The Evolution of the BRIDAL SHOWER
I’m (almost) 43, getting married for the first time — and trust me, I don’t need lingerie.
I was at my bridal shower today when it dawned on me:
Traditional bridal showers are kind of… antiquated…and a new era has been ushered in.
Don’t get me wrong — I love a good party, and I’m beyond grateful for the people who showed up to celebrate me.
When my Mom’s amazingly awesome friends suggested throwing a lingerie shower, I had to laugh. I mean, I’m 43. I wear sweats to bed. Unless there’s a Victoria’s Secret line for middle-of-the-night hot flashes, I think I’ll pass.
But it got me thinking: bridal showers were originally designed to help a young bride set up her new life with her husband. Back then, you were likely leaving your parents’ house for the first time, so you needed everything — plates, towels, a blender you’d never use, maybe even some questionable lingerie for the “honeymoon phase.”
But now? My registry isn’t about starting fresh — it’s about leveling up. We’ve already got plates; we just need ones that match. We have towels; they just look like they’ve survived a natural disaster.
My bridal shower gifts weren’t about filling gaps — they were about replacing the things we’ve been limping along with since our single days.
And the lingerie thing? Let’s just say cozy loungewear is the new sexy. The days of opening a box and pretending I’m excited about a red lace bodysuit are over. Give me a plush robe and a good set of silk pajamas, and I’m happy.
The modern bridal shower isn’t about preparing to become a wife — it’s about celebrating the life you already have and the person you’ve built it with.
And honestly, that’s a gift in itself.