Simple or saucy, calm or crazy, getting the girls together to celebrate before the wedding is always a memorable experience.

Although many of these ideas are specific to the Saint Louis area, if you are not a local bride, we hope these ideas will inspire you to find similiar services in your neck of the woods.

While the wedding may be the biggest party of them all, the weeks leading up to the big day are full of celebrations. Following are some exciting ideas for bridal showers, bridesmaid's luncheons and bachelorette parties.

Bridal Showers
The bridal shower is a wonderful treat for the bride-to-be, giving her a break from wedding planning to be pampered by friends and family. According to bridal etiquette, it is improper for family of the bride to give the shower. Usually the bridesmaids, family friend, or aunt may host the event. And the hosts are becoming increasingly creative with their party ideas. While some may choose the traditional tea party, interactive and theme showers also are popular.

Shower guests can come from all areas of a bride's life, from lifelong friends to sorority sisters to co-workers. Getting guests involved in an activity such as painting pottery, is a great way to break the ice. At the Painted Zebra in Kirkwood, guests can create a unique and special gift for the bride.

"The bride usually prepares a list of items that she would like to have, such as plates, bowls and even glassware," says Cathy Cody, one of the store's managers. "Each guest can select an item from the list and add her own personal touch to it."

The Painted Zebra has special rates for parties and hosts are welcome to bring food and beverages. The store is open seven days a week, including some evenings, and can accommodate about 35 people. Call ahead for reservations. The Painted Zebra provides pottery and glassware, paint, brushes and other supplies needed for the craft.

"The gift possibilities are endless and we find that guests and brides are very creative," says Cody. Brides may choose to have a set of wineglasses designed by guests. Some may do a holiday theme with each guest selecting an item to decorate for a different holiday.

Showers with a theme such as "room to room" or "around the clock" are popular, but how about a themed shower with a twist? A cooking shower is a tasty celebration that lends itself to great gift ideas. The Kitchen Conservatory in Clayton offers custom cooking classes for groups of up to 24 people.

The host works with the chef who will cook for her class to develop a program and menu for the event. Classes are 2-1/2 hours long and can be scheduled any time of day, seven days a week. Cooking classes include the chef, instruction, recipes, and food. The host is welcome to bring wine for the guests.

"One of the nicest ideas I've seen is when the participants bring a favorite recipe for the bride and their gift goes with the recipe," says Anne Schlafly, owner of the Kitchen Conservatory.

If you're comfortable with something a little more personal than cooking or pottery, Wendy Fitter, owner of Unleashed Entertainment, suggests the intimate apparel party.

Fitter comes to the home of the person hosting the shower and brings lingerie and adult novelty items. "We usually play some games to break the ice. I bring items for the girls to look at and for the bride to try on. The guests then select an item to buy for the bride as a shower gift. I usually bring 60 or more items and the girls can order from my catalog," says Fitter.

Lingerie items include long gowns, teddies, and bra and panty sets. Adult novelty items include romantic books and games as well as sexual enhancement items. Fitter also brings home accent items such as candles and glassware for guests who aren't comfortable buying intimate apparel for the bride-to-be. "It all depends on the girl and her lifestyle," says Fitter.

Fitter says that as the party progresses, the guests loosen up and have a great time.

While innovative showers are gaining in popularity, the traditional shower endures. Miss Aimee B's Tea Room in St. Charles offers a quaint setting for an old-fashioned bridal shower. "Our historical ambiance is a big draw," says Sherry Pfaender, one of the owners of Miss Aimee B's Tea Room. The restaurant has 11-foot ceilings, beautiful old woodwork, and is filled with antiques from 1865.

Breakfast, brunch, or lunch showers are available for groups of 25 or less. Larger groups can be accommodated on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m., after the restaurant closes to other customers. Pfaender recommends that the host select the food in advance so that guests don't have to bother with menus. "It saves a lot of time and allows the guests to focus their attention on the bride, not the food," she says.

Bridesmaid Luncheons
Traditionally, the bridesmaid's luncheon is held by the bride to treat her attendants. Usually only the bride and her maids are invited. It gives them time to bond and is a special way for the bride to say thank you. However, the bridesmaid's luncheon does not have to be formal. In fact, it doesn't even have to be a luncheon.

How about a bridal happy hour? St. Louis offers great happy hour spots, depending on your tastes. From martinis and sushi at Miso on Meramec in Clayton, to quesadillas and margaritas at Hacienda in Rock Hill, to tapas and sangria at Modesto on the Hill, you are sure to find the perfect spot to celebrate. Happy hour offers a festive atmosphere for some serious female bonding before the big day.

Or how about a bridal spa day? The Face and the Body Day Spa in Clayton offers a wedding party package for a day of pampering for you and your bridesmaids. You can select services from their extensive menu.

"Typically a bride will bring her group in the day before her wedding," says Chris Duello from the Face and the Body. "They often choose services that will have the wedding party looking their best for the big day."

Services such as manicures and pedicures are popular. The bridesmaids may choose to meet with one of the spa's professional makeup artists to get some ideas for wedding day makeup. And everyone could use a relaxing treatment such as massage or foot reflexology.

"We go the extra mile for bridal parties," says Duello. "We can provide the group with a private space in the spa where they can go to regroup between services so it feels more like a private spa party. The bride and her friends can visit and get a little noisy in their own room. We provide snacks such as fruit and cheese trays, juices and sparkling water. We also are able to have lunch catered to the spa if the bride prefers."

The spa provides the bride with one contact person to set up the entire day. Duello says the key is planning ahead. "They want a variety of services and they want to be together, so we suggest scheduling three to four months ahead. We need the advance notice to block out services and time slots to accommodate the entire party."

