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Sometimes hostesses check with a bride-to-be before planning the party to see what she'd like to have, but this seems to me to spoil the party and have a slightly commercial
touch. It ought to be a surprise, and it's quite easy for a good friend to discover, without giving away secrets, what would be most acceptable to the guest of honor.
If it's a shower you're giving for an expectant mother, find out if you can what color she's partial to and let the guests know that. Happily, much greater variety of color is used for babies now-a-days, so that the traditional pink and blue aren't always a mother's chosen color scheme.
not too expensive
When you plan any kind of shower, be sure that the gifts of whatever kind can be bought in a variety of prices, so that no one will be burdened by the cost. A lingerie shower, for instance, is bound to be somewhat expensive, though the price range is of course wide. A handkerchief shower, on the other hand, is almost sure to be no strain on anyone's pocketbook.
for new householders
If you give a shower for friends who have just moved to a new house or apartment, canned goods make a fine sort of gift. So do canned and packaged snacks. If you're all feeling rich and love these people very much, a wine or liquor shower would be fine.
families don't give showers
Showers should be given by friends-never by the family of the recipient. One doesn't invite people to a party and oblige them to bring presents to a member of one's family.
how it's done
A shower may be given at luncheon, tea-time, or in the evening. Invitations may be telephoned or written and must be sure to include all relevant details. Guests may bring their shower presents with them, or, if the hostess asks it, may send them to her ahead of time. Then she can wrap them all in matching paper and ribbons, if she wants to. In this way she can carry out her color scheme and arrange the presents
as she chooses. If the guests arrive bringing their presents, the hostess, or someone specially designated by her, should take their gifts as they come in the door. A shower given for new householders is usually given at their house, having been arranged by their friends, who also bring refreshments (see Housewarmings).
how to arrange the gifts
How you arrange your shower parties beyond this is entirely up to you. If you want to put all the presents into an upside-down umbrella, that's fine, and the recipient will certainly know what's going on when she enters the room where the umbrella is hung.
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