Weddings ~ Parties

Tips on Wedding Showers

Behind the Tradition: The First Shower

The first wedding shower was said to have taken place in eighteenth-century Netherlands, when a bride's father did not care for her choice of husband, a poor miller. Accordingly he refused to give her a dowry, thereby eliminating her chance of marrying her beloved. The groom was not to be deterred, however, and he shared his plight with the townspeople. Because he had always been generous to hungry families in the community, giving them flour at no charge, they joined forces and shared their wares and riches with the couple, showering the bride with enough of a dowry to make the marriage possible. The father was so impressed by the neighbors' "shower" that he consented to the marriage.

Great Theme Showers

A shower needs no theme other than to celebrate the upcoming marriage of a couple. Sometimes, however, a hostess narrows or custom-designs the focus of a shower (often after discussions with the bride regarding the wedding couple's needs) to a certain theme. Guests are then expected to bring gifts related to that theme, and the hostess may even provide theme-related food and decorations. Ideas for themes are limitless. Some choices, and suggested gifts are as follows:

For more information on planning and attending wedding showers, check out "Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette."

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