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.