What do you know about a Bridal Shower?

Bridal showers are fast becoming the norm these days in many parts of the world. Basically, it means showering or the giving of gifts to a bride-to-be prior to her wedding. Whilst the terminology “bridal shower” is recent in origin, the custom of showering the would-be bride with gifts has its origin in the practice of dowry. In fact, in some customs, bridal showers take the place of a dowry if the bride’s family is unwilling or unable to provide her with a dowry.

Bridal showers tend to be organized by family members or future in-laws of the bride. They can also be arranged by friends or bridesmaids of the would-be bride, and usually take place not more than two months before the wedding. Guests invited tend to be close friends and family members of the would-be bride. These are guests who are normally also invited to the wedding. This is a time for the bride to get together with her close circuit of family and friends, and relax before her big day. Friends and family members of the bride also tend to impart advice, and share their own wedding and related experiences with the would-be bride.

A bridal shower can be simple or extravagant, and can involve different themes, favors and games etc. to entertain guests.  Arranging a bridal shower can be quite time-consuming, especially if it involves games and party favors. Games are organized for entertainment purposes. As for party favors, these are gifts given to guests who attend the shower. It could be a traditional favor such as a box of chocolates or a gift that relates to the theme of the bridal shower.

Even a simple bridal shower entails some preparation such as writing and sending out invitations, and organizing a venue. Details such as the menu, flowers and decorations also need to be attended to. For this reason, some prefer to hold bridal showers in restaurants in order to minimize the time spent in organizing the event. The bride can be involved in preparing her own bridal shower, or it could be a surprise.  Bridal Shower Ideas can come from many different places.  Nevertheless, even a bridal shower thrown as a surprise should take into account the would-be bride’s wishes and interests.

Guests attending a bridal shower can bring whatever they like as gifts. For instance, in some countries people attending bridal showers tend to bring gifts that the would-be bride can use to set up home following the wedding.  Such a practice of giving practical but not necessarily expensive gifts is fast catching on in many countries.

Finally, a bridal shower is not to be mistaken with a bachelorette party which is basically a girls’ night out, and it allows the would-be bride to get together with her friends a night or two before her big day. Such an occasion marks a farewell to her carefree days. Such bachelorette parties also known as “hen nights” are common in Western countries but have yet to catch on in traditional cultures.