Traditionally, a wedding shower is a party for the bride held by the maid of honor, bridesmaids or other close friends and family to celebrate the upcoming marriage. Usually the wedding shower is held right before the wedding date. Many brides take advantage of a bridal registry at their favorite retailers so their shower and wedding guests know what type of gifts to buy. Wedding shower gifts range from appliances to lingerie to personalized accessories for the big day.

Small appliances are always a useful gift for the new couple. As they set up home together, the couple will need essentials such as a coffee maker, toaster oven, blender and electric can opener. These practice wedding shower gifts will be used by the couple everyday to meet their basic needs.

Giving lingerie is a popular way to celebrate the honeymoon after the wedding. The bride usually wears fetching lingerie for her first magical evening alone with the groom. When the bride receives lingerie at the wedding shower, there are always plenty of stories and laughs to go along with it. A lacy nightgown and robe in white with puffy slippers is always a thoughtful gift for the bride-to-be. Often shower guests give whimsical lingerie gifts such as a thong or garter belt to bring a bit of excitement to the event.

The bride and groom will also need a variety of wedding accessories to personalize the ceremonies during their wedding day. Before you purchase accessories for the wedding, make sure to verify the theme of the day so you can match it. Often the bride lists the theme on the bridal registry. Otherwise, the maid of honor is a good person to ask about the wedding theme chosen by the happy couple. Once you know the theme of the wedding, you can choose thoughtful wedding shower gifts to add to the joy of the day.

At the wedding reception, everyone will toast the bride and groom to wish them success in the future. Usually the best man initiates the toast and other family members and friends add to it. After everyone shares sentiments with the bride and groom, they toast the newlyweds with champagne or another bubbly beverage. Toasting sets are wonderful wedding shower gifts that bring a touch of class to the toast. Elegant flutes made just for the bride and groom can be used after the wedding reception toast for anniversaries to simply to display in the curio at their new home.

Cake serving sets are essential wedding shower gifts. During the cake cutting ceremony, the bride and groom feed each other for the first time as their reception guests watch. The wedding cake is always a focal point at the wedding reception. With dramatic tiers, colorful icing and a themed cake topper, everyone stops to admire the wedding cake during the reception. Having a themed cake serving set bring beauty to the cake cutting ceremony. A decorated cake serving set with attractive embellishments makes the photos and videos fabulous.

While other wedding shower guests pick up lingerie for the bride, you can purchase the bridal garters. During the garter throwing ceremony, all the bachelors line up to catch the garter thrown by the groom. The bachelor who catches the garter is believed to be the next man to get married. When the groom removes the garter from the bride’s leg, all eyes are on the bride. Having a fancy, themed bridal garter brings more excitement to this fun-filled moment such as a western garter at a country wedding.

You can also give thoughtful bridal apparel as wedding shower gifts. If the bride is going on a winter ski honeymoon, an angora hat that reads “Bride” is perfect for the trip. A t-shirt that reads “Bride” is perfect for any venue. Sunglasses that state “Bride” and “Groom” on the lenses are ideal for a tropical honeymoon.

The most thoughtful wedding shower gifts celebrate a special moment for the happy couple and become lasting keepsakes when the party ends.