bridal shower favors

Traditionally, a bridal shower is a sort of party thrown by the woman who will play maid of honor at the wedding, or else, by a close friend of the bride. There could be one shower thrown jointly by her friends, or a series of small ones, for different groups. This is usually an informal at-home do and not a grand, expensive event.

The reason why a bridal shower is held is mostly to help the new couple set up a home, or to help the bride get together a trousseau. Most guests will bring something useful as a gift for the bride, which will take the pressure off her and her family to buy every little thing. This is the reason why the bride herself does not organize the shower – so that it does not seem as if the bride is asking for gifts.

A bridal shower favor is a small memento or souvenir, or what is more commonly called a ‘return gift’ here.  Bridal shower gifts need not be as expensive as a wedding gift.

In modern times, a bridal shower is more like a theme party. Some girls throw recipe showers, kitchen showers, bath showers, lingerie, linen or garden showers. Anything that you can possibly think of, because the new couple needs everything ranging from pots and pans, to needles, toasters and towels. A bridal shower is a party thrown for the bride-to-be by a close friend. The purpose is mostly to help her get together a trousseau and set up a new house, since the invitees usually bring gifts, which are going to be useful for the new couple. 

There is the age-old custom of sending away guests from a party of a wedding with a small gift, as a way of saying ‘thank you for coming’. The tradition of such a gift was called a ‘wedding favor’, which is now also carried over to the bridal shower.

A few centuries ago, the traditional English ‘favor’ would range from love-knots made of ribbons and lace. Each country has its own traditional favor, like decorated eggs, chocolates, five pieces of candy-coated almonds, bud-vases, photo frames, crackers and so on. Many brides who have a strong creative streak would like to make their own favors.

~ author Annie Zaidi.  copyright @indianchild.com