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J
Just Said Yes December 2018

Open house bridal shower! Is this a thing?!

JEN, on March 18, 2018 at 2:10 PM Posted in Parties and Events 0 5
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Hi ladies!

I am looking for some ideas for the bridal shower, hoping someone out there has had their shower (or been to one) in a similar fashion! Here's the situation:

We are planning from out of state, 2,000 miles away, and will be flying into town for all of our wedding events. We are going to be asking for guests to either give gift cards or send gifts to our home (from our registry) in lieu of bringing gifts to the shower. It is crazy expensive to ship gifts across the US (we learned this during the holiday season $$&dollarSmiley winking, so we will not be having a "formal" gift opening at the shower. Because of this, and because of blended families, I liked the idea of an open house style shower where people can come and go whenever they want. FH's family is quite traditional, though, and were surprised that there would be no shower games or formal activities. Honestly I had just planned on setting up a table where people could take a party favor on their way out and never really thought of having shower games.

Does anyone have any ideas? Does this sound like a reasonable thing to do since we live so far away? FH's family has me stressing and questioning things.


Thanks in advance!

5 Comments

Latest activity by Karen, on March 19, 2018 at 3:51 AM
  • earias
    Champion December 2017
    earias ·
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    I would find this a little strange honestly. The whole purpose of a shower is to shower you with gifts, so a shower without gifts seems pointless. I have heard of a similar situation where the bride lived out of state and the guests shipped their gifts to her home but brought a picture of the gift to the shower. It was still a traditional shower though with a set beginning and ending. If you're not registering for gifts then don't have a shower.
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  • muriel
    Champion June 2018
    muriel ·
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    Can you clarify if you are planning your own shower? This would be a breach of etiquette. It is impolite to ever host a gift giving event in your own honor.

    The pp has made a good suggestion re having gifts shipped if someone else is planning and hosting your shower. You can still open the cards with a pic of the gift. If someone else is hosting, it would come across as a bit gift grabby, if you won't even open gifts, but want the guests to drop off a gift card, grab a favor and leave.


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  • rica
    VIP September 2018
    rica ·
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    I don't see why not.

    Is it going to be a couple's shower or women only? If it's a couple's "shower", I think you could just call it an engagement party, which would work with the open house feel better. People coming and going, eating and drinking, and catching up. That sounds great.

    If it's women only, then it might be a little odd to skip opening gifts and shower games, which is pretty much the only thing that makes something a shower.

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  • Adriana
    Expert October 2017
    Adriana ·
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    I lived in a different state from where my shower was held, and my bridesmaids, who hosted, asked in the invitation to ship gifts directly to my home. I did still get a few things at the shower, but we skipped opening gifts, and games. I had a nice short brunch with our families and our bridal party. It was very simple and easy going.
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  • Karen
    Just Said Yes March 2019
    Karen ·
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    My shower will also be far from my home. My mother suggested I return the gifts from a major retail store and then buy it again when I get home. The guests will never know.
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