Shower Power: Who's in charge
The history of showers dates back 300 years or so, to Holland. One story has it that a Dutch woman fell in love with a poor man and her father refused to give her a dowry. Her friends and neighbors decided that marrying for love rather than money should not be frowned upon, so they came to her rescue. The group gave the maiden all the goods she needed in order to start a home with her beloved, and her father was so impressed by the effort he consented to the marriage. A second story claims that it was the maiden's father who was poor, so the women of the community showered the maiden with many practical gifts, which ultimately became the dowry she needed to wed. Thus, the first bridal shower "hosts" were female members of the bride's community.

Since then, showers have become, quite simply, celebrations of upcoming marriage. But close female friends and relatives still host the gatherings. Traditionally, the maid of honor (often with the help of the bridesmaids) is the organizing force behind the shower, say the Wedding Women. But nowadays just about anyone can do the honors, including the bride's immediate family (which used to be a serious etiquette no-no). Times have changed when it comes to the guest list, too: What was once an all-girl gathering can now be a coed affair. The gift list has also been modernized. While brides still receive practical items at their showers, other gifts range from sexy lingerie to camping gear to books, depending on the theme of the shower.