As the wedding peeks around the corner, showers are a wonderful way to remind the bride how much love and support she has from her dearest friends and family. After a whirlwind engagement, the wedding shower is often the first time a bride can relax, have fun and celebrate her upcoming day. Showers are a time to honor the bride with gifts and well wishes. A great shower, customarily thrown by the maid of honor and bridesmaids, is memorable, carefully planned and of course, a blast!

Ancient customs and traditions all over the world involve gift-giving or decorative celebrations commemorating a new marriage. Though it's not certain where or when the first shower was held, gift-giving and celebration can be traced back to China, Holland and England where the bride and groom were showered with gifts to help kick start their new life together. Tradition has it that household goods, property, food, jewelry and even money were offered as a way to ensure social and financial stability to the new couple by family and friends.

If you're in charge of the bridal shower, have fun! Be unique and strive to make the shower a reflection of the bride's personality and style. Although showers have become more modern and creative, they should still honor the tradition of showering the bride with gifts and love.

We've hosted numerous showers at The Wedding Cafe, and the most enjoyable, talked-about showers are the ones where the details were thoughtful, guests were entertained and themes were carefully planned out.

With an endless variety of shower themes, it's easy to get caught up in the fun of planning! Here's our top four bridal shower picks...

Afternoon Tea ::

A casual, cool afternoon of mini-sandwiches, delicate pastries, classical music and floral print dresses! A tea party is a must for the extra girly bride who loves pretty things. Bring out your fine china and don't be afraid to ask your guests to bring their collections as well. Mix and match the pattens on a long dining room table for a total kitschy look! A great selection of loose teas can be found at any local tea shop along with pastries and assorted baked goods at any bakery. Divvy up the sandwich-making between the bridesmaids (some all time favorites are cucumber salmon, chicken curry and goat cheese and watercress) making sure the crusts are cut off before slicing them into fours. Go overboard with flowers and arrange low bunches, scattering them throughout the room. Make the shower extra fun by asking every guest to wear their best hats to the shower!

Vino Night ::

This themed shower is perfect for the bride who loves her wines! Have every guest bring one bottle of their favorite vino and serve a variety of cheese, crackers, breads, mixed greens, pasta and fruit. Perfect in a shady backyard, guests can mingle on checkered pincic blankets or wooden benches. Imagine a chic Italian winery! Don't forget to pick up cute wine charms that can be used during the party and given as shower favors, too. Substitute the traditional clothespin game by having everyone wear a nametag with a wine name on it. For example, the bride's name is PINOT NOIR and your name is RIESLING for the day. If anyone calls you by your real name, snag their clothespin! And to complete the ambiance of the wine-themed shower, make sure you play Andrea Boccelli's greatest hits (one of my favorite CDs!).

Pamper Me Party ::

This spa-inspired shower is planned with the busy bride in mind! With the wedding details in order, it's time to relax and get pampered before the big day. Fill the room with aroma scented candles, fragrant flowers and dim the lights to set the mood. Enhance the relaxation by having a fountain trickle softly in the background. Make sure you slice lemons for the water and hand out warm towels soaked in lavender as guests arrive. Chocolate-dipped strawberries and champagne are great menu starters, followed by a light meal of garden salad and a mushroom risotto. For a much needed treat, hire a massage therapist to do 10-minute foot and head massages.

Dessert Bar ::

This is the shower for the bride with a sweet tooth! This whimsical party is filled with shades of pinks and purple from the lacy tablecloth to the cupcake frosting. Best time for this shower would be mid-afternoon since the desserts will be the main course. The secret to the party decor is layering the desserts. Visit your local Ross store and search for cake stands, trifle bowls, tiers, and any other fun shaped dish or stand you can find. Create a buffet line of the bride's sweetest sweets from lemon bars to sugar cookies and cinnamon buns to a chocolate fountain! The possibilites are endless. Make sure you have a hot pot of coffee and tea brewing to complete the shower menu. A few cute favor ideas would be cookie cutters with the bride and grooms names on it, cookies (or brownies) in a jar or have mason jars with decorated tops for the guests to fill up with desserts on their way out.

No matter what theme you chose, have fun and be sure to keep the bride in mind. Showers today are much more relaxed, throwing out the stuffy rules and adding a touch of creativity to every detail. Any perfectly planned shower will be a fabulous way to toast and celebrate the bride!

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