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, - continued below ...
