| Wedding shower favors are a way to extend | | | | Although society no longer requires dowry's from |
| gratitude from the bride-to-be and her maid of | | | | women, it's still quite expensive to establish a new |
| honor, to the guests of the wedding shower, for | | | | household, especially if the bride and groom |
| providing wedding gifts to the bride before the | | | | haven't been living on their own. The tradition |
| wedding day. Wedding shower favors can be | | | | continues through all cultures and for brides of all |
| elegant trinkets or small humorous gifts. Since | | | | financial means. Wedding shower gifts continue to |
| women are primarily the guests at wedding | | | | be primarily household items and linens. Brides also |
| showers, pampering bath sets are frequently | | | | frequently receive beautiful lingerie intended to |
| selected as the thank you gift. | | | | spice up many an evening with her new husband. |
| The tradition of wedding showers began centuries | | | | Wedding shower favors provide a means to say |
| ago in the Netherlands. The story tells of a Dutch | | | | thank you to the guest for the gift given and for |
| girl who desired to be married, but she had no | | | | participating in the bride's happiness. Like the |
| dowry that would enable her to be wed. Her | | | | favors given at the reception, the options for |
| family was poor and nothing had been put aside | | | | expressing gratitude remain endless. Tokens can |
| for her dowry. At that time, the European | | | | be utilitarian or strictly whimsical. Wedding shower |
| cultures perceived that women were of a lesser | | | | favors can reflect the theme of the gathering or |
| value than men, so it was a requirement for a | | | | be tailored to the individual guests. Wedding |
| girl's family to provide money or other material | | | | showers are typically celebrations with a smaller |
| things to equalize the support a husband would | | | | number of guests, so it can be affordable to |
| provide for his new wife. Frequently men would | | | | provide more elaborate gifts like tea for one sets |
| refuse to marry a girl if she failed to provide a | | | | or spa gift certificates. Wedding shower favors |
| dowry. The girl's friends seeing her distress, | | | | can be common items that have been |
| pitched in and "showered" her with the many | | | | personalized or uniquely designed. Tokens of |
| items needed to establish a household. Preserved | | | | appreciation don't have to be expensive, while the |
| foods, quilts, linens, cooking utensils and furniture | | | | most cost effective gifts can also be the most |
| were contributed so that her dowry was in order. | | | | creative. |