By Stephanie Sonntag
As spring comes female students? mailboxes fill with pastel bridal shower invitations. There are several new trends for showers whether attending or throwing one.
Claire Swift, a mother of five who has given many showers over the years, said one of her favorite showers was one where they made a quilt for her stepsister.
?It became a family memory because we were all working together, and we were giggling and laughing,? Swift said. ? Now whenever she uses it, she will remember how much we love her and the fun memory that we made together.?
Instead of having a formal shower, a popular trend is for bridesmaids to go to a spa with the bride on the wedding day and get their hair and make-up done.
At the Falling Waters Day Spa in Draper, receptionist Allie Robinson said that they have around two or three bridal parties come during the spring and summer months.
?We have bridal packages the day of the wedding and the bridal party will come and we can start as early as 7 a.m.,? Robinson said.
Often the bride will pay as a gift to the girls.
Shower hostesses have begun inviting the bride and groom, thus making it a ?wedding? shower. This is a good way for the family and friends to meet the wedding couple.
Katie Barnum, a recently engaged junior majoring in special education, said the combined shower she went to turned out to be fun because there were boys there, and so it made it more comfortable for the groom to be there.
Grooms are having bachelor parties without violating the honor code. Golfing, tool parties, boating and skydiving are several ideas to send the groom off to the marriage with a kick.
Asking newlyweds for what they want is a great way to get good shower ideas. Alisa Crowell, a newlywed senior majoring in MFHD, said her favorite shower was ?firsts.? She received a bucket and mop for their first time cleaning together, cake mixes, candles and frosting in a basket for their first birthdays married.
Close friends of the bride are now getting together instead of having a formalized party. Barnum said she prefers the informal parties.
?I haven?t seen any of my friends since I got married,? said Barnum. ?I?m more excited about getting together.?