POSH WEDDINGS: October 2009

A bridal shower is a gift giving party given for a bride before her wedding
Bridal Shower Themes
The job of planning a shower for the Bride-to-Be falls on the maid of honor. But it is just as common for all the bridesmaids to pitch in. Legend has it the first shower was thrown for a couple deeply in love, but lacking the money to marry. Their friends and family got together and "showered" the couple with gifts to help them start their new life together.

Today, the tradition lives, but it's more of an opportunity for the bride to gather with her girlfriends one last time before her big day! Although not necessary, a theme for the bridal shower can help bring a focus to the festivities. Once the shower theme is decided, all the details can come into place and the fun can begin!

Bridal shower themes can be anything from a single color to an exotic locale, or the bride's favorite pastime.
Themes can also be practical, catered to fulfill the bride's or the couple's needs. For instance, a honeymoon shower will focus the topic of discussion on the honeymoon destination. Gifts can include helpful items like maps, travel books, or luggage. Food, wedding decorations, bridal shower favors and music can also be used to incorporate the theme of a honeymoon destination.

The ideas are limitless, so use your imagination and make the occasion meaningful as well as unforgettable!

Popular Bridal Shower Themes. . .
Room of the House,
Each guest is "assigned" a room of the house and brings a gift to be used in that room.

Lingerie
Guests bring their favorite lingerie for the bride!

Around the Clock
Each guest is assigned a "time," such as breakfast time or bath time. Their gifts should reflect this time.

Ethnic Theme
Using the bride's heritage, plan a shower with her favorite ethnic foods! For example, serve fresh fruit, isi ewu, and palm-wine an eastern area themed wedding shower. The decorations and favors should also have an ethnic flair.

Christmas Ornament
Guests are instructed to bring a ornament for the couple's first Christmas tree.

Garden Party
Host a shower in a garden setting and decorate the tables with beautiful flowers. Ask guests to bring gifts that the bride in use in her garden.

Stock the Bar
If you're throwing a couple wedding shower, a popular theme is stock the pantry. Guests bring gifts to help the couple stock their bar.

Month of the Year
Each guest is assigned a month of the year. This allows the bride to receive seasonal gifts that she can enjoy throughout the year.

Favorite Memories
Each guest brings a gift that represents a favorite past time spent with the bride.

Pajamas Theme
Have guests arrive in the evening dressed in their PJ's. The evening is filled with manicures, pedicures, facials and massages, and lots of girl talk!

Stock the Pantry
Have each guest write their favorite recipe on a recipe card and bring the card along with all non-perishable ingredients for the recipe in a box or gift basket.

Like the above article says a sister, besto, maid of honour/chief bridesmaid is the one to plan a shower. In some cases the wedding planner with special instructions from the above.

Here comes tips on bridal showers:

Showers are not meant to be male bashing, in-law bashing parties. Keep your sad stories to yourself or save your story for when you are alone with the bride.

If you are invited to a shower DO NOT invite other guests – most times showers are intimate. If you are required to invite other guests you will be told.

If you cannot afford to host a shower do not volunteer – it is extremely TACKY to go round collecting money from friends of the bride you don’t know. Gather a few common friends that you KNOW and raise funds.

Be mature – what happens at bridal showers SHOULD stay at bridal showers