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Traditionally, the shower is hosted by the maid/matron of honor. However, it is widely accepted for a mother of the bride, sister, aunt, or close friend to be the hostess as well. Showers range from very sophisticated, to fun and silly. It should suit the bride and her family so it is a comfortable event for all. While many showers are held at someone’s private home, other popular options are tea houses, day spas, poolside, or in a reserved venue. It should be a location that accommodates the number of guests invited, offers privacy, and has a relaxing atmosphere.
Showers are a great time for the close family and friends of the bride to get acquainted. Ask the bride for a guest list, which could include her wedding party, close female relatives, good friends, and maybe certain co-workers. Make sure that those invited to the shower are also being invited to the wedding. Marriages of different cultures may require incorporating traditions from both sides, or it may be appropriate to host a second shower.
Hosting a shower requires planning and organization to keep things flowing. The host may also ask the other attendants for assistance or input. Select a date that works for the bride. It should be held at least two weeks or more prior to the wedding. Choose a theme, make the guest list, plan a menu, decide on games if any, and get registration information. Send invitations early enough to allow people time to plan and shop. Include an R.S.V.P. so you can get an accurate count. Call those you have not heard from by the R.S.V.P. date. There are many popular themes to work with but one of the most popular is the “ around the clock “ theme. This works well because it helps prevent duplicate gift giving. It is a simple theme in which each guest is given a time of the day to shop for. Some care should be given to choose appropriate times based on the guest it is assigned to.
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Bridal showers have been a tradition for many years, however, the legend behind the tradition seldom gets told. The legend tells of a young bride from Holland who fell in love with the town miller. For much of his life, the young miller had given to others not as fortunate as himself.
Unfortunately, because of his selfless actions, he did not have much to offer the bride. The bride’s father was very angry upon hearing his daughter wished to marry the poor miller. At first, he forbade her to marry him, but when the young bride persisted he tried harder to persuade her.
Her father informed her, that if she went through with the wedding, he would not offer the usual dowry of goods. She married her true love despite the idea that they may live in poverty. When the miller’s friends, and people of the town, heard of the father’s decision, they decided to help the miller who had been so generous to so many others. Together they pitched in to “shower” the young bride with the necessities needed to set up her new household. From this act of kindness grew the tradition of showering new brides with gifts. Today’s showers are a combination of old and new traditions, and should be customized to suit the bride’s wishes and needs. While some brides may already have “housekeeping” set up, others may have never lived away from home. Either way, it is a great time to help fill in areas of need, or to replace worn items. While it is improper to list the bridal registries on the wedding invitations, it is acceptable to list it on those for the shower. |
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