In my area, Missouri, the bridesmaids usually host a party. (Sometimes is is the family of the bride or groom.) Usually it is just for the female relatives and friends of the bride and groom, but sometimes the spouses are invited also. Sometimes it is a luncheon, othertimes it is just cake, punch, and the like. Gifts are brought for the bride. Household items, or sometimes something sexy. Games are usually played. Like, how well do you know the bride and groom, where they ask the guest questions, like when or where did the bride and groom meet. The one with the most correct answers wins a small gift. The host may set a timer when the gifts are opened. When the timer goes off, the giver of that gift wins. Other little games may be played. No expense to the bride. The groom is sometimes present for the party too. It all just depends on how they want to do it. It is usually a fun time for all. If someone does not want to play the games, they just watch and laugh with the rest of us.

Lorchen wrote:
In the US, the Bachelor party is the same as Stag Night and the Bachelorette party is the same as the Hen Party. Bachelorette parties are a more recent phenomenon as women wanted equal time. These parties range from simple get-togethers to wild sew-your-oats parties, depending on the people involved.

The Bridal Shower is like a Baby Shower in the US. These are parties designed to provide the bride-to-be or mother-to-be with needed objects to prepare them for a new phase in their life. These parties were important in the old days when money was tight and you didn't have access to stores, etc. So, in the past, the bride would be given things like dish towels and other items to help set up her new home. With the change in times, there are also some changes to these showers. We generally play games to keep the participants interested (I tend to find the games lame so try to avoid showers as much as possible!) and the gifts have sometimes changed to things like lingerie. Again, it depends on the participants. Bridal showers are sometimes themed to add interest. For example, one common theme is the "around the clock" shower. At these, each person is given a time of day on their invitation and they are to bring a gift that the bride would use at that time of day.

This, at least, is my experience.

Hen Party = all female friends have a pre-wedding party
Stag Night = all male friends have a pre-wedding party

As a German loving in the UK I'd also like some more facts about this Bridal Shower tradition.

So what actually happens? now you make it sound like a childrens birthday party!

Being in England we don't have Bridal Showers (that I know of) We have a Hen Night, whereby the bride, bride's maids and other best friends go out 'on the town' & 'paint the town red' (I believe that this is supposed to be something the chief bride's maid organises) - some much worse than others - personally I invited 5 good friends to come out for cocktails & a meal, much more staid than is seen on tv but much more me.

The gifts were probably prizes for the winners of bridal shower games. Usually the gifts would be provided by the host(s) of the bridal shower. At least that is what happened when I hosted bridal (or baby showers.)

Excuse the ignorance, but how does a Bridal Shower work?
I had assumed that it was a pre wedding (girls) party, where the bride was given presents by friends;
but having read this thread, it seems that it is the bride that has to give the presents out to the friends (extra wedding expenses :shock: )

LadyRags wrote:
Please note that this forum request was originally posted in 2007.

I have made hundreds of coasters using squares rather than circles and used them as take home gifts at our community Christmas Dinner for the lonely. As squares they work great as coffee mug coasters.

Another thought is Mug Rugs, basically a mini-placemat, approx 6 x 8 or 10". This size makes it big enough for a mug and a snack on the desk near the computer or in the living room on end tables.

At the time of wedding, everybody wants to look gorgeous. If u r a bridal then u may use bridal shower favors, it will adds to your beauty.

i receintly did ababy shower for my daughter. we embrodered a towel for each guest. you could applique, just decorate it, everyone likes a pretty towel for bath or kitchen

http://community.webshots.com/user/LadyRags88


We just had the shower and it was a lot of fun. Great food, lots of friends. I gave away the pillows I had made for prizes. I got a lot of complements on the pillows and ideas everyone gave me.

Thank you again to all. I have included a link to my web shots page so you can see some of the prizes.

My favorite part of the whole shower was the little kids playing ...PIN THE VEIL ON THE BRIDE.... see pics




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Thanks Susie----your description is helpful----I missed that the entire coaster is turned----I think that I will try making these! Would make a nice hostess gift presented with a bottle of wine!

Let's see, hope I can describe them. You sew the quarter circles onto the backing and then turn the whole thing inside out. The outside of the fabric then shows on the bottom, you don't see inside of the coaster. Your wine glass then slips in between the folded quarter circles. The coaster stays on the wine glass. Make sense? Lol. I feel like my description is clear as mud!

Thanks for sending the link----I read the instructions but am still a bit confused----if the bottom circle is right side up how is the reverse side of the coaster finished since it is not turned inside out? I probably need to see what it looks like!