NWR: 2nd Cousin's GF's Baby Shower Invite

The way she's asking for gifts is awful. I've had a shower invite that had a diaper raffle ticket enclosed but it was presented a completely different way and I thought it was a cool idea but definitely not the way your cousin's gf presented it. As far as the inviting thing goes, I've moved around my whole life so I actually appreciate being invited to events even if I can't make it because of living too far away. However, I'm talking about events that they would invite me to if I lived in state so if you've never met her or never talk to your cousin, I think that's a little weird.

Jessie, did you miss that the OP said she hasn't seen this cousin in 15 years? And yes showers are for gifts, but the line about "besides my gift, bring a box of diapers in x size" is tacky. Guests can decide what to bring on their own. Also, it really sounds like this invite is from the parents which is totally against etiquette.

OP, just RSVP no and don't feel obligated to send a gift to someone you haven't seen for 15 years.

The fact that you haven't seen your cousin in 15 years...I'd pass. But that's just me.

Tacky and terrible grammar to boot. I would send a card - sans $

I'm with @Kate. It's super tacky and gift grabby. Sending a congratulations card with something like, "Hey cuz, been a long time! Congrats on your new princess!" Acknowledging the invite and sending a nice note is enough imo.

As someone who hasn't lived close to their entire family in 15 years, I appreciate when I get invites to events even if I can't make it BUT it's totally weird that you haven't seen your cousin in several years nor met his lady. I'd RSVP and move on. So friggin weird though.

It could just be the typical obligatory family invite. I know my mom is having a fit that I'm not inviting every second cousin just because they are family so maybe your cousin's mother feels like you should get an invite.

Also, if English isn't her first language then it is safe to assume that it isn't her families or her friend's first language either. If her mother is throwing the party then she may not have proper grammar either.

I am more concerned with the construction of the whole invite. It looks like they printed the invite on paper and then cut and glued it to pink poster board.

@Kate - We're unsure, his mom is my grandmother's twin sister's only daughter, so we spent a solid amount of time together when I was younger when they lived in the same state as us. We wanted to invite at least his mom and her partner (mostly because it's the nice thing to do) however, they haven't come to any of my cousins weddings in the last 10 years, and I'm the second to last cousin on my mom's side to get married, so we aren't holding our breath.

@Jacks - I didn't ask but I agree that's definitely what it sounds like.

@Madelyn - I send everyone Christmas cards so that's probably where they had my address from, but we don't actively converse. The minimal "Happy Birthday" or "Congrats" on major events, that sort of thing is the extent of our relationship.

@Emily - Thanks, I do feel weirdly obligated to send them a gift though :/ weird thing is I talked to the rest of my female cousins from that side of the family and none of them got invited to the shower. They all think that we should all just go in on a gift together.

@aDymond - I like that idea too, but I feel like the whole point of them sending me an invite was for e to send a gift, as tacky as it is.

@Amelia - I would have appreciated it had I stayed closer to them. I honestly just feel like they sent an invite in hopes I send money or something knowing I'd never make it out there. That sentiment was also reiterated by one of my cousins on that side of the family when I showed her the invite when I saw her this past weekend.

What's up with that invitation? It looks like something my 8yr would do.

Poor grammar, gift grabby, shitty raffle prize, and hundreds of miles away (they probably know you won't go but figured they'd get a gift.

Also is the pregnant chick throwing herself a shower?!