Traditional Bridal Shower Gifts
The tradition of hosting
a bridal shower for the bride to be grew out
of a desire of the friends and family of the
bride to get to know each other better,
strengthen the bonds between new friends and
offer moral support and assistance with
marriage planning for the new brie. The idea
of offering bridal shower gifts did not
actually surface until some time in the late
19th century. Prior to this time,
traditionally, a young woman would come into a
marriage with a dowry intended to help a new
family set up their home.
Legend has it that the
very first bridal shower originated in Holland
when a young Dutch girl fell in love with a
poor miller and the two had no money to set up
her home. The girl's father refused to
support her marriage to the poor miller,
despite the fact that he had spent a lifetime
helping those needier than he. Because the
bride had no dowry due to her angry father,
friends of the bride and groom joined together
to shower the couple with gifts to help them
set up their new home. Thus, the bridal
shower was born.
In contemporary times a
majority of brides do not come into a marriage
with a dowry, and bridal shower gifts are
almost a necessity, offering a new couple the
opportunity to acquire the materials needed to
set up their home. Most couples register for
specific items including towels, linens, pots
and pans and other household accessories.
Typically bridal showers
are thrown by friends, co-workers or members
of the bride or groom's family. Not
uncommonly, the maid or matron of honor hosts
the bridal shower for the bride to be. This
is not an exclusive privilege however, as it
is not uncommon for a family member or close
friend to also hold the shower.
The purpose of a wedding
shower should be to help the bride and groom
acquire the items necessary to establish a
first household, though this rule is not hard
and fast. Many brides who are re-marrying
also enjoy all the benefits of a traditional
shower thanks to a more relaxed atmosphere and
expectation in modern times.
Most brides to be
register before their shower, though this
isn't always the case. And while you can rest
assured that if you purchase bridal shower
gifts from a bridal registry your bride to be
will be pleased, many ladies decide to acquire
bridal shower gifts that are more personalized
in nature. There are several couples who wed
who don't necessarily need household items; in
this instance it is always nice to "shower"
the bride to be with pampering items including
body scrubs, lotions and mini spa treatment
items.
Bridal showers are a fun
way to celebrate the union of two people and
provide the couple to be with keepsake and
other cherished items that will not soon be
forgotten.
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