Way back when Dave and I were engaged (read the engagement story — it’s so good), we were thrown a very frugal, very simple, but very fun AND practical wedding shower by my parents’ church.
Back then, my parents’ church threw a “one-hour shower” for all the engaged couples shortly before they were married. They encouraged everyone from the church to attend, BUT they did not list the registry and instead, told people to bring a gift that was valued at $5 or less.
While everyone in the church meant well, I knew this shower would result in getting a whole bunch of cheap random things I didn’t register for, want, or need (not the way I wanted to start life in my first home.)
I asked the women in charge if I could put my own spin on this “One Hour Shower” and explained my idea for a “Pantry Shower”… they were immediately on board (and proceeded to throw “Pantry Showers” for all future engaged couples! )
What’s a Pantry Shower?
It’s a bridal shower (or baby shower or housewarming party) that helps fill your pantry with non-perishable food items, cooking and baking staples, spices, cleaning supplies, and paper products.
However, in addition to pantry staples, each attendee must bring a favorite recipe, preferably hand-written, to share with the Bride-to-be.
Ideally, they would provide the non-perishable ingredients to go with that recipe too — so the engaged couple would have several tried-and-true recipes, along with many of the ingredients, to start off their new life together.
Talk about PRACTICAL!
And honestly, it was so much fun (even Dave enjoyed it).
At the time, Dave and I had just purchased our first house and we were in the process of quickly painting and moving furniture in before our wedding just a few weeks later.
A Pantry Shower was a fantastic way to quickly fill up our pantry and kitchen cabinets with a huge variety of foods. And it was especially helpful for us as I had just graduated college and we were on a really tight budget.
To this day, many of my favorite recipes are from my Pantry Shower — and I now have a stack of lovely recipe cards from the church women who knew me since I was a baby.
How Do You Plan A Pantry Shower?
Keep it simple, friends! That’s the beauty of a Pantry Shower!
Whoever sends out the invitations would ideally send at least one blank recipe card for each invited attendee to give to the bride. Encourage those who can’t attend the shower to mail their recipe card(s) to the future bride.
Explain that the idea is to provide the non-perishable ingredients for the recipe to go along with the recipe card.
The shower could be a “couple’s shower” or just for women.
Instead of games, you could have each person share a memory that goes with their recipe, or a short story about why they chose the recipe they brought.
The food could be simple finger foods like appetizers and desserts — or whatever you prefer.
Do Pantry Showers Need a Budget?
You can set a budget if you want but I don’t think that’s totally necessary.
The beauty of a Pantry Shower is that it can be as simple and frugal as necessary… but easily adaptable for bigger budgets as well.
For example, you could ask everyone to include a gift card to a local grocery store, take-out establishment, or restaurant.
Or ask everyone to include some sort of kitchen tool (preferably from the registry) that goes with the recipe and pantry items (cookie sheets, pizza pan, candy jar, measuring cups, spice rack, popcorn bucket, skillet, cookie scoop, etc.)
There’s no right or wrong way — just consider your bride-to-be and your guests and decide accordingly.
Try a Pantry Baby Shower…
.Uutilize the exact same idea to throw a super practical baby shower too!
Instead of non-perishable food items, ask for freezer meals or diapers, wipes, and other baby staples.
Instead of recipe cards, ask each attendee to write down a favorite memory from young motherhood or encouraging words of wisdom (emphasis on “encouraging”).
I had one of these showers right before Nora was born — it was very enjoyable and we came home with SO many practical, useful gifts.
Throw a Pantry House-Warming Party.
What a fun way to celebrate new home ownership — a pantry house-warming party.
Suggest household and yard items instead of actual food (unless you feel food would be appreciated).
Think small gardening items or tools, paper products and cleaning supplies, even things like a snow shovel or gardening hose — which they might not think of until it’s too late.
That’s it – Pantry Showers are SO simple!
There’s no need to check with a registry, no need to spend huge amounts on a gift, and no need to wrap and deliver bulky gifts.
For the bride and groom, there’s no need to do any returns, no need for a truck to take all their gifts home, and no need to hang onto gifts they don’t really want or love out of guilt or sentimentality (they can give any food they won’t use to a food pantry).
On the flip side, the new couple (or new homeowner) now has a fabulous start on stocking their pantry and they have countless tried-and-true recipes from their favorite relatives and friends.
Easy Pantry Shower Gift Basket Ideas:
While it’s not necessary, I personally enjoy giving a “themed” food gift, along with 1 or 2 recipes related to that theme.
Here are a few relatively simple pantry shower gift basket ideas.
Baking Basket = flour, sugar, baking powder/soda, oil, shortening, salt, cocoa, chocolates, boxed brownie or cake mixes.
Sweet Basket = variety of sweet sauces, syrups, jams, honey, and molasses.
