By Brina Jannenga
The Younique Boutique, inc.

Bridal showers used to be a very traditional and, if you don't mind me saying, stuffy gatherings. Someone outside the bride's immediate family would throw the party and invite all their friends to give the bride very traditional, and if you don't mind me saying, stuffy wedding gifts.

The bride received everything she would need to be a good wifey. From toasters to blenders to irons, she would now have her essential arsenal to create a warm and nurturing nest for her future lot of children.

Bah humbug! Today's bridal showers are about today's bride. She is a full-time professional with a college degree. Her hobbies range from mountain biking to jewelry making and the only thing she would ever need with a blender for is for making margaritas.

The best wedding shower gift ideas are the ones just for the bride. Gifts that mark a true passage into womanhood. Forget the standard items on her wedding registry - let's get creative.

She is guaranteed to receive at least one set of slutty undergarments. But again, we are looking for bridal shower gift ideas for the bride - not the groom! These are hard to find, but how about footie pajamas in a soft micro-fleece? She will think of you every time she wears them.

She is sure to receive lots of bubble bath, bath salts and shower gels. How about a bottle of really expensive perfume? Something she would never buy for herself. The card should suggest that she wear this new scent on her wedding day and then on special occasions afterwards. Some scents have a way of bringing us back to special moments in our lives. Give her the gift of an olfactory wedding memory!

How about a custom wedding cake topper? We use your submitted photos to create a cake topper that actually looks just like the bride and groom. They are fun to create too because we proof the sculpture with you every step of the way.

OK, now we're getting sentimental. A gift certificate for a custom commissioned oil painting will delight the bride. She can redeem it at our store for a custom painting based on her favorite wedding photo. Is the bride your sister? Have a painting created of the two you. Re-create your favorite childhood photograph in a painting. She is guaranteed to bawl when she sees this gift.

If you are looking for a modern twist on a favorite tradition, purchase a ceramic guestbook platter for the wedding. The kit comes with a platter, a special marker and instructions. After the event, bake it in your home oven and it will be food and dishwasher safe.