Bridal shower

The purpose is to “shower” the bride or the couple with gifts.

A long time ago, couples lived with their parents until they married. Showers were to give the couple the things they needed to furnish their new home together.
Now a days, many couples live together, or have at least moved out of their parents home. Showers are still for gifting the couple new items for their home. Many times couples will register for upgrades of items they currently have or hobby items.
I view them as another chance to celebrate with the people close to the couple. Play games, eat food, give gifts, and the bride (or couple) gets to be in the spot light again 😊

Hi Marissa! As far as I can tell the bridal shower is a time for the women in your life to prepare you for the honeymoon. Whereas gifts at a wedding shower may include kitchen items or items from the registry, at a bridal shower you would receive lingerie and more intimate apparel!

Some people forgo this portion and treat it like a wedding shower for the bride! A good choice if you, like me, still blush at the idea of your mom and older relatives giving you lingerie!

Showers are gift giving events. Bridal showers can either be regular showers where guests give off the wedding registry, or a lingerie shower. I am not deeply in need of a shower as FH and I already live together, but my MOH is throwing me one. Most of our registry items are upgrades of things we could use (new crock pot, new bedsheets) or honeymoon related items (Airbnb gift cards, luggage)

I treated it as an opportunity to bring together people who may only just be meeting at the wedding and seeing those who I won’t be able to have there who still wanted to celebrate.
For the etiquette police 🙄
Yes, I did have people at my shower not invited to the wedding.
Yes, you can totally do that and not have WW3 break out—just know your crowd.
Yes, all my shower only guests were understanding about my wedding and we’re just happy to come to a positive event with food, drinks, and a fun time celebrating and mingling with others.

I’m more tomboyish and don’t usually enjoy all the fuss and attention, but I had a phenomenal time with the ladies invited and loved every second of my shower! It wasn’t crazy long and involved either, but they all were raving about every aspect and appreciated being a part of it.
I think you should do it!

Oh! This was also the time for people who INSISTED on buying a thing to bring it. Less hassle for wedding day regarding transport of said things, so let that be something to think about as well.

From my understanding, it’s a time to give gifts, to give advice, and to celebrate! The showers I’ve been to have all been centered around the gifts but as the bride opens a gift, she is usually given advice about marriage or love, and sometimes a recipe is passed on.
I am looking forward to my showers, it’s a good way to have your guests meet each other before the wedding as well!

You get gifts and its an excuse to get together and celebrate. My FH and I have been living together for like 3 years now, so I'm skipping it. Hoping we'll get more cash come wedding time to throw towards a honeymoon lol *crosses fingers*

Ah I loved mine. It was fun seeing my friends come out for this little party for me. But I know some people skip some pre wedding festivities. It's def not necessary but it's fun if you don't mind the attention!

It’s a excuse to get together and celebrate but you get”showered “ with gifts. You can have a small one.

It's an old tradition that has stuck. Most couples live together and don't "need" any of these gifts. However, it is a time for women ( or couples if you are having a couples shower) to get together and celebrate the bride.

I keep thinking how ridiculous it is to register (ask) for gifts, invite people to a lunch, the open those said gifts in front of everyone. However, look at me having one. I'm the only daughter and my mom's exact words were, "You will not take this away from me." So in a couple months I'll try not to drink too many martinis as I open gifts from my aunts and cousins that I don't really need, but had fun registering online for.

Whatever. But I'm not sure as hell not wearing a sash.

Gifts! Honestly that and an excuse to have a little party.
It used to be women only event put on by the bride's family and friends to give her gifts for her new home, and in some circles lingerie and martial advice.
Nowadays it's a more general celebration

It's a pre-wedding party to shower the bride with gifts. Typically, women invited to the wedding in the local area are invited to the shower. Games are played, food is served, presents are opened, etc.