Savory Basket = variety of olive oils, vinegars, spices, seasonings, bread crumbs, and marinades.
Salty Basket = chips, pretzels, crackers, popcorn, peanuts, and trail mix.
Salad Basket = bacon bits, croutons, salad dressings, slivered almonds, Craisins, and other non-refrigerated salad toppings.
Spices & Seasonings Basket = any number of herbs, spices, seasonings, extracts, and vinegars.
Condiment Basket = ketchup, mustards (all different types), pickles, relishes, mayo, olives, BBQ sauce, and pizza sauce.
Picnic Basket = non-refrigerated meats, cheeses, crackers, and wine.
Snack Basket = nuts, dried fruits, snack bars, trail mix, beef jerky, chocolate-covered raisins, and packaged cookies.
Breakfast Basket = cereal, granola, PopTarts, muffin mix, pancake mix, syrup.
Canned Goods Basket = canned soup, meats, fruits, veggies, beans, broth.
Coffee/Tea Basket = a variety of fancier coffee and tea, homemade hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, honey, various sweeteners, powdered creamer, etc.
Pizza Basket = pizza dough mix, sauce, pepperoni, spices
Pasta Basket = pasta noodles, marinara sauce, pesto sauce (non-refrigerated), spices, and parmesan cheese.
Candy Basket = gum, mints, movie theater candy, bulk candy, or any other sweets you know the couple likes (this one is also fun for a child’s birthday!)
Cookie Decorating Basket = sugar cookie dough mix, frosting, piping bags and tips, sprinkles, and candies.
Paper Products Basket (1) = disposable napkins, plates, cups, cutlery, paper towel, and toilet paper.
Paper Products Basket (2) = snack/sandwich bags, freezer bags, plastic wrap, wax paper, aluminum foil, parchment paper, and kitchen twine.
Baby Basket = diapers, wipes, cream, teething gel, lip balm, and chocolates or other treats for the mom.
First Aid Basket = a variety of bandages, gauze, creams, tapes, and other first aid supplies.
Cleaning Basket = dish soap, scrubber sponges, disinfecting wipes, counter spray, hand soap, rubber gloves (I’ve done this one a few times and put everything in a laundry basket.)
A Few More Thoughts on Pantry Showers:
I personally enjoy Pantry Showers so much more than traditional, buy-a-gift-off-the-registry showers because they feel more personal, yet they are SO practical and useful for the recipient.
Of course, Pantry Showers work best for those without food allergies or sensitivities, and for those who will live locally after their wedding (no sense moving boxes of food across the country!)
Also, Pantry Showers would ideally be given fairly close to the wedding date so someone doesn’t have to store massive amounts of food and paper products for a full year before their wedding!
Dave and I were so thankful to have such a nice pantry stockpile right before our wedding — it was one of my most favorite (yet very simple) showers, and I have since recommended this type of shower to so many people.
If you’re looking for fun, frugal, practical, easy-to-put-together shower ideas for almost any new couple (or homeowner) try a Pantry Shower!
Related Reading:
- 10 Creative Wedding Gift Ideas (that work with their registry)
- Creative Cash Gifts (b/c who’s going to turn down cash!)
- 10 Ideas to Repurpose and Wedding Dress
- 5 Gift Ideas for the Person Who Has Everything
I’d love to know… have you ever been to a Pantry Shower?
Adri says
I didn’t have a pantry shower but several people went that route and they were my favorites! I received a basket of cleaning products and tools, I still have the tools 24 years later…baking basket, etc. We also did recipe cards and sometimes when I’m feeling nostalgic I’ll cook something made from my favorite church women that helped raise me and now live 12 hours away
Andrea says
yes, I love looking through the hand-written recipe cards and thinking about all those ladies who watched/helped me grow up!
Fran says
I’ve done some of these ideas as Christmas presents…..brilliant ❤️
Andrea says
Yes, we’ve done them for the kids for birthdays (even for friend’s birthdays) and they always go over well!
Sarah says
I love this idea! Especially the hand written recipes! I have not been to one of these showers, but had a friend whose family use to fill up a laundry basket with household essentials as a gift.
Andrea says
Hand written recipes are the best! And laundry basket with cleaning supplies are one of my favorite gifts to give!
AngelNAlabama says
This so SMART and practical! Thanks for sharing. Our youngest daughter recently moved home (when her husband ended his military service) and plans to purchase a home in the near future. I think a “pantry” shower will be perfect for welcoming them home.
Andrea says
yes, smart and practical — my favorite things! 🙂
I think a pantry shower would be perfect for your daughter when she moves.
Karen Weger says
I do a pantry gift for the bridal showers. I buy a laundry basket and fill it with grocery items (food
or cleaning supplies). I love the practical aspect of the gift.
