(ARA) - Bridal showers are traditional pre-wedding parties, but they don’t have to be old-fashioned. These days, anything goes from location to theme to gifts.

Photos By Julie T. Messina

The best way to create lasting memories
for the bride and her close friends and family
is to personalize the shower with style and creativity.

Since many couples are marrying later,
showers to provide the newlyweds with their
first linens and dishes may be a thing of the past.

Today, a bridal shower is an excellent opportunity to relax, have fun, and show the
bride how much you care about her before
her special day. Taking the bride’s personality and interests into consideration will guarantee that she will remember the gathering for
years to come.

You don’t have to be a great artist to have fun at a pottery painting shower. Many pottery shops have space that can be rented by larger groups. Guests purchase a piece of pottery, paint it with any design they can imagine, and present the finished work to the bride.

She’ll always think of you when she has coffee out of the mug you painted with a lop-sided rainbow!

Scrapbooking is the hot new craft that looks like it will be going strong into the new millennium. Give the bride a book she’ll cherish for a lifetime by throwing a scrapbook shower.

Craft and scrapbook stores often have workspace to rent, which can include use of equipment and instruction from a scrapbook professional. Guests buy the materials they need to create a page or two celebrating their relationship with the bride and special memories.

Guests can either bring their own photos along to include on the pages or create a wedding or honeymoon page that the bride can fill in later. These pages can be assembled into a special book that the bride can display at the wedding and afterwards will have a place of honor in her home.

A tradition that never goes out of style (and may remind you of your childhood make-believe days) is an afternoon tea party.

Many hotels, restaurants and bed and breakfasts have tea rooms, but it can also be easy and inexpensive to host it yourself, especially if you have a pretty garden or patio.

Play some classical music and put out your best china and lacy tablecloths.

Books can be found in the cooking section of your favorite bookstore on preparing pastries and sandwiches.

But you don’t have to stick with Earl Grey. Try a variety of teas and offer plenty of sugar, lemon, honey and milk according to your guests’ tastes. This is a beautiful, soothing background for gifts and conversation.

Is there something the bride has always wanted to learn how to do? A bridal shower is the perfect time to have fun learning something new.

Consider a cooking class, make-up demonstration, golf instruction or a flower arranging lesson. Gifts can reflect the bride’s special interest and refreshments can follow at the location of your choice.

One of the newest gift registries is the "honeymoon registry." The couple registers with a travel agency for various aspects of their dream honeymoon. If the bride loves to travel, this theme can be carried over to her shower.

Serve food inspired by the honeymoon destination and perhaps invite someone who has already traveled there to give a presentation.

Gifts can be travel essentials, guidebooks and other necessities for life on the road.

The bride is the guest of honor, but you can ensure that all the guests have a great time at a creative and updated bridal shower.