Coffee Shop Bridal Shower

Is there a way to meet in the middle to have two signature coffee drinks for less? But plain coffee with all the fixings and hot water for tea should be fine. I'd have no problem paying for a fancy coffee if I really wanted one. Otherwise drip coffee is fine.

I think that’s completely fine but why are you planning your own shower?!

View Quoted Comment I’m just assisting in choosing a location since my MOH lives 3 hours away. I just didn’t want to pick a location where she would end up having to foot a huge bill

You can rent out your coffee shop and 75 people fit in? That's bigger for me


But yeah, if you provide something, that's fine. Just make it crystal clear whats included and what isnt. Nothing worse than going up the bar at an event, getting something, and then being asked for your CC.

I'm frugal so I would probably do the cash option. My loved ones wouldn't even feel comfortable dining indoors this year bc of COVID

I feel like I’m on the fence about this. Normally for a breakfast style shower I would say it’s fine to just have carafes of coffee, tea, and juice and just not have other options. I feel like it’s a bit weird though to have a shower in a specialty coffee shop and only offer regular coffee. Maybe this is a know your crowd thing but I’ve never attended a shower where there was a cash bar for anything (most of my circle’s bridal showers included some kind of mimosa bar).

View Quoted Comment I agree with this. I feel it would be a bit odd to host at a specialty coffee bar and not offer specialty coffees. Tbh, $5 per person is still much cheaper than a lot of people spend on shower beverages(plus not every person is going to want one-especially kids and older people). Especially if you are bringing your own food into the establishment, it would be kind to then purchase specialty coffees from them. I’ve never seen or heard of asking people to open their wallets at a shower. They have already done so by bringing you a gift. Plus they are taking time out of their own lives/schedules to attend. It may come off as tacky or rude to then have them pay for their own beverages too.

You could also offer standards (drip coffee, shot of espresso, tea, hot chocolate etcetera) that you pay for as well as 2 signature Lattes that you think people will like (A cappuccino or mocha or whatever) that you would also pay for. A lot of wedding bars provide beer, wine, and signature cocktails, but become cash bars for other drinks. If someone wants to get like a triple shot pumpkin spice latte with a shot of fireball whiskey (actually I just made that up and now I want one) then they can pay for it.

Personally, I don’t think it’s weird. Let your guests know what’s included so they can make the decision if they want a specialty drink, knowing they’ll have to pay for it.

Personally, I do think this would be weird as well as tacky. I've never been to a bridal shower before where guests had to open up their wallets, and I think this would be quite odd. Is somebody else co-hosting the shower along with your MOH that can help? A 75-person shower is a LOT to cover for just one host. If cost is the issue, can the shower be hosted at somebody's home? My MOH (younger sister) didn't have a lot of money to work with so she hosted my shower at the home of a family friend.

As a guest at a bridal shower, if I've already spent money on a nice gift, I don't think it's reasonable to be expected to spend additional money on coffee. If you're set on this venue and your hosts can't cover the specialty drinks, then I'd just go without these drinks. Yes, maybe slightly strange to have a shower at a coffee shop with only carafes of regular coffee, but that is way better than the alternative (having guests pay for their own drinks).

That sounds like a great idea!

Sorry but I think this would be incredibly tacky. I don't think it's appropriate for guests to have to pay for anything at a bridal shower. It's the job of the hosts to cover all costs IMO. If the hosts of your shower can't afford to cover the cost of coffee, then don't have the shower at a coffee shop, have it at somebody's home.

Yeah, guests shouldn't have to pay anything at your shower. I think it would be a great idea to see if the coffee shop would work with your friend and provide your guests with a limited menu that is covered (similar to how a lot of rehearsal dinner or bigger group things work at restaurants).

I would suggest a list something like: Drip coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate, cafe mocha, and a vanilla latte (or some other common flavor). I can't imagine any of your guests would not like one of those 5 things but you'd be offering a wide variety. Then you could still bring in food and juices but everyone would be able to have a nice coffee drink too.

I wouldn't mind having access to only drip coffee if it was good quality and if there were snacks. If you want to provide more options, maybe you can order plain coffee and some flavored roasted coffee. The coffee shop I go to offers hazelnut and french vanilla bean flavors. Or you could pay for flavored syrups to spice up plain drip coffee.