Bridal shower if BP is out of state/town?

Thanks for asking, I'm wondering the same thing. If I were to have it in the state I live now I'd have like 3 people (none of whom are bridesmaids), if I had it where my mom and sister/MOH live, I'd have MAYBE 8 people I could invite, again none are bridesmaids. I have my MOH in Colorado, one bm in Utah, one in California, one in DC, and two greeters/usherettes who are in Arizona and Canada. I really wanted a shower but I'm in the same boat as you, not sure it's gonna happen, which bums me out a bit. If you figure something out, let me know haha!

To answer some of your other questions, usually the MOH or bridesmaids throw it, for my sister's wedding I was her MOH and me and my mom did it and held it at my parents' house. For that shower we had a wine and cheese night and so we ate some food, talked, and we played a game (madlibs, people had stomach cramps from laughing so hard), then my sister opened gifts and then people left. So it's usually food, maybe games, and opening presents. Some are much more elaborate than others.

Typically the MOH throws it for the bride. If she is unable to or doesn't want to one of the other bridesmaids might step in and plan it. Sometimes all the girls will pitch in on the planning. All the bridesmaids should make an effort to be there, but obviously that's not always possible if one of the bridesmaids lives far away or has a lot of other obligations to her family, work, school. Typically there is some sort of meal (could be very formal, but most are usual very casual), wedding related games (you can google bridal shower games - I think they're usually pretty cheesy, but that's just me), and then guests "shower" the bride with gifts from the couple's registry to help start their new home and life together.

If you want to be involved or have a say, get in contact with your MOH or BMs and see if they had an ideas for a shower and maybe give them some suggestions of what you would like to get the ball rolling.

Yes, it is common for a shower to happen when there are a lot of out of town guests. The majority of my family lives within a 3 hour radius of each other, and none are in the same town, and I've gone to the bridal showers for all of my cousins when they got married. Family will probably be more inclined to travel than friends is what my experience has been, but this can vary depending on what your relationship is with all of these individuals. The ones who can't make it usually send a gift card or mail their bridal shower gift instead.

edited for typos

I have run into this situation, too. My MOH lives out state, one of my BM lives 6 hours away and the other one lives in town. My MOH (sister) has suggested to organize to have a spa day a month before the wedding and have my BMs there and whoever else I want to invite. I told her I didn't want a big party or lot of time put into it because I have a small group that I'd wanted to invite, anyway.

Well at least I am not alone! At this point, they have been unable to come up with a day for a bachlorette party so I feel like asking for them to find a day for the bridal shower to is even worse! And for the record, it isn't that they aren't interested, they are just in school and have to work around finals, driving, and also have kids.

Also, I was told that one of the purposes is to start getting gifts from the registry, and my registry isn't really full of stuff... It is on Zola and we have stuff from all different stores on there that will just be mailed to us later. So then is there even a point in the bridal shower?

Anyone can throw you a shower (even if they are not in your bp), but no one (even members of your bp) is obligated to. So if someone asks, you can graciously agree, and if no one asks, you won't have a shower (but will still end up just as married).

You could still have one, but if there isn't much to your registry, then like you mentioned, there really isn't much of a point. We have maybe two dozen items on our registry (our "upgrades"). We asked that guests not give us gifts because we have most of the things we need and there presence at our wedding is what we'd enjoy more than anything tangible, but we know that some people just really feel like they need to give a gift, so that's we created it. I won't be having a shower because the registry is so small and because half of the items are pricier, I don't want people to feel obligated to spend that much money.

My sister did a shower via skype - it was weird.. but you can set up a private session where people can log in and watch....if you really want one, i would say go for it... it's totally possible! i absolutely love the spa day idea though! you can have a small bridal luncheon with that maybe? and if they can't do a weekend early.. maybe you can do it the week of your wedding. I am a MOH in a wedding coming up in a month and her shower is the weds before her wedding to accommodate out of town family who couldn't fly up for a random day for a shower.

I was in the same boast as you. I have 4 bridesmaids... 1 in AZ, 1 in FL, 1 in MS, and the other is in MI, but lives 3 hours away. I also live 2.5 hours away from my family. My mom threw my shower for me in her hometown, and the only bridesmaid that came was the one that lives 3 hours away. Which was expected. We had nearly 80 people at our couples shower!

Have the MOH throw you one, make sure to register so that those that cannot make it can still send a gift. I agree with Mrs_M have a couples shower to get more people there!

My entire wedding party lives out of state with the exception of the 2 yr old ring bearer! I can't see having a bridal shower, w/ 2 brides at that, without our matrons of honor. The only people I can see throwing us a bridal shower are our moms, well, my mom. Our mom's will be walking us down the aisle. I don't think I would mind not having a bridal shower or a bachelorette party. We have been living together for 7 1/2 years and don't need really need anything.

Im in the same boat. my maid of honor and bridesmaid live her win nj with me, but another bridesmaid is in georgia and another is in florida. money is tight for the out of state girls to the point i offered to buy their dresses to help since i know they would be booking a flight to come here. i want them to be able to attend my bridal shower, but i don't see it being possible since my bridal shower will most likely be in april 2015 and our wedding is may 2015. i did give this a lot of thought and maybe i will have two bachelorette parties.. one for my nj friends and one for my fl friends that can't make it up here. this way they aren't missing out completely.

Same boat here. I didn't have one and told my MOH I didn't want one. Didn't want it to be a hassle for anyone and I really didn't want one.