So you’re going to do a devotional for a wedding or bridal shower! Maybe you’re hosting and want to include a devotional in the program. Or maybe a host or hostess has asked you to do a devotional. Either way, you’re probably here because you’re trying to figure out what to do and how to do it!
A devotional is usually a short reading or talk of a spiritual nature. For example, a devotional book consists of short readings (usually one for each day) with a spiritual lesson of some kind. A devotional at an event or gathering might be a short talk such as a story with a spiritual lesson, or it might be a sermonette (a miniature sermon). A wedding shower devotional, then, is a fairly short time of spiritual emphasis during a wedding shower. There are many potential ways to do a shower devotional, but there are four basic options for how to deliver the devotional.
This guide won’t help you with the topic or the content, but it will give you ideas for how to do the devotional. There are four basic ways to deliver a wedding shower or bridal shower devotional. These are:
You can read something
You can talk
You can listen to something
Or you can DO something
In reality, most wedding shower devotionals will involve more than one of these. Even if you read a pre-written devotional, you’re probably going to say something to introduce it or end with prayer. If you’re doing a “talk” you may still read a Bible verse. Some devotionals may be a combination of two or more delivery methods.
Read
The first option is to read something. This might mean reading a bridal shower devotional that someone else wrote, or it might mean writing a devotional yourself and then reading it at the shower.
It could also mean making reading a significant part of the devotional, but not its entirety. For example, you might read a regular devotional out of a devotional book and then apply it to the specific context of a wedding shower. Or you might read a story and then draw lessons from it. Or you might read a passage of scripture (like Proverbs 31:10-31), and then talk about it.
Finally, most shower devotionals–even those that aren’t reading-based– will include some reading, even if it’s just the reading of a single Bible verse.
Talk
The second option is to talk. Basically, you are giving a devotional talk rather than reading a pre-written devotional. You might tell a story and then draw lessons from it. Or share some thoughts and use a story to illustrate them. You might share some experience, give advice, or explain something.
You might also read something as part of a talk. You might include a few Bible verses, share another type of quote, read a story, or read a list of tips, for example. The main thing is that the devotional is based on you talking rather than on reading something. You’ll want to plan your devotional, of course, and may want to create an outline to follow.
Listen
The third option is to listen to something. This would also include watching a video. You could simply play an audio or video devotional that someone else has done. You could also use a clip as the core of your devotional. For example, as the starting point, or as the “punch line” to drive your point home. You could use a recording of a song like this as well.
Do
The final option is to do an active or interactive devotional. You might do something (you, meaning you OR you and your team), like perform a skit or sing a song. Whatever you do could be the devotional (like a skit that is, in itself a devotional) or could just be a part of it.
You might also do something interactive with the bride/couple or the guests. This could be the majority of the devotional or it could just be a small part of it, like something to start it off. I’m pretty sure there is no immediate limit to the options here, so let’s just look at a few ideas.
Ask questions of the guests to start off the devotional
Ask specific older (and trusted) women to share tips or advice on a particular topic
Have guests read Bible verses for you
Start your devotional off with a quiz or activity
Hand out something at the end of the devotional for guests to take home with them.
Think of “doing” as an activity-based devotional or a devotional that include an activity or interaction, rather than just reading, talking, or listening to a recording.
Putting It All Together
When choosing how to deliver your devotional, you may want to pick one as your primary method and then find or create your devotional based on your preference. You might then incorporate other methods as needed.
Alternatively, you might find that combining two or three methods is what feels “right” to you.
If you’re really not sure and are open to multiple options, then focus on the topic or purpose for your devotional first, and then once you know that, choose your delivery method or methods based on your goals and resources.
Have you ever been to a bridal shower or couples shower than included a devotional? What methods were used to deliver the devotional?
