A Guide to 2007s Top Trends in Bridal Showers
The traditional bridal shower once featuring petit fours and ribbon bouquets has evolved. Now more than ever, brides are celebrated by their friends with a variety of creative and modern parties. From activity-based gatherings to environmentally-aware practices, bridal shower trends of 2007 showcase a bride's individuality and spirit.
Spa Shower Pampering the bride-to-be and her closest friends is by far the most luxurious of the new shower trends. It's all about looking and feeling good, so long as the bride looks best. Budget-savvy showers feature a group manicure or pedicure followed by lunch at a local bistro. The more extravagant celebration includes all-day spa treatments or overnighters at resort spas. The bride is gifted with body products and gift certificates for future spa visits.
Green Shower For the environmentally-conscious bridal party, only a Green Shower will do. The event comes off slightly more formal than you would imagine, as paper products are forbidden. Organic foods are preferred. Gifts from fair-trade markets or those made from renewable resources abound. Sounds earthy and organic, but actually quite chic with the right food and atmosphere.
Monogram Shower In the South, the monogram is queen. The most formal of the 2007 shower trends includes the monogram shower. This event is typically held at the country club, at any home on the historic register, or the finest old-money establishment you can rent. Only catered food items will suffice and guests range in age from pre-teen cousins to great-grandmothers. Gifts include anything and everything you can splash the bride's new monogram across, from engraved silver platters, to towels, to etched bar glasses.
Arts & Crafts Shower Give the girls something crafty to do. These casual showers let your sorority sister from Boston have a great time with your aunt from Shreveport. Try a beading shower to create one-of-a-kind jewelry for the bride's honeymoon cruise. A scrapbooking shower provides a casual activity and pre-made pages for the bride's wedding scrapbook. A pottery shower invites guests to paint dessert plates. By the time the wedding's over, the personalized plates are back from the kiln. These showers are best hosted at a specialty shop after hours, complete with hors d'oeuvre buffet and wine.
Give Back Shower For the couple that realizes just how fortunate they really are, a co-ed activity aimed at giving back to the community is both rewarding and memorable. While not especially romantic, this pleasant trend brings out the best in the couple and their friends. Serve at a soup kitchen, work on a Habitat build, or clean up the beach with friends. Break to shower, then gather again for a simple meal, lots of wine, and great stories. Theme-based gifts, like kitchen items, tools, or beach towels round out the night and preserve the memories.
