A bridal shower is one of those parties in which you can have a whole lot of fun and be practical at the same time. The reason for a shower is to give things to the future married couple that will help them establish a home together. But the underlying reason for a bridal shower is that it's a nice occasion for the close family and friends of the bride to spend some relaxed time with her before the big wedding day. It's a time for sharing stories, for relatives to give advice to the bride, and for friends to show their support. The focus should be on the bride, so be sure that in your planning you don't do anything that will make her feel uncomfortable.

A bridal shower is usually hosted by the maid-of-honor and bridesmaids. Although it was once considered poor etiquette for family members of the bride to host the shower, it is now acceptable as with the times many things have changed.

The bridal shower should be held within two months of the wedding, up to two weeks before the big day. Don’t invite guests to the shower who have not been invited to the wedding. These days you'll need to decide whether this will be a traditional 'girls only' event or a couple’s party.

What Time of Day?

Any time of day is acceptable, but most often showers are afternoon events. Games that can serve as icebreakers for the party are a particularly good idea if a large number of the guests don't already know one another. Encourage the bride to register for gifts. With so many couples living on their own before getting married, it's difficult for guests to guess which things they still need. Suggest to the bride to include a reasonable number of inexpensive items on her registry for guests with limited budgets. Decide whether the party will be held at a home or in a restaurant or other locale. These days many shower planners now choose many different activities. For example, many bridal parties take the bride out for a day at the spa instead of a shower.

Unless you feel it's mandatory to surprise the bride, involve her in the planning. Ask her if there's a particular theme she'd like for her shower. Some popular themes include lingerie showers and kitchen item showers.

Another suggestion is to give party favors to all guests. These can be traditional favors such as small boxes of candy. Or they can be something that relates to the theme of the shower. Here are some really great bridal shower games

Wedding Registry