- For the honeymoon: Guests bring gifts that would be useful on the honeymoon. Be sure to include the brides size requirements. It is also wise to include any allergies to fruit since some gifts, like edible body gels, may include actual fruit extracts.

- For the kitchen: This can include not only cooking utensils, but food. Encourage guests to help the couple stock their new kitchen. You can go a step further by requesting special gadgets, like sandwich machines and indoor grills.

- Garden Party: This party theme is for the gardening bride. Have guests bring things to help the bride establish a garden at her new home. Guests can bring tools, flowers or even clipping from their own garden.

These are just a few ideas on theme parties, but they should give you a good starting spot. You can see that giving the guests a set theme idea will help them easily chose a gift.

Another way to help guests chose a good bridal shower gift is to have each guest bring a gift that will then be put together to make a larger gift. Here are some examples:

- Bring a quilt square: Each quest decorates a quilt square to bring to the party which is then constructed for the bride by the party host. Be sure to include the measurement requirements for each individual square in the invitation. If you want you can include the base square with the invitation so uniformity is maintained.

- Make a recipe collection: You can have each quest bring a covered dish and the recipe for that dish to the party. Each recipe is then collected and put in a book for the bride.

- Build a scrapbook: Guests bring mementos, pictures, letters that can be constructed into a scrapbook for the bride. These items brought can range from childhood to high school to her relationship with the groom.

These ideas allow for each person to contribute to a nice gift without spending a large amount of money. If there are a lot of people invited this may be a great idea. If there are not too many guests have them do three quilt squares or bring a few extra recipes or mementos. You can also call those who can not make it and still have them contribute. Putting together a memory for the bride will surely be a gift she will love.

Helping guests to chose the best bridal party gift will reduce duplicate gifts and ensure the bride can use what she receives. Make sure you include all necessary information on the invitation and that you offer your help if they need it. Using a theme or constructing a collection gift will make it easy on your guests to get the gift-giving out of the way and to be able to enjoy the bridal shower.