Community Chat

[brii]

I've been to showers with as few as 30 people and as many as upwards of 100.

Larger showers were given by family.

[Allegheny]

brii, I agree. Most of the large showers are given by family. In the situations I listed in my previous post, the bridal shower was planned by the bridesmaids but I know the mother paid for it.

The baby shower was given by a sister and many family members contributed to the cost and prepared food. Her and husband's parents were divorced years ago and remarried, so there are a lot of family members here and in the state her husband is from.

However back to the OP, I do feel the guest list is excessive and too costly for someone other than family members to host. Are the guests just friends and co-workers or does it include family also?

[occasionalrain]

What exactly is the purpose of a bridal shower?

They are all gift grabs since all the attendees will be expected to give a wedding gift too.

[Allegheny]

On 6/2/2014 occasional rain said:

What exactly is the purpose of a bridal shower?

They are all gift grabs since all the attendees will be expected to give a wedding gift too.

Well, you're correct. Times have changed so much over the years. Bridal showers used to be held to help new couple set up their household with simple but useful things for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom. In the "old days" people actually brought gifts to the wedding, now its mostly money.

Some of the items listed on bridal and baby shower registries are outrageously expensive, like a $500 dyson or a complete set of baby furniture. Seems every occasion has gotten to be an over the top experience any more. First birthday parties, graduation from kindergarden, communion, proms, etc. I know a lot is about gift grab but it seems there is a lot of partying and celebrating going on in this country.

[VanSleepy]

I feel that a shower is only for those closest to you. I would never think of inviting every female that is invited to the wedding. And I hope I'm not too off base because I'm hosting one soon lol

[WenGirl42]

On 6/2/2014 VanSleepy said: I feel that a shower is only for those closest to you. I would never think of inviting every female that is invited to the wedding. And I hope I'm not too off base because I'm hosting one soon lol

I don't think you're off base! The rule is actually that all shower guests should be invited to the wedding, not the other way around In other words, if they didn't make the "cut" to get invited to the wedding, you shouldn't solicit gifts from them by inviting them to the shower.

[RetRN]

The ones I've attended have had 30 or fewer.

[occasionalrain]

In my family we do an engagement party to allow the members of both families to meet, no gifts are required.

We do not do showers, not for weddings or for babies. Traditionally showers were for young couples who hadn't the money to buy the essentials for setting up a home or a baby; a fund raiser type of thing.

[chrystaltree]

There's no set number. I've been to baby and bridal showers with over 100 guests and showers with 20 guests.

[ROMARY]

Not to stir up any 'trouble' here, but I wouldn't be too happy when my DD told me about the amount of people on the shower guest list.............I'd have to rent a hall/restaurant/whatever. Not enough room at home for all of those guests. That can be very costly in our area.