There is an old Dutch legend that tells of a young couple desiring to be married.  However, the young man was poor, therefore the girl’s father disapproved of the marriage and refused to give his daughter a dowry.  The townspeople, wanting to help, got together and each brought a small gift for the couple.  This enabled the young couple to begin their married life with many of the items necessary to start a new home.  Celebrating an upcoming wedding with a bridal shower is a tradition started in the United States in the 1800’s.  It is believed that the term bridal ’shower’ probably originated with the Victorian custom of placing gifts in a parasol and giving it to the bride-to-be.  When she opened the parasol, she would literally be ’showered’ with gifts. 

Not much has changed over the years.  We still like to share in the special events of those we love and parties are the perfect way to do that.  Although there are no longer any hard-fast rules in today’s bridal shower ‘etiquette’, many tradtions are still very popular.  A few of these common traditions are playing games, serving food, and the giving of bridal shower favors to thank your guests for attending.  Theme bridal showers, such as kitchen showers or linen showers, are a great way to help provide specific items that the couple will need to begin their new life together.