Bridal Open House vs Bridal Shower

I haven't personally been to one, but my cousin went to one recently and said she and everyone else loved it/had a great time.

I've been to one and it was nice but it was at a nice venue and they had donuts, coffee, and chicken sandwiches with pasta for all of us, so it was more than a snack. It was also a scenario where the girl had a huge family on both sides so they couldn't have done a regular shower... I would say if you're doing an open house make sure you still provide a mini-meal like showers normally do, not just a snack. For example: fruit cups and chicken salad sandwiches with a cupcake dessert would be a good light meal for a shower, but don't just be like "here have some chips and salsa and give me a gift and leave".... be aware that some people may consider it rude, but some people may love you for it because showers are always such a long ordeal!

I would say that is fine if everyone is really close. If people are traveling an hour or more to go to the shower, it would not be worth it for an "open house".

I would love that. I don't think it would work for me because the older ladies in my family would HATE that. "WHAT? You're not opening gifts for 3 hours? We're not going to pin toilet paper to you???"

Lol! @Sarah

Thank you ladies! Love your thoughts! Keep them coming!

Sounds fine to me! I went to a joint baby shower like this recently. It was a cookout with lawn games, men and women invited, people dropped off gifts in the dining room but they didn't open any unless asked.

I have not been to one but it sounds fun! I personally loathe bridal showers and politely asked not to be thrown one (so far, thats not being respected by my mother and bridesmaids which is a whole different story). But they keep saying the same thing as @OliviaP ... it's boring but its tradition. Yep, and its a tradition I will be forgoing.

I did something between open house and traditional shower--didn't open gifts, the only game we played was a wine tasting, pretty casual vibe. i've been to several showers where gift opening wasn't done. there's no rule book for this stuff anymore. i would say go for it if you would be happy with it, and also make sure to thank people either with a toast or personally over the course of the afternoon (and with thank you notes).

I could get down with something like this. Like someone said above, as long as most guests were local. I hate bridal showers, as a guest and even more so when it was mine. i felt so put on the spot the whole time. I would have preferred not to have one, my mom insisted to so I let her do her thing.

Another option I've seen (my mom attended one) is they had the bridal shower on a weekday night. It was a dessert party and ended up only being an hour and a half, if that.

Sounds like a cool idea, that way it doesn't take up hours for each guest and no one is really "late" to it. You get there, when you get there and you leave when you want to leave. I like that! Wouldn't work for his family but it would for mine!

I love this idea! It would work for the younger crowd, but not the older, but that's between you and the host. I agree with the above - have enough food, open gifts on request, and maybe you can get away with it.

Works for me! I personally would much prefer to attend this!

Personally, I hate bridal showers. The idea of the games makes me physically ill. I'd much rather have my girls just sit around eating, laughing, and having a good time. I'm not a young first time bride so if you bring a gift COOL, if not come hang out anyway.

I went to one this past summer, it seem to work, it's just hard to plan the timing of everything (food, present opening, games, etc.) We kind of just went with the flow seemed to work.