 | The wedding shower is a traditional gathering that occurs before the wedding, where female family members and girl friends “shower” the bride with gifts. It's an occasion where personal gifts, rather than checks or gift cards, are the order of the day. That's not to say you can't offer cash or a card to be used at the bride's discretion, but it reduces the emotional connection between the bride and gift giver. Besides, the main event is the gift opening, so bring a tangible bridal shower gift that will generate buzz and some laughter. |
The bridal shower evolved, as a new alternative, from the age old custom of the dowry. Back in the day, friends and families put small gifts in parasols and then opened all of them together over the bride’s head, thus literally showering her with gifts.
Usually the shower occurs 2-4 weeks before the wedding and is hosted and arranged by the maid of honor, a sister, or a close cousin or best friend. In the past, men were generally entirely excluded however these day brides are becoming more flexible. I recently attended a shower where the men went out to the back of the parents’ home, which was located near a canal. The men-folk fished, canoed, drank some beer, and had a cookout. They then had dessert and watched the bride-to-be open her gifts. Everyone seemed perfectly comfortable with that.
The venue can be virtually anywhere. Popular locations include restaurants, party halls, tea rooms, or even the beach. There are no rules about where the party should take place. There can be a theme and entertainment, as well as custom bridal shower party favors to match the theme - or you can just go with your ideas “du jour”. Some choose to combine the shower with the bride's hobbies such as gardening, volleyball, or even volunteerism. Whichever theme you choose, it should be a lot of fun and very memorable.
The successful bridal shower will be made much easier if you begin with a simple checklist: Date, location, theme, invitations, guest list, food, games, and entertainment. Just add a fun attitude and high spirits and you’ll be on your way to throwing a great shower!