Bridal showers, an Anglo-Saxon tradition widespread in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, are parties held prior to the wedding. At these parties, friends and relatives “shower” the bride and groom with their gifts. The earliest record of this tradition is found in Brussels, in 1860, but there’s a legend that sets its origins in the Netherlands in the 16th or 17th century. As the story goes, bridal showers were held to provide the couple with the goods and money they needed to get married. Hence, its roots lie in the dowry tradition: the bridal shower would be held when a poor family couldn’t provide for the bride’s dowry, or when her father didn’t give his consent (and hence his money). In the U.S., middle-class families who lived in urban areas started throwing bridal showers in the 1890s, and around 1930 the custom spread to rural areas. While there was no such tradition in Italy, at least until recent times, bringing the couple gifts before the day of the wedding has always been customary, and over the last few years, bridal showers have become an alternative to classic bachelorette parties and hen nights. Not unlike a baby shower, when friends and relatives bring the mother-to-be all she’ll possibly need for the baby before it is born, a bridal shower is dedicated to the bride. The planning is generally coordinated by her girlfriends, and the aim of the party is to relieve her from wedding-related stress and anxiety by pampering her and showering her with gifts and special attention. Alternatively, brides are celebrated with bachelorette parties/hen nights. In this case, having fun is a must, and spending time together at a spa, enjoying nightlife, and adding a dash of euphoric madness are essential elements. The bachelorette party is one of the bride’s unforgettable moments, and it creates a yet stronger bond with her bridal mood. Whether it’s one single “special day” or a weekend spent in one of Europe’s most popular destinations, such as Barcelona, London, Prague, Amsterdam, Berlin, a Greek island, or Italy, having fun is what’s important.