If the traditional luncheon is more your style, the Museum Café at the St. Louis Art Museum offers a beautiful and unique atmosphere. Tables can be reserved in the café's main dining area. You and your bridesmaids can order off the menu or select a plated lunch in advance. Or you may want to take advantage of the café's wonderful Sunday brunch buffet. Admission to the museum's galleries is free, so you and your friends can work up an appetite by touring the collections before dining.

Bachelorette Parties
These days, the bachelorette party can be just as wild and crazy as the bachelor party. From a night on the town with the girls to a shopping spree in Chicago, there are lots of ways to celebrate your last few days as a single gal.

You may want to use the bachelorette party as a way to celebrate the bride's past as a single woman. A pub crawl is a great way to visit multiple locations in one evening. Of course, a safe way to travel from bar to bar is a priority, so be sure to have a designated driver or consider renting a limousine or bus.

Dinner is a great way to start the evening. Have the group meet at the home of one of the bridesmaids or select a favorite restaurant. If you're willing to take a few hours just for dinner, the Melting Pot on the Delmar Loop in University City is a great place for large groups. This fantastic fondue restaurant offers a variety of chicken, meats, seafood, and vegetables prepared in a variety of styles and served with unique sauces. Don't forget the chocolate fondue for dessert. Reservations are recommended.

After dinner, let the pub crawl begin. Choose a few of the bride's favorite haunts -- maybe the place she met her husband-to-be or her favorite college hangout. At each location, have a guest share a funny story or special memory about the bride-to-be.

You may want to choose a variety of atmospheres to appeal to everyone in the group. You could start at Blueberry Hill in the University City Loop for some darts or watch a band in the Elvis Room or the Duck Room, the bar's two performance areas. If it's a beautiful evening, check out the patio at John D. McGurk's Irish Pub in Soulard.

For a more upscale atmosphere, head to one of the hottest nightspots in St. Louis -- Café Eau at the Chase Park Plaza in the Central West End. With its hip décor, extensive martini menu, and fine wines and liquors, Café Eau is the place to be seen. Café Eau features a martini bar made from ice and in the spring the patio offers a starlit view of the swimming pool.

If dancing is more your style, head to the Washington Avenue entertainment district in downtown St. Louis. From the rock sounds of Galaxy, to the electronic beat at Velvet to urban hip hop at Tabu; this area is hopping until 3 am.

While going out on the town is a great way to party, you may want to spend part of the evening focusing on the guest of honor. Morgan Street Brewery on the Landing offers a perfect combination of privacy and nightlife.

Banquet coordinator Vicki Owings says the brewery's Brew Tasting Room is ideal for bachelorette parties. "The room is adjacent to the Lager Room, which is our main bar area at night. So the girls can start the evening with a private party and then move next door to shoot some pool or mingle with the crowd."

For a minimal rental fee, the Brew Tasting Room is yours for three to four hours. Cocktail service is available or you can arrange for a private bar. Owings suggests setting up a buffet of Morgan Street appetizers, as well.

For a truly unique experience, take the party to the Big Bang, a sing-along, dueling piano bar on the Landing. On the weekends, the show starts at 6:30 pm and continues non-stop until 2:45 am. The entertainers go to work at the two grand pianos on stage, belting out rock and roll songs as the audience sings along. These pianists know it all -- from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to Billy Joel and Elton John to Nelly and Bon Jovi.

"They'll play Neil Diamond and the Beastie Boys in the same hour," says Meredyth Nichols, director of operations and one of the bar's owners. "The piano players are very talented. It's amazing to watch."

Up to six performers alternate playing, so the music never stops. The pianists take requests from the audience and Nichols says it's nearly impossible to stump them. "Our entertainers have been involved with the sing-along concept for more than ten years. They are well known in the industry. St. Louis is lucky to have them."

Nichols says the bar is popular for big groups such as bachelor and bachelorette parties and appeals to groups of varying ages. If you are planning to come with a big group, Nichols suggests calling ahead. "We don't take reservations, but we can help recommend a good time to arrive so your group can get good seats. We also can work out discounted cover charges for large groups."

The performers will make the night extra-special for the guest of honor by bringing her onstage for a tribute. And the guests can request songs to be played in honor of the bride-to-be.

"It is such a fun experience; it's hard not to have a good time," says Nichols. "I see the show almost every day and it is always funny. The impromptu reactions of the audience make every show unique."

For the bride-to-be who's a little more country than rock and roll, try InCahoots in Earth City. This country and western bar offers more than just the latest Tim McGraw tunes. The club holds 3,000 people and features pool tables, televisions, a brand new sound system, a small kitchen, and plenty of seating.

And don't forget the mechanical bull. On Saturday nights the club holds a bull-riding contest. For the men it's competitive, but for the ladies it's sexy bull riding. On Wednesday and Friday nights the club features country line dancing. If you need a little practice, show up at 6 pm for a lesson before the dancing starts.

Manager Rick Spinner recommends calling ahead for reservations. "Cover is free for bachelorette parties on Saturday nights and we can reserve seating for the group. We'll help them get the evening started with a scavenger hunt inside the club to get all the guests involved. We have a lot of fun with it."

If the bride-to-be really needs to get away, an out-of-town bachelorette party might be ideal. Maybe the group would enjoy a weekend in Las Vegas enjoying the warm weather and trying their luck in the casinos. Or maybe a shopping spree along the Magnificent Mile in Chicago is your idea of a perfect weekend. Check with your travel agent for group deals.

However you choose to celebrate, be sure to take time out from wedding preparations to relax and enjoy this special time with friends and family. Before you know it, you'll be walking down the aisle.

This article was contributed by Saint Louis Bride Magazine. If you have questions or comments about this article, please email their editor at nancy.slade@wheremagazine.com.