The Bride

• Long before any showers are planned, the bride should consider a gift registry. She should take the groom and register at one or two of their favorite stores. Everything from dishes, linens, accessories for their home and anything else they need or want to start their life together should be registered. Keep options varied with every price range included. Your mother, mother-in-law, maid of honor or any other close friend or relative should know where you are registered.
  
  Whether the shower is a surprise or not, the gift protocol is the same for the bride once she arrives. She should open every gift during the shower while the maid of honor or someone else takes notes on each gift and who they're from. Be thankful for each gift, even if there are duplicates that will have to be returned.
  
  After the shower, store all of the gifts in a closet, unused room or somewhere safe. Do not open or use any of the gifts until after the wedding. If for any unfortunate reason the wedding is canceled, return all of the gifts to whomever sent them.
  
  Hand write personal thank you cards to everyone who came and make a reference to the gift they brought. These should be sent out within a week of the shower, two weeks at the very most.
  
  

The Host/Hostess

• The hostess of the bridal shower is usually the maid of honor or one of the bride's closest friends. Besides organizing and planning the shower, she must perform other duties specifically related to the bridal shower gifts.
  
  Start with the invitations. Do not invite anyone that isn't on the guest list for the wedding as this is a specific gift-giving occasion. Inform guests of all necessary shower information, as well as including where the bride is registered or suggested gifts for themed showers. For instance, if you are hosting a "kitchen" shower, let guests know their gifts should pertain to the kitchen. If the shower is related to their honeymoon location, guests could provide language pocket dictionaries or luggage.
  
  During the shower, specify where gifts should be placed until the bride opens them. Diligently record each gift the bride opens and who it came from, or assign someone with good penmanship. You can collect ribbon from each gift, or delegate someone else, to create a bouquet for the bride to use during her rehearsal. This is a tradition that is said to bring the bride good luck.
  
  After the shower, help the bride organize and transport the gifts. If time permits, you may even want to assist in any returns or exchanges that need to be made.
  
  

Guests

• If at all possible, follow the guidelines on the invitation for the shower. Purchase or make a gift that coincides with the shower theme or purchase something from the couple's registry to make sure your gift will be needed. It is OK to stray from the registry and get something from your heart if you feel you know the bride well enough to know that it will be used and appreciated.
  
  Don't spend more than your budget allows, no matter how much you want to. If you want to purchase a "big" gift, try to organize a fund with other friends, relatives or co-workers where everyone can pitch in and sign one card.
  
  Wrap the gift as nicely as you can, decorated with ribbons and bows. If you aren't the greatest gift-wrapper, have someone else do it or pay for a service at the store. Part of the fun of the gift is the presentation as well as the bride's ribbon bouquet that will be made after the gifts are opened.