Wedding planning involves lots of celebrations along the way to the big day. Bridal showers are a must for many brides. The gathering, typically for women only, is a time for a delightful meal, fun games and gifts. But bringing a whole group together to celebrate is getting more challenging, as modern couples often don't live near their parents or all of their friends. Add in the COVID-19 pandemic and it seems near impossible for brides to be showered how they planned or wanted to be. But changing times call for new ways of doing things. By getting crafty and making use of clever apps and digital platforms, you can plan a memorable virtual shower and other wedding events with your loved ones.

*Have a House Party

Josanta Gray, a bride in Los Angeles, had a virtual get-together with her bridesmaids during quarantine. "My bridal party threw me a virtual bachelorette party because that specific weekend we were supposed to all be sitting on a beach in Miami," she says, noting it was a bittersweet change of plans.

Gray is grateful for the celebration, which included seven of her friends: four in LA, who were each quarantined separately; one in Houston; one in Washington, D.C.; and one in Chicago. One of her bridesmaids mailed all of the attendees a box featuring the invitation, candy and a cup for their drinks.

"I had way more fun than I anticipated," Josanta says.

The attendees ordered food and drinks to be delivered to Gray and then all logged into the virtual event on the Houseparty app, which allows up to eight people to video chat at once. At first, they had a few audio glitches, but once that was resolved, it was smooth sailing.

"It made me feel so appreciated that they even put in the effort to do a virtual bachelorette party filled with games, a scavenger hunt, and prank calls," says Gray, who hopes to meet her friends in Miami or Las Vegas later this year.

*Modern Events

More people are open to the idea of moving their respective celebrations online instead of just canceling events, and wedding companies are creating their own ways to make that happen.

"We are seeing many couples turn to virtual wedding showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and weddings amid the coronavirus," says Katie Brownstein, director of communications of the wedding technology company Joy. The company has made it possible for users to livestream their festivities directly through the Joy website, allowing guests to see and share the experience without being there in person.

*Virtual Bridal Shower Basics

A virtual shower has many of the same elements as an in-person party. To get started, create your guest list, and send invitations.

"Sending digital invites for a virtual shower creates a special feel for the event versus sending a text or email," says Brownstein. By providing all the event details in the invite, including the virtual meeting link, guests will have an easy time showing up.

It's important to collect RSVPs so the host can make sure the livestreaming platform can handle the number of guests and the meeting lasts the desired time.

*Set the Mood

It's OK to have a dress code for the virtual event. Just be sure to let guests know ahead of time if there's a theme or color code.

Decorations are a particularly special part of bridal showers. "Whether you decide to decorate virtually or physically, creating a festive atmosphere will take the shower from a casual hangout with friends, to feeling really special," says Brownstein.

The host can send items like photobooth props to attendees ahead of time. Alternatively, on some videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom, attendees can create their own virtual background, or the host can create and share a custom background.

To have a dining experience, the host can have food delivered to the bride, or simply encourage guests to have a drink nearby for a toast.

No bridal shower would be complete without the entertainment. Play games like bridal trivia or bingo; open presents; and dance. The host can create a celebratory playlist and control the volume so it's manageable throughout the event.

For a personal touch, the host can ask guests to send well wishes, cards or gifts to the bride before the party, and the bride can look at them during the event if she chooses.

While it's unlikely virtual bridal showers will replace in-person showers, they're a beautiful alterative that brings loved ones together to celebrate no matter the distance or the circumstances.