I am sure bridal showers served a very noble purpose for a long time. Legend says that Holland was the first to introduce the bridal shower. A young woman and a miller fell in love. The miller was always busy helping others, so never amassed any fortune. The father of the woman did not approve and expressed it by not offering a dowry. The couple decided that love was greater than wealth and still wished to marry. All the people who had previously been helped by the miller decided to return the favor. They showered the couple with the things they would need to start their new life together. The couple did not, of course, send out bridal shower invitations. They community was compelled to help. Others say the United States was the birthplace of the shower. An American newspaper article from 1904 implies that the word "shower" originates from a Victorian era practice of putting gifts in a parasol. Regardless of where the custom began, the purpose was to compensate for an absent trousseau (hope chest) or dowry.
The bridal shower tradition continues in the 2000s from the origins of the late 1800s. The current version of the bridal shower seems to be an American and Canadian custom. And here is where I believe the shower has taken a turn for the materialistic worse. Most engaged couples today do not need to make up for basic necessities, as in the past. Some couples do not have much, as they are young or recent graduates of college or graduate programs. The people feeding the high end bridal shower frenzy, however, are people who already have the basic necessities. I have received countless bridal shower invitations for friends who are well established and combining two households. One friend even said, "This is an opportunity to get some new dishes and better stemware." The bridal shower, in its good hearted roots, would shiver to hear those words.
Please do not misunderstand, I fully support celebrating anything and everything. I think it is completely appropriate to get your friends and loved ones together to help you celebrate your bride or groom status. Your friends and family should not, however, feel obligated to buy you new stuff to help you celebrate, though. The friends and family who will later be mailed wedding invitations are often the same ones who are mailed bridal shower invitations. We all love to be part of wedding celebrations. We should not be on the hook to help the bride and groom redesign their kitchen ensembles.
Bridal showers need to be kept in perspective. Couples who are genuinely starting out can fill up their registry with a clean conscience and have a traditional baby shower. If, however, you are a double income couple with two of everything already, then let your guests off the hook. Remember that those same guests will be giving the bride and groom a wedding present. Those latter couples should, instead, get creative. Give all your friends and family bridal shower invitations that allow them to help you celebrate with fun and frolic. Have a recipe party, where everyone offers their favorite recipe or signature dish and puts it in a fancy cookbook for you to have, for example. The idea of bridal shower invitations inviting your loved ones to have fun and party in your honor in a new and different way will be your gift to them.

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