LINGERIE?

Every bride is different. Some of them love opening a lacy black negligee from Victoria's Secret, and some of them would rather die. If you're hosting the party, find out first what your friend would like. Is opening something like that going to embarrass her, or will she be happy to receive such gifts? When you know the answer, specify in the invitation what kind of a bachelorette party it will be. "Gifts: lingerie welcome," or "please no lingerie."

There are lots of themes you can go for, and ask your guests to plan around...

Pamper Yourself

This is something every girl will love, because it is a chance for her to get lots of pretty scents, lotions, candles, bath salts, bubble bath, etc.

The Scrapbooker

As the hostess, purchase an acid-free photo album with blank pages and slip covers, then ask your gifts to purchase anything that might be used for scrap booking -- colored paper, stickers, double-sided acid free tape, calligraphy pens, stencils, etc, so that she can record her wedding and honeymoon in photographic style. Make sure to have a camera or three on hand to take pictures at the party, then send them to her or print them off your computer for her, in case she wants to include them in her book. *

* This is also a wonderful craft for the party itself. You can have each girl decorate a page with photographs of the party, for a smaller picture album -- a digital camera makes this fast and easy -- and then leave the last page blank for a wedding photograph.

The Shop-a-Holic

Each guest purchases one inexpensive item and a gift card from a local strip mall or store they know she loves. The bride then gets to have a shopping day before the wedding and purchase whatever she wants.

Think about gifts and what kind of a theme she will love most -- of if she just wants to be surprised. Christian girls can come up with some wonderful gifts that will glory her future married life. Just remember if there are non-saved guests coming to specify that all gifts should be all right to open in mixed company.