Bridal Shower vs Wedding Shower

I, personally, do not want a co Ed shower. I've never been to one, but some people would like it better I'm sure. My opinion is a wedding shower is like more wedding gifts? Which people will already be planning to get/bring? Anyway I like the idea of a bridal shower better

We had a co-ed shower with my FH's side of the family and it was a lot of fun. we did not include registry info with the invites, and not everyone brought a gift. we didn't open gifts at the party. it was at night and felt more like a cocktail party. my FH's dad gave a short toast but other than that we just mingled and ate. i liked being able to include FH and his friends in a pre-wedding event.

ETA: apparently that is how showers are typically done in my FH's family's circle so people there seemed familiar with the format. i was really confused going in about the gift opening element of it, but there were wayyyyy too many people there for that to be fun for anyone.

i also had a traditional shower with my family. it was much smaller, ladies-only event. it was a brunch and i opened the gifts. it was also fun but a very different vibe.

So wedding showers seem much larger (for obvious reasons). Thanks for sharing!

I feel like I'm leaning towards a bridal shower to eliminate additional layers of planning for by bridesmaids!

A co-ed shower is just a big party with registry gifts. When I think shower I think very girly wedding decorations and cheesy games and woman oohing and ahhing over a blender. Co-ed is a lot more fun in my opinion. I always thought a wedding shower was for gifts for the couple where as a bridal shower is specific to the bride. I'm not sure what I had. It wasn't co-ed. Boo! And I got a couple things off the registry but most people gave me cash, gift cards or wine/champagne.

All I know is the last co-ed shower I went to was damn near half the reception - over 100 guests. It was a bit much for me but....wasn't my shower. I had a bridal shower with about 25 guests. That's more my speed.

In our families and social circles we automatically give cash at weddings so bridal showers is an opportunity for guests to give gifts from the registry- household items for both bride and groom to start their lives together. i'm assuming traditionally its women only because its really the gift for the bride who was expected to stay home and cook and clean with all the new gifts she has received- HAHA, so not happening!

i still liked the women only shower though. some of the advice I received from the older ladies was hilarious! it was more of an initiation to the married women club and it would just be a completely different vibe if men were there.

@gymrat it's funny you mentioned the Wedding Shower reaching 100 people. I modeled both lists and figured out Wedding Shower would also be damn near half of the reception. I think it sounds fun but unnecessary.

Traditional bridal shower is going to be my route. Sounds like a really fun time.

I think a much prefer the idea of a ladies-only bridal shower. I also know my FH would be bored silly at a wedding shower. I love the idea of just getting together with the girls for brunch/lunch and it having that more girly vibe.

I've been to showers where it's the females who gather for the bridal shower portion, then men show up later for a co-Ed party or cook out.

Most of the showers my family have held have been the more traditional, women only. A few of my cousins have had their now. husbands show up towards the end to either open gifts with them or to just pop in, say thanks and mingle for the last 20 minutes or half hour. I think I would want my FH with me to open gifts just because they are as much for him as for me and I kbow we will be adding some things that are more his style.

I loved my co-ed shower the guys had a blast bowling ( yes I had a shower at a bowling alley <3) and us girls had fun bowling and doing the fun games.