Inviting an exchange student to my bridal shower?

If you are not comfortable you can say no. I would not mind if they came to mine.

I’d say no, especially since the shower is supposed to be for you and your guests. The students aren’t going to your wedding.

View Quoted Comment I guess I assumed they would go to
the wedding. If they are living with sister at the time of the wedding.

View Quoted Comment

Apparently, they're leaving by the end of summer so they won't be going to the wedding. I'm just torn bc I'm normally very friendly and totally here for learning other cultures/having new experiences but at the same time, it's my bridal shower and I would be so worried about her fitting in

I think that's weird to have people who you don't even know be at your bridal shower that aren't invited to the wedding either. They're total strangers and your bridal shower really is more personal, so I'd say no.

I wouldn’t want people who I don’t know or aren’t close with at my shower either. One thing you can do to make saying no less awkward is say “I’ve spoken to ___, who is hosting my shower, and unfortunately we are already at our capacity and won’t be able to accommodate your exchange students. I hope you can still join us though!” That way it takes the pressure off you, and hopefully this person will understand

What age are the students? How long have the been staying with FH's sister? I was an exchange student to France in high school for an entire academic year, and I would say at that age, you very much become part of the family. I went to all of my host family's family functions. My parents hosted an exchange student when he was in high school, and we treated him like family, too. I'm still in touch with my host family (who I stayed with in 1992-93), and we just got a baby announcement from our former exchange student from the late 1990s. If this is the case, I'd encourage you to consider inviting them. They have likely become part of your future sister-in-law's family, and she likely wants to share traditional American experiences with them. I've been to a ton of bridal showers, and can't really imagine anything at the shower that would be so private that you would be uncomfortable with them being them. Once the shower gets going, you probably won't even notice them there.

On the other hand, if the students are college-age or older, it's more likely a room and board type situation, and I wouldn't feel like you need to invite them.

Since this is going to be such a personal event, I think you're okay not inviting the students!

Would it be a different cultural experience for the students? And would it be too "adult" (ie lingerie) for them?
If it's not something they would ever experience in their home country then I would invite them as long as it wasn't wild. I 100% understand not wanting people you don't know there on the other side I'd love to see the traditions other countries had.

Say no. It's a little condesending to assume these students come from cultures without bridal showers, or that they'd even be interested in attending the party of a stranger.