Bridal Shower Etiquette...Caribbean Style!

Another excuse for a party? We don’t need an excuse here in the Caribbean so the tradition of the bridal shower must have come from somewhere. Actually it seems to have started in Holland circa 1500-1600. Legend has it that a young girl from a wealthy family fell madly in love with a poor miller’s son. Her father did not approve and decided to withhold the dowry thinking that by his doing so, the young couple would be forced to part ways not having the financial stability to start a new life together. All the villagers, seeing how madly in love the young two were, decided to “shower” them with presents so that they could start their new home. In seeing the town’s dedication to their young love, the girl’s father finally gave his approval for the marriage to take place. His present to them was
all the furnishings for their new home. And so the tradition has endured to the twenty first century and this event is very much a part of modern weddings. Just as for any other event, there is appropriate etiquette for a bridal shower. Etiquette covers the guest list, gift giving and entertainment among other things.

Read the rest of this article in the Winter 2009 issue of Basia Magazine.