A bridal shower is a party held for the bride-to-be. It is typically a gathering of female friends and family prior to the wedding. There are some definite rules that should be followed when hosting a bridal shower and gifts are usually given to the bride at this time.
The word bridal describes anything that has to do with a wedding or the bride. It can also refer to the bridal suite a newlywed couple might stay in on their honeymoon. The term can even be used to describe a type of lace dress. The word bridal has nothing to do with horses though; that’s bridle, which sounds similar and means part of a harness.
There are many responsibilities that the maid of honor has leading up to and on the day of the wedding. She may help with things like planning and organizing the shower or she may assist in finding a venue and decorations. She often serves as the liaison between the bride and groom’s parents. On the day of the ceremony, the maid of honor often takes on several duties such as handing out programs to guests or ushering people to their seats before the wedding begins. She might also serve as a “ring bearer” or a petal tosser.
Another role that the maid of honor plays is helping the bride to choose her bridal gown. This can be a difficult task as the bride has a lot of ideas and it’s important that she chooses the dress that will suit her best. The maid of honor is typically responsible for making sure that the bride is well taken care of on her big day and that she has everything she needs.
The father of the bride plays a smaller role in the run up to the wedding, but has a few duties on the day of the ceremony. He usually walks his daughter down the aisle and is present during the father-daughter dance. He might also give a speech during the reception or participate in a first look with his daughter before the ceremony, which is a time to spend some quality time together before the wedding.
A bridal session gives the bride a chance to have some pictures taken in her dress before the wedding. It also gives the photographer a chance to practice with her, so that on the day of the wedding she’s at ease in front of the camera and knows how to pose. The bride’s mother often hosts these sessions. These photos are often displayed at the wedding reception in a photo album. The bridal album is a great way to preserve the memories of a wonderful day.