For my daughter who is getting married in a couple of months, I am doing a recipe shower for her. I have mailed recipe cards to our family (all over the US) asking for their favorite and family favorite recipes. I will then make a recipe book for her.
Andrea says
This sounds like a great idea — I’m sure your daughter will love her recipe shower and remember it for YEARS to come!
Stel says
That was my “kitchen tea” before my wedding! Still the recipes, a pizza plate and the clothes drying rack from 27 yrs ago 🙂
I actually find it sad how these pre-wedding events have morphed into stag parties, ladette parties etc.
Andrea says
oh fun — I love the “Kitchen tea” idea! And yes, everything is blown WAY out of proportion these days — ridiculous amounts of money on weddings, showers, proposals, birthday parties, etc. Keep it simple, friends
Melissa says
In Texas we do what’s called “A Poundin'” It’s not necessarily a shower but often done right after a couple is married (we got married in a different state but were living here in TX and so our church did this for us while we were out of town for our wedding) but it’s basically when a newly married couple’s pantry is filled by a church or group of friends or whatever. The name is supposed to have come from when people would originally bring a pound of flour, a pound of butter, a pound of sugar, etc.
Andrea says
sounds fun! and I like the name 🙂
Kristi says
Two ideas that I haven’t seen here yet came from other people’s showers that I’ve been to that were really fun.
One was called an “Around the Clock” shower. Guests were assigned different times of the day/night and asked to bring a gift that corresponded to that time of day. So for instance, at 5pm many folks might be eating/cooking dinner so you might get them a piece of cookware or dishes, at 10pm you’d be going to bed so you might get them sheets or even lingerie. It was a fun way for the hostess to get a variety of gifts.
The other was for a baby shower. They asked each guest to bring a square (or a few squares) of fabric of a certain size. The hostess then had someone who was going to use all of the fabric squares to make a quilt for the baby. I thought this would be extra special if you had a lot of relatives at the shower as you could bring pieces of their family history to be sewn into the quilt (ie, grandpa’s shirt, grandma’s apron, etc)
Andrea says
Fun! I love the quilt idea too — I’m a sucker for quilts!
Debbie says
What a great idea! There’s usually multiple wedding showers given for the couple and this pantry shower would be so helpful. One shower can be using the whatever registry list since I’m sure there are also many household items they’ll need for the kitchen, bath, etc. A pantry shower would go well with it and very practical too.
Jane says
After recieving countless advice on frugal living, marriage, kids, most important cleaning tips i can vouch for myself to be invited over at your place since i know how i should behave..lol..i promise to clean up..lol
Thank you Andrea. I’m still learning a lot from you.
Jennifer says
I love the themed baskets! I love giving and getting gifts like that, but I’ve never been to a pantry shower. We would have liked something like that. I would prefer to choose the type of basket I gift someone rather than to be assigned.
Andrea says
They are so fun to attend — I’ve loved every one I’ve been to!
Mary says
Where I grew up church showers were open house, many in the congregation who didn’t know you well might put $5 into a kitty at one of the stores in town. The day before the shower, the shop owner picked a gift and delivered it to the church. I’m still using that ironing board from 49 years ago.
Andrea says
Yeah, that’s how our shower was too — more like an open house. We didn’t play games or open gifts in front of people.
JJ says
At my shower my aunts had people bring their favorite recipe. I loved it! In a similar idea(not wedding related), I’ve been to or heard of several baby showers where they requested a book instead of a card. It builds a nice little library for the baby.
An idea for people who do have food allergies is to use something like sign up genius where you can list specific information and requests, including all of the food items(brand, store you can find them at, etc.). It would allow for people to look for sales or save(since it can be pricier) and get something here and there. I know with having 3 kids with food allergies, I appreciate any efforts people take.
Andrea says
Yes, I’ve been to baby showers that request a board book — cute idea! And yes, I LOVE SignupGenius or BringThemAMeal — both very helpful for bringing meals to others!
Swanee says
We’ve been married for 43 years and I had a pantry shower! So much fun. It was several years before I had to buy salt. 🙂 I like the idea of the recipe and include the ingredients .
Andrea says
haha — well good thing salt doesn’t go bad 🙂
Kellie says
THIS. IS. GENIUS!!! I cannot believe I’ve never heard of this!
Andrea says
it is a really fun idea! so simple, but still useful and fun!
Sherry says
I’ve been married for 29 years and I had a pantry shower beforehand. We didn’t have the $5 limit, just the usual amount that my family would spend for a shower gift back then (probably around $30). But I got a spice rack filled with spices, a laundry basket filled with laundry supplies, and lots of other themed baskets with pantry staples. It was great!
Andrea says
Yeah, I’ve been to several with no spending limit — the $5 was just for our church shower… but it shows that you CAN actually buy a nice gift for $5 (and the recipes included are free!)