Bridal Shower anxiety

I haven't had mine. My Mom really wanted to throw me a shower, but I can't stand opening presents in front of people. We came to a compromise: we're having a shower, but I'm not opening my presents. Can you maybe not open presents? Otherwise, I don't have any advice other than have a drink (or two) before opening presents to help calm to nerves. ;-)

I felt like this at my baby shower. I was so happy when the whole thing was over. For some reason I got super sweaty, which normally isn't a response to anxiety that I have, and i felt so gross. It was still a nice day and I was ultimately glad I went. I couldn't have a drink to calm my nerves in this scenario, so you're better off than me.

My FMIL threw one for me with people who are close family friends of theirs and my family and friends and I was so nervous but it was ok and easier than I anticipated thank goodness!
Hope everything goes smooth! Just breathe and good luck!!!

Be happy this is your day! Wake up early, take a hot shower and spend time doing your hair and makeup- looking great always makes me less shy!! While I opened gifts the restaurant handed out cake, people talked at their tables I really don't think too many people paid attention to me opening gifts Lol! I had my bridesmaids next to me and handing me the gifts so I definitely wasn't all alone up there which made me feel better ! Good luck and congrats💕

For my family shower, my mom asked me if there were any things I specifically wanted to be planned for games/food. I had already had a shower with church people and friends, and felt horribly awkward during the gift opening time. I asked her if we could make BINGO cards for gifts that were bought off the registry so guests could mark off gifts as they were opened instead of just watching me silently. She loved the idea and ran with it. It was perfect because everyone was more invested, I felt like they interacted more with each other as they compared cards, and the winner got a prize. BINGO cards are my solution to everything haha

I went to a shower with the BINGO cards once and it was very distracting from staring at the bride. My cousin and I sat there guessing then getting upset when we were wrong - "Why no champagne glasses?" "Where is the knife set?!?!"

Personally, I am not a fan of the gift opening tradition. It makes me super anxious as well. Have you talked to the person throwing the shower for potential options to make it less intimidating? I would be honest with the shower thrower and tell her how you feel.

I would get up a little early tomorrow and take some extra pampering time for yourself. Use your favorite shower stuff, lotions, and make sure you feel beautiful! Whenever I feel good about myself I am less nervous about whatever is going on.

As for the opening of the gifts, I have been to showers where someone from the bridal party 'opens' the gifts a bit before the bride to be fully opens them. Like, they just start to open the sides of the gift or open up the card envelope and take the card out for the bride. This seems to speed up the process a bit, especially if it is a larger shower. The bride to be still opens all the gifts and nothing is spoiled surprise wise, but it may be something to mention to the shower host.

Thank you everyone so much! I will def be getting up early to do a little self pampering, great idea!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one! I'm so nervous about my bridal shower and it's not until July! Honestly, I my just have a few drinks and go with he flow!

I’m always so nervous about opening gifts in front of others. For example, my future in-laws like to wrap gifts in spare boxes, and for my birthday last year they wrapped my present in a coffeemaker box. I was like “ohhhh this is nice, this will be awesome” even though I didn’t drink coffee...

Then I found myself in a weird situation when I opened the box and it was clothes. Like, I blew my cover on my fake excitement. So my suggestion is to be excited AFTER you open the gift haha. But I totally cheated and stalked my registry so I kinda knew what gifts I was getting at the shower, which in all honesty helped when I was opening gifts.

I'm in the same boat, socially, and my shower isn't until the first weekend of June. 😂 I'll probably just have a few mimosas, focus on the day my mom, MOH and bridesmaids put together and try not to think too hard about my reactions to gifts, I've been known to jump to big reactions when what I'm really opening is a calendar or a pack of markers for my classroom.

If they insist on gifts do a no wrap party. Have people just bring them unwrapped. Then they get the benefit of seeing what you recieced, and you don't have to open it up on display.