What Is a Bridal Shower Wishing Well?

A bridal shower wishing well is, in essence, a vehicle for wishing the bride and her new husband the best for their future as a married couple. The configuration of the wishing well doesn't matter. Whatever strikes your fancy will work, as long as it serves as an appropriate container for the gifts, notes or money that guests will put inside of it at the bridal shower.

Origin

The bridal shower wishing well represents a long-held tradition. It originated as a vessel to hold small household items for the newlyweds. Wishing wells retain their place in today's bridal showers. However, according to Bridal Shower Ideas For You, the "vessel" can be used in any way the hostess chooses, and isn't limited to being a receptacle for household items.

Plan Your Wishing Well

Your bridal shower wishing well can actually be a small replica of a wishing well, or you can use any object that will serve as a receptacle for gifts. Be imaginative. Of course, you will want to decorate it in keeping with the theme of the rest of the bridal shower, using colors that complement your party decor.
When you invite guests, tell them about the theme of the party, if there is one, and inform them that there will be a wishing well and its specific purpose. For example, you could ask guests to bring gifts for the household, beach items, picnic items, items for the yard, bathroom items or lingerie.

Wishing Well for Written Wishes

You can also make the wishing well a receptacle for written wishes, or favorite memories of the soon-to-be-married couple. Have the guests jot down these notes beforehand or as soon as they arrive at the bridal shower, then toss them into the well. Sometimes the written word, recalling nostalgic times, funny memories or even sad moments that guests have shared with the bride-to-be proves even more precious and endearing than a material gift.
A wishing well intended for cards and written messages could be a beautiful basket or decorative box. It doesn't need to be large. If you choose, you can read and display the well-wishes, stories, poems and pictures during the party.

Lifestyle Well

A wishing well can reflect the couple's lifestyle and interests. If, for example, the new couple adores nature and frequently camps, hikes and canoes, create a small canoe out of papier mache or construction paper to use as the wishing well. Paint the canoe, write the couple's names on the side ("USS Andy and Maria") and add any sort of razzle-dazzle decoration that you wish. Ask guests to provide gift items that the couple can use when they go camping.
If the new couple loves to garden, use a wheelbarrow for a wishing well and fill it with gardening items. If the guest of honor and her husband are renovating their first home, use a garbage can, plain or decorated, for a wishing well. Toss in items that everyone needs when they're fixing up a house, such as paint brushes, caulk, masking tape, paint and drop cloths. There are no dyed-in-the-wool rules. Create a wishing well that will delight the bride-to-be and her guests.

Stash the Cash

A wishing well, in whatever incarnation you select, can also serve as a receptacle for money and checks, according to WeddingDNA. The guests can help to fund the honeymoon or to purchase something special and rather expensive for the new couple. This needs to be decided before the shower and spelled out in the invitation. The guests bring money for this specific purpose to put into the wishing well, and the pooled funds serve as the bride's shower gift. No other gifts are required..

References

• Bridal Shower Ideas For You
• WeddingDNA