire us. We can step in, manage the ribbons, and ensure the result looks structured and beautiful, not like a science fair project gone wrong.

Final Thoughts

The bridal shower bow bouquet is more than just a pile of ribbons on a paper plate. It’s a little bit of magic. It connects the casual fun of the shower to the seriousness of the wedding day. Whether you stick to the classic method or invent something new, the effort you put in speaks volumes.

So, grab your scissors and that paper plate. You’re building a memory.

Struggling to manage all the traditions? Let Bridesmaid for Hire handle the details, from the bow bouquet to the cleanup. Contact us today to see how we can make your life easier.