How to Play the Clothespin Game at a Shower

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Updated on 04/28/23

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Overhead of a bridal shower and clothespin game — The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Hosting a bridal shower means supporting the bride-to-be with good wishes, gifts, a fun time, and the company of her closest family and friends. However, why not use it as an opportunity for the guests to have fun, too?

Organize a bridal shower game—or two or three—to break the ice among guests that don't know each other well, and you'll give everyone more to talk about after the party than simply the model of the blender the bride received at her shower. However, they can only talk without saying one "forbidden" word—if they say that word, they lose their clothespin and lose the game.

Playing the Game

The object of the game is to be better than the other guests at watching your words. In order to prepare for this game, the host will need to get enough clothespins or safety pins for each guest to have at least one. If you are feeling festive, it's fun to bedazzle, glitter or paint the clothespins for a special hint of party decor before the event begins. Here's what's next:

When guests arrive, hand a pin to each guest and have them attach it to a noticeable place on their clothing.
Tell them your pre-selected "forbidden" word. If another guest catches them using the forbidden word, they will have to turn over their pin to that guest.
The person who has the most pins when the game ends will win a prize.

It's simple, straightforward, and direct. This is a bridal shower game that everyone can play and no guests will feel left out.

Bridal shower guest clipping a clothespin to their clothing — The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

One bridal shower guest handing a clothespin to another — The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

The bridal shower guest with the most clothespins wins — The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

The Fine Print and Options

At the beginning of the game, tell guests whether they need to turn over all of the pins they have collected from catching other guests with the forbidden word or only one pin per word. The stakes certainly become higher if you have to turn over all of your pins, but it's up to you! Some guests prefer a less competitive game.

You can also make the game more challenging by changing the word mid-party. Watch as guests become confused trying to remember which was the old forbidden word and which is the new one.

Another option: Instead of just giving each guest one clothespin for the game, give them three to five each. This allows everyone to make a few mistakes when talking, which lengthens the game. This is ideal if you only have a few guests at the shower. If you have a bigger group, it's best to stick to one clothespin or safety pin per person.