Bridal shower with no gifts?

The purpose of a shower is gifts. But you can have a tea or brunch - just know that you will still be asked where you're registered and people might bring gifts anyways.

I love your idea brandy! I've been to a bridal shower before where it was this exact situation. It was actually a joint bridal shower with both bride and groom present. It was more like a "pre-wedding" party for close family and friends to get to know each other. The bride and groom already bought a house, didnt need anything for the house, their honeymoon was already paid for, so they just wanted together and spend time with family.

Yes ma'am you deserve a shower! no gifts are fine if you request that, just being together to let them shower you with love is Wonderful! You could have a couple's shower just as the FutureMrsGulotta said. Bring everyone together to enjoys each others company while getting to know each other. If people ask of a registry explain exactly as you did for us.........and tell them the only gift you request is their support and love.

You can just call it an engagement party and say no gifts on the invitation. Which is typical. IF you call it a shower people will most likely bring gifts or feel obligated to. Plus someone is supposed to throw the shower for you. It may be good to register for gifts anyway.. if there are things you want, because people will ask, and prefer to buy something (if they are getting a gift) they know you want than something random you may not need.

Or brandy you and i meet in say, ohio or pa and have a spa day?

As their gifts, you could ask each of them to bring their favorite recipe on an index card.

There are other forms of "gifts" rather than just kitchen stuff and bed linens. you could have everyone bring their favorite recipe, their favorite liquor to stock your bar, a piece of lingerie, just to name a few.

I was coming to say what Jackie said - lingerie showers, recipe showers, etc. can be lovely and then people won't get you dryer balls

you could even do this with just your girlfriends or whatever if it's a lingerie theme or just your family (or whatever) for a recipe theme

Honestly, I'd say go and take the time to make a small registry of things you would like to have. It can't take that long and you'll be happy with what you receive.

I agree, the point is gifts. Now if you want to do just a gathering, I believe that's more of an "engagement party". We registered for some gifts...we really don't need any household items since we've lived together for a couple years already. But I figured it would be best to put SOME stuff on there, otherwise like people said, you will get some (very) unwanted gifts.

We registered at BBB but I'm having bridesmaids and both of our mothers tell people, when asked, that we would really just prefer the money since I don't have a job. That way, it's not tacky since I'M not the one telling them that, and they feel bad that I'm not working (even though it's by choice) so I get money to pay for the whole event.

There has to be SOMETHING in your house that you would like to upgrade...higher thread count on sheets, next model up for your coffee maker or stand mixer (idk what kind of budget your guests are working with), the next season's style of couch pillows, area rugs, curtains, etc...you may not NEED anything, but there has to be something you want. No one needs a waffle maker, but I love my waffle maker

You can't have a shower without gifts. Just have a brunch or a get together so people can meet. It will be fun.

For sure do a registry. You don't have to tell anyone about it unless they ask. You'll get special offers after the wedding (or so I've heard) to complete your registry and buy the stuff you don't get...so for that it is worth it.

Yes, you can have a shower without gifts.

Look, essentially, you can do whatever you want. Don't let anyone on here or IRL tell you otherwise.

Your idea is wonderful. I did it. It worked. People brought whatever they wanted, IF they wanted to. I followed no rules by the bridal shower thing, except the ones I made up for myself.

HAVE FUNNNN!!!!

I agree that you don't have to have a shower with traditional gifts. For example a stock the bar shower, a lingerie shower, or if you need a lot of something for your wedding (like brooches, candy, or cookies) maybe they can bring that?? Depending on what you are into, you can have them stock something in your house like books or movies or recipes. For example you could say "We are not doing traditional gifts at the shower but we request that everyone bring their favorite movie so the newlyweds can have a stocked DVD collection for nights in" That was terrible, but something like that lol

Of course!

I've been to lots of parties where the invite says "We will shower her with love (no gifts please)" or they specify an alternative like "in lieu of a gift, please bring your favourite story of Brandy".

Thanks for all of the ideas! I feel a lot better about this now. I’m the first of my friends and family to get married, and I've only been to one bridal shower in the past, so I don’t know what the standard rules are. In our case, it would be a weird to call it an engagement party this late (we've been engaged since April) so maybe I’ll ask my sisters to do a brunch or something themed since they’re planning it.

When FH and I bought our house, my mom threw us a “stock the bar” housewarming party since we already had everything else we needed, and it was so much fun! I don’t know why I didn't think of it in this case.

Brandy... I am the same way! I only want a shower for the "experience" to dress up, be my with best friends and all the people I love. I don't like registries because I hate to ask people for stuff. Any gift I get (which Im so appreciative of) I want from the heart. I don't care if its 5.00 or 500. I don't want put pressure on people for gifts. Many friends said that they want a registry because they don't want to waste on things I don't need and that people will bring stuff whether I register or not. So I am going to reluctantly register since people want me too. I feel bad because this is truly just for experience and if I get a gift I am stoked if not I still love them. I understand why you feel the way you do.

I was thinking the same as you. I want a bridal shower but without the gifts. So, after reading some of the comments, I've decided to rename it to "From Miss to Mrs." You're invited to lunch with the bride to be. The only gift required is your presence.

That's a good idea for a different name for the party. Without expecting gifts, the event cannot be seen as gift-grabby, as brought up so often when a bridal shower is planned by the bride or parent. And you still can have some folks from your partner's side who may not have met you yet.

I'm not decided on this possible wording change: The only gift requested is your presence.