Wedding showers are a fun and practical event that can have huge dividends in the establishment of a new family. But even more, a bridal shower offers an opportunity to take a break from the rigors of wedding planning and relax with good friends and enjoy the season and the anticipation of the upcoming big day.
Traditionally the Maid of Honor hosts the wedding shower with the help of the bridesmaids. However there are many cases where this is not possible and it is perfectly acceptable for a family member to host instead. The problem, however, is that a family member hosting the shower, especially if it is the mother of either the bride or groom, is likely to give the impression that the family is asking for gifts rather than taking an opportunity to celebrate the upcoming nuptials.
The time period in which a shower is normally held is between two months and two weeks before the wedding. Choosing a date for the bridal shower much earlier than that might interfere with the bride's efforts to plan the wedding. Planning a wedding shower after this window is likely to interfere with the last minute planning and, perhaps more significantly, get in the way of the bride trying to watch her diet so that she can fit into her wedding dress!
Practical
The first benefit of planning a wedding shower that people point to is the simple fact that the event offers an opportunity to provide the young couple with house wares and other practical items the young couple will need to establish a home together. It is also an important opportunity for friends and family to get together before the big day finally arrives.
Build Relationships
Wedding showers are an excellent way for future in laws to have a chance of getting to know one another, but remember this day is really for the bride so if you are planning a shower keep her in mind. You do not want to plan events or invite people that will make her feel uncomfortable, do you?
Options
There are nearly as many options available for wedding showers as there are activities that lend themselves to a party setting. Here are just a handful of ideas to get the creative juices flowing:
Tea - Hold a formal tea party in someone's parlor, great room, or garden. Serve, scones, finger sandwiches, chocolate covered strawberries, fruit soup, mini cakes, and as many flavors of tea as you like.
Garden - Enjoy the splendor of creation in someone's neatly manicured garden. This is especially appropriate for a couples wedding shower who already has most household items but could use plants and gardening implements for to spruce up their yard - especially if they are trying to prepare their own yard for a outdoor wedding!
Wine Tasting - Hold the wedding shower at a nearby wine tasting room or have all of the guests bring their favorite bottle of wine. Serve fresh baked bread, cheese and crackers.
Barbeque - This is a great option for a couples shower, a casual wedding shower, or just for an outdoors enthusiast. Relax. Have fun.
Lingerie - There is so much fun to be had with a lingerie bridal shower... and the groom will thank you for it!
Location Wedding Showers - It has become increasingly popular to hold wedding showers while participating in some fun activity. For example, why not hold the celebration while taking the bride to her favorite amusement park? How about the beach? Think of activities that will appeal to the bride (or couple if you are planning a couple's shower) and guests and host your wedding shower on location. Of course, while planning a location shower, take into consideration any guests who might have limited mobility. You will not want anyone to feel left out.
The list goes on...
Use the resources that you have creatively to come up with a unique bridal shower experience. Likewise, choose your bridal shower favors carefully and work the favors into your overall theme. By doing so you make your budget do double duty.
Have fun. Dream. Play with the ideas for a little while. It is entirely possible that you can come up with a unique wedding shower experience that your guest of honor will remember for years to come for more than simply your thoughtfulness.
Because of the many types of showers possible, it does not make sense to have two of the same type of shower if the couple needs a variety of items. Other shower themes can be as diverse as each individual bride. To solicit a variety of gifts for the bride an "Around the Clock" shower can be given. Each guest is given a time of day (or hour of the day) to use as the basis for the gift they choose. For example 8:00am may give a toaster, 6:00pm a frying pan, etc., the better the imagination, the more creative the gifts can be! A "Spice Shower" invites guests to bring a bottle of spice and a recipe that uses the spice along with their gift. A "Pantry Party" likewise incorporates bringing gifts to help the newlyweds stock up on basic food essentials. A gourmet recipe shower invites guests to bring a recipe along with one utensil needed to prepare it. For the romantic couple a "Candlelight Shower" will provide them with gifts such as candles, vases, bath & body products and romantic musical CDs. Seasonal and Holiday showers can include gifts to get a couple started on decorations or other items used for special occasions. For those with crafty friends a "Quilting Shower" can provide a very unique gift the bride will cherish forever.
Each guest is asked to make a quilt square at home and then join at the party to put it all together. If a shower is given by co-workers, most often it is held at the work place at a break, over lunch-time or after hours and one big gift can be given by the group.
Many showers even include the groom, however, a lingerie shower is appropriate when only women will be present. When both men and women are invited, a hobby or travel shower is unusual and it solicits gifts the couple can enjoy together. Other ideas for a couples shower can include a themed dinner and board games or even a mock "newlywed game" which provides fun and entertainment for all the couples who attend. Another popular shower for both couples and singles is a Wine & Cheese Tasting Shower. For this shower attendees are asked to bring two bottles of wine, one for tasting and one as a gift for the bridal couple. Toasts to the bridal couple are given by the guests as they sample the wine.
The wine & cheese shower is most appropriate for couples who already have many items for their home and of course, enjoy wine. A fun theme for couples who may not have many household items is the "Handy Hardware Shower". This type of shower can incorporate a variety of helpful gifts that can be found at a hardware store (or elsewhere). Gifts such as a hammer, step ladder, broom, pail, shovel, etc. are appropriate. The host/hostess can use this theme and incorporate tools in the decorations and invitations. For this shower guests are asked to include a handy household hint written on a card and presented with their gift.
The list of ideas goes on and on. It is best to use the interests of the bride and groom and their needs as the basis for the type of shower decided on. From there, creativity and planning will make the shower a sure success.
Both Jeanette Shinn & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jeanette Shinn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wedding Bells, Modelling and Wedding Gowns. Jeanette Shinn is a wedding professional with over a dozen years experience making dreams come alive. Find tips and accessories from