Bridal shower with no bride?

That is super weird. I would be absolutely shocked to arrive at a bridal shower and learn that she isn't even coming. Ick

Weird yes but maybe the family wanted to get together regardless knowing in advance she wasn't going... maybe call it something other than a shower..

Wow! That's very rude indeed.

To be fair, it *is* possible the bride said, "Mom, I don't want a bridal shower. I won't attend one." And mom threw it, anyway. I can *totally* see that happening, in which case it's the hostess who was rude, for not listening to the guest of honor's wishes. But if that wasn't the case, I just can't figure it.

No bride at the shower = no gift at the shower from me.

I blame your aunt and whoever the hell else was involved with this foolishness! Wtf??????

Wow super rude.

So they threw a party for someone who decided she would rather go hiking? That's gift grabby. I would have grabbed my gift back on the way out.

I personally don't have a issue with the showers being done with skype if everyone is ok with it, but no one told the guests the bride wouldn't be there?

I wouldn't be happy either.

So her family flew from Minnesota to New York, but she couldn't be bothered to skip her hiking plans and drive to drive from PA and attend? I don't get it. Even if I didn't want a shower and my mom threw me one anyway, if I knew family had bought plane tickets to come see me, I'd suck it up and attend it to make Aunt Sue and Uncle Joe or whoever happy.

I was thinking was @Zoe M. said. In which case, I'd make sure guests know I wasn't part of the planning. Maybe pick up with Skype call with "A bridal shower? Mom, why didn't you mention anything?"

That seems rather rude for her to not be there and then they Skype her and she's out hiking like dude you couldn't have went hiking the next day or something? I would have politely and quietly stopped my gift up and left

Shower In absentia...that's the word I was looking for. Thanks Buttercup.

Barring illness or a true family emergency, this scenario constitutes a blatant gift grab. Skype? If she were in a hospital bed, I'd appreciate her skyping -- but hiking? Skyping with your shower guests while hiking makes this even more offensive.

My aunt who attended found it quite strange, had expected to see her there. I am guessing her mother and other older family members wanted to do a traditional bridal shower but she wasn't into so just let them do it anyway. Her sisters did not attend either.

Still just seems rude to me. Glad I'm not the only one.

So the family can spend money on plane tix, accommodations, gifts for the bride, etc, but she can't even get her ass to NY from PA to be present? Yep, super rude and entitled. Also, PA to NY is a driveable distance.... I drive from Atlanta to Tampa once every 6 weeks or so for wedding stuff.

Not even touching the whole hiking instead thing. Scoff.

Wow, really. I personally don't think it's right 2 throw/host a bridal shower witout guess of honor, then 2 skype durning her hiking trip (make no difference) like that was suppose 2 mean something. I think really considerate 2 who the came out 2 wit u on ur day, feel Mom & daughter could've made sure they were on the same page before was before still goin thru wit it. I not sure I would go if theirs on bride (guest of honor).

Oh goodness, that's awful. It also seems like it would be super awkward to attend

That's so totally rude, I have no words.

I'm almost sure there was a post like this maybe a month ago...either way that seems extremely rude to have a shower but the person the shower is for not show up. Their gift would be going back for sure.