Engaged couples and party hosts will find fabulous suggestions for celebrating getting married with contemporary flair. Weddings are about two people, and this guide provides the themes, menus, decorations, and entertainment ideas for planning a terrific party that is fun for both men and women. From making the invitations to planning budgets, hosts will find everything they need to get organized and pull off their event with success. Also included is information on throwing baby, anniversary, or housewarming showers for couples or singles.
The custom of a "bridal shower" came about when a poor Dutch miller fell in love with a maiden whose father forbade the match and refused to provide a dowry. Some say it was because the Dutch miller had given all his worldly possessions away to the poor - thus having nothing to give. The miller's friends came to the rescue and "showered" the bride-to-be with enough gifts in order to start housekeeping.
The wedding shower, traditionally a get-together for women only, is now just as likely to include the female and male. A "his and her" shower is a perfect way for the bride's friends and the groom's friends to meet each other. It also is easier to plan showers around what both the bride and groom enjoy. Keep in mind that there is no reason why a close friend or usher cannot give a shower for just the groom.
Today, most men and women are getting married at an older age. Many of them also have individual careers with each of them working full-time. They may have their own respective friends or many other couples that they socialize with. It becomes a great opportunity to meet all of these "new" people. This also means that each may have a lot of everyday household goods, but perhaps lack in variety of other useful items. I believe that it is not only a good idea, but definitely a lot more fun to share in all of the various wedding activities together. There is the simple fact that there are many retailers who provide bridal registries for the bride AND the groom-to-be. More of that information is covered later on into this book, including a variety of ideas and themes to plan around the bride and/or groom’s gift needs and social interests.
Although our social trends have continued to change over the years, you must be aware of the type of wedding, the local customs, and the tastes and circumstances of the bride and groom. There are many couples/families who still prefer the very traditional style of weddings and showers. But regardless of the type of shower that is given, keep in mind that a shower is a party, so it is intended to be fun.
Who Should Host the Shower?
The MOST important point to remember here is that IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS should NOT give a shower. That includes a mother or sister or future mother-in-law of the bride. The simple reason for that is that it just isn’t in good taste to ask for a gift from an immediate member of your family. They may, however, share their home or facility, provide monetary assistance, or assist in organizing the shower, as long as they are not “hosting” the shower. The invitation usually states who is the host(s). Keep in mind that there are many costs that the family and bridal party must incur and you must try to be considerate of that.
It is often a good idea for two or three people to jointly host a shower rather than have too many showers, which can minimize the expenses, as well as some of the responsibility. There are decorations, invitations, food and beverages, hostess gift, and prizes that need to be purchases. The sharing of responsibility is helpful in planning, food preparation, sending out the invitations, and even putting a guest list together. This may enhance the opportunity of having more than one shower – such as one hosted by coworkers, one by neighbors, one by just close friends, etc. Again, the location of the shower, the kind of food, decorations, and gifts, including where the bride and groom may have registered for their gifts, may solely depend upon the type of shower you are giving.
