Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a bridal shower and bachelorette party for a dear friend of mine. I’m lucky to be part of her bridal party and am very much looking forward to her wedding in November (and yes, it helps that my dress is pretty and I get to wear my favorite Manolos with it). We had a great day – the shower began with a cooking demonstration followed by a yummy lunch and our evening involved a casual but fun dinner and many cocktails at a couple of our favorite upscale lounges.

All the pre-wedding excitement and sharing of wedding stories got me thinking about ways bridal parties can make the bride feel special as her big day approaches. And I’m not talking about simply throwing bigger and better parties – indeed, neither of yesterday’s events was an over-the-top affair – but meaningful gestures that let the bride know her friends and family are looking forward to her wedding and will be there to support her when the day arrives.

So I put together the following list based on things we did yesterday, ideas I’ve come across and things that (lucky me) were done for my benefit. I bet any of these (or a combination thereof) would make any bride-to-be feel loved.

Photo Credit: JustJen.com

1. Create a soundtrack for the wedding warm-up

We all love to take our favorite tunes to the gym – they get us excited for the workout ahead. A warm-up for a wedding is no different! You and your fellow bridesmaids can assemble a playlist of tunes the bride loves or that remind you of favorite moments in your friendship, and have these songs serve as the soundtrack for the shower or bachelorette party. And while you’re at it, why not burn a CD for everyone attending?

2. Have everyone pitch in

No matter how large the guest list, chances are most party planning gets done by a few people. Having all the attendees contribute to a scrapbook or recipe book allows them to provide the bride a lasting memento of the days leading up to her wedding.

3. Take the bride to school

If the bride in your life has a favorite hobby or is looking to hone a new skill, having your shower guests attend a class or getting a lesson from an expert will give her a great opportunity to do so. You can have a great time (as we did) cooking a new dish, gardening or crafting.

Photo Credit: ExperienceDays.com

4. Toast the bride with her own cocktail

If the shower takes place at a restaurant, chances are there will be cocktails invo...