The Couple

• Legend has it that a young, Dutch woman received the first wedding shower. She wasn't going to receive a dowry from her father since he disapproved of her betrothed. The groom-to-be was a poor, local, Dutch man. The young man was poor however, due to his generous spirit.
  
  

The Party

• Though the bride's father did not approve of the marriage, the villagers did. They organized a special party so that the bride could receive a dowry for her new groom. The villagers each gathered a treasured possession from home and ''showered'' it upon the young woman.
  
  

How it Ended

• Because of the generosity of the villagers, the father's heart was changed and he approved of his daughters marriage to the young, Dutch man. After these happenings, ''showering'' a bride with gifts has become a common tradition.
  
  

Other Background Information

• Beginning in the 1890s, it is said that friends and family of the bride would put their gifts in a parasol or umbrella and open the parasol over the bride's head.