Without a doubt, one of the oldest and most eagerly anticipated pre-wedding events down here in the South is the bridal shower. In its most basic form, the shower is the opportunity for guests to bestow gifts upon the blushing bride. But more than that, a shower is the chance for friends and family to come together and celebrate with the bride (and nowadays, the groom too!) in a fun and unique way.

 

Long gone are the days when a shower was an elegant and quiet afternoon tea – although those can still be fun! Today a bride may anticipate multiple showers from various groups of hostesses, opening the door for a wide variety of themes and strategic gift giving. Some of my personal favorites are the kitchen shower (it’s always fun for guests to include a special recipe to share), a traditional brunch (try a yogurt or biscuit bar for a new spin!), Monograms and Mimosas, and of course, the new standard that no groom wants to miss – Stock the Bar.

 

As the hostess, the opportunities are endless to plan an event around a central theme to make a memory the bride will treasure always. As the bride, let yourself indulge in this show of love and support from your nearest and dearest, just remember these tips that never go out of style